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Three Reasons You Should Read This Middle Grade Contemporary Fantasy:
The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland & Kari Sutherland is an incredibly fun adventure full of fantasy creatures and the people that care for them (or find them when they get lost).
The run-away griffons cubs really steal the show from all the human kids – and the names they pick for themselves had me laughing so hard.
The way the kids interact with each other (even though they are all very different) was fun, and watching them grow closer as they searched for the griffons was so sweet. (But not so sweet that reader-kids won’t enjoy it too.)
About The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland & Kari Sutherland
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Wings of Fire series, Tui T. Sutherland, and her sister, Kari Sutherland, comes the Menagerie series, perfect for fans of Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series and The Spiderwick Chronicles.
In the small town of Xanadu, Wyoming lies the Menagerie, a top secret facility filled with unicorns, dragons, phoenixes, and other fairy tale creatures. At least, it was a secret—until six griffin cubs escaped.
If Logan and Zoe don’t get the cubs back fast, the entire Menagerie will be shut down. The race is on and the resulting adventure is only the beginning of a thrilling series that will leave readers wanting a magical menagerie of their very own.
The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland is the perfect read for any kid (or adult) lover of mythical creatures of any sort. The griffon cubs have escaped from the super top-secret menagerie. And Logan meets Zoe and Blue as they are trying to hunt them down. Sure, he may think they’re just looking for Zoe’s dog at first. But his tracking skills quickly become the very thing they need to find the cubs.
Logan figures out it isn’t a dog, and his cat, Persimmon (I had to give this awesome feline a shout-out), is not happy about the development of learning about these creatures. As the kids track the babies down, they start to realize that all may not be right at the menagerie. Odd things (besides the griffon escape) are going on, and they are on the verge of being shut down.
The Menagerie is full of friendship, unexpected magic, and just a little mystery. Full of magical creatures, it draws across cultures and mythos to build a place full of things to discover.
Viva Durant, teen detective, is back in New Orleans to crack her latest case! This audio original features original music from the creator, Ashli St. Armant, and an engaging performance from Audible Hall of Fame narrator Bahni Turpin.
Now that she’s returned to New Orleans for Thanksgiving break, Viva is charged with figuring out the truth behind a mysterious bout of illness traced back to a local creole restaurant called Madame Bouchard’s. Were customers poisoned on purpose, or was it a simple cooking mistake? And who could be behind the chaos? Viva only has a week to solve the culinary mystery, and to do so, she’ll have to contend with a longtime rivalry, rumors of voodoo magic, and Thanksgiving dinner with her extended family!
Listeners will love the continued detective adventures of Viva Durant and her stern-yet-spirited Gram!
Viva is back in the Audible Original Viva Durant and the Madness of Madame Bouchard. This time, she’s teamed up with her grandmother – who is an excellent detective – to clear the name of the renowned New Orleans chef, Madame Bouchard. Accused of poisoning her diners, Madame Bouchard is in danger of losing everything she’s worked so hard to build.
This case is a tricky one. And there’s a lot more on the line than her previous mystery. But Viva is up to the challenge. It all comes down to the details this time, and Viva will need to pay really close attention.
Another fun addition to the Viva Durant mysteries, and I hope there are more eventually. I could see how this series could get a little addicting to listen to. My only complaint is the breaks between chapters are really really long. Long enough that I thought my device had stopped playing for some reason.
Viva’s search for the silver buttons has her traveling all over New Orleans and the surrounding area, and if even half of the locations are real, then I need to take a trip.
Fun surprises scattered along the journey really made this story a lot of fun.
Viva Durant, New Orleans’ youngest detective, is on a quest to solve a jazzy mystery involving hidden treasure, while exploring the city’s unique culture, history, and music. This family-friendly audio original features original jazz music from the creator, Ashli St. Armant, and an enthusiastic performance from Audible Hall of Fame narrator, Bahni Turpin.
Plucky 14-year-old Viva Durant heads to New Orleans every summer to spend time with her loving but stern grandmother, known as Gram. After Gram reads Viva an article in the local paper about a missing treasure related to the world-famous song, “Miss Mary Mack,” Viva traverses the Crescent City on an epic adventure to solve the mystery. Along the way she meets some of the city’s most colorful characters as her journey takes her to the French Quarter, a jazz club, a creepy cemetery, and even the circus. Can Viva rise to the occasion and solve this musical mystery? Listeners will find Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons a joy to listen to!
When Viva Durant hears about a missing treasure linked to a set of silver buttons. She just has to follow the clues and see if she can find them. Her investigation takes her deep into the jazz history of New Orleans, and she has a chance to visit some pretty incredible places.
While she tries to keep her sleuthing a secret, she’s still a kid, so she ends up finding ways to get assistance in some pretty inventive ways. She never gives up, even when she seems to be facing a dead end, and her intelligence and persistence just might pay off.
This Audible Original title is a great listen for middle graders that love to solve puzzles.
