Books › The Menagerie (Menagerie #1)

The Menagerie (Menagerie #1)
320 pages
A delightful, fast-paced romp through a secret sanctuary of mythical beasts, anchored by a heartwarming friendship.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stumbling upon a wondrous, closely guarded secret right in your own mundane neighborhood. It moves at a brisk, engaging clip, balancing the thrill of a magical mystery with the cozy, grounded stakes of middle school life. The atmosphere is steeped in wonder and playful suspense, inviting readers into a hidden sanctuary where mythical creatures are as real as the stray cat next door. The prose is snappy and accessible, driven by witty banter and the earnest, developing bond between two very different kids thrown together by circumstance. It is an absolute delight for young readers who crave creature-filled adventures, offering a warm, exciting journey about finding where you truly belong.
- Mood
- wonder-filled
- secretive
- cozy
- exciting
- Tone
- earnest
- humorous
- adventurous
- playful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- unlikely friendships · hidden worlds · protecting the vulnerable · finding belonging
- The writing
- Snappy, accessible, and dialogue-driven, keeping the pages turning with effortless charm.
- The arc
- Moves from lonely bewilderment to the warm, thrilling realization of finding one's place and people.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who dream of discovering magical creatures in their own backyards and love a good friendship-driven mystery.
Content notes
- mild animal peril
- bullying
About the book
Logan Wilde is accidentally drawn into the mysterious, dangerous world of the Menagerie when he discovers a griffin hiding under his bed... and it leads him straight to the weirdest girl in seventh grade, Zoe Kahn.
Zoe is panicking. Her family has been guarding the Menagerie for centuries. If they don't get the cubs back fast, the whole place will be shut down. To save the griffins' lives, she's willing to break all the rules, even if it means letting an outsider like Logan help. But the real mystery remains: Is someone trying to sabotage the Menagerie?
Who let the griffins out...and why?
Description from Open Library.
Books like The Menagerie (Menagerie #1)
See why they match
Lost ContinentTui SutherlandA vibrant, high-stakes adventure where a gentle soul must unlearn everything he knows to survive a beautifully disguised dystopia.
The Year of the GriffinDiana Wynne JonesA delightfully chaotic romp through a magical university where the greatest threat isn't dark magic, but bureaucratic incompetence.
Keeper of the Lost CitiesShannon MessengerA sprawling, magical academy adventure about finding where you truly belong and uncovering the dangerous secrets buried in your own mind.
The Dangerous GiftTui SutherlandA frosty, fast-paced fantasy where a paranoid young ruler is literally forced to walk in the talons of strangers.
Wild BornBrandon MullAn exhilarating, globe-trotting quest where the ultimate power lies in the unbreakable bond between a child and their spirit animal.
ClawsMike GrintiA scrappy, magical mystery where a fierce sisterly bond meets the hidden wonders of a trailer park.