Finding the Lost One (The Extraterrestial Zoo 1) by Samantha Van Leer

What worked:

The author introduces readers to several ELBs in the early chapters to prepare them for later events. Don’t let Ava hear you calling them aliens! The descriptions “humanize” the beings by giving them personalities and showing how they depend on the zoo for survival. One of them can’t breathe oxygen. The first chapter finds Ava checking the tongue of Mr. Wiggles, an Obz, for cavities, and he’s a very cooperative patient. Other creatures are introduced to readers when Ava takes Harley, the new intern, with her to serve the ELBs breakfast. Yeldud is a fourteen-foot ELB and begins every interaction with a hug. Gwenya is green, fuzzy, and limbless and sniffs visitors like the greeting of a friendly dog. Wiblsey is Ava’s favorite goofball, as Ava enjoys playing hide-and-seek with her. Ava can feed Pingree grapes from the palm of her hand, but she must watch out for spitting acid when he’s upset. Ava doesn’t know why the ELB eggs were sent to Earth or why they stopped coming.

The relationship between Ava and Harley offers a wide range of emotions. Ava is angry when he first arrives, because she doesn’t think the zoo needs his help. Ava’s uncle wants her to attend public school, but she thinks it wastes her time. Harley is eager, curious, and energetic about his new job, and he admires how well Ava works with the ELBs. Ava can’t understand why he’s always so positive and happy, but her feelings reluctantly change. Readers will wonder about Harley’s character, too, as there’s something mysterious about him and little information about his past. He finally shares details with Ava, and she realizes they have more in common than she thought.

The hurricane hits about one-fourth of the way into the book and changes the plot. All of the cages have been destroyed, and Ava learns armed soldiers are searching for the escaped ELBs. However, the ELBs are being shot on sight, and the general leading the hunt is supposed to be overseeing the zoo. Ava’s uncle leaves with police officers and hasn’t been seen since. Pingree is the only ELB that didn’t run away, and Ava and Harley know they’re too late to save many of the other creatures. They spot Cutis near the broken cages, but he’s frightened and flees into the national forest. He’ll die in four days due to his condition, so Ava and Harley pack up Pingree and venture into the forest to save Cutis’s life. They eventually get lost but discover a huge surprise.

What didn’t work as well:

For some readers, the logistics of the zoo may be confusing. Maintaining the zoo is internationally important and must be expensive to maintain, but it seems like Ava and her uncle are living in poverty. Is that because of her uncle being irresponsible, or is it due to a lack of money? The facility doesn’t match the expectations for even a community zoo.

The final verdict:

The idea of ELBs is inventive, and the author includes plenty of unexpected twists to keep readers guessing. The book’s resolution will have readers anxious to read the sequel, and I recommend you check it out.