Wild Survival: Crocodile Rescue

Synopsis:

“Twelve-year-old Adriana Villalobos and her older brother Feye travel the globe with their parents, the hosts of a suspenseful nature show called “Wild Survival!” The show features daring animal rescues and the work the family does at their animal sanctuary. They’ve recently gotten an offer to take the show from YouTube to a TV network, and Adriana is thrilled. So far, she’s always been behind the scenes, but now she gets to join the rest of her family onscreen. She can’t wait to bring her passion for animals to a wide audience.

Their first stop is the lush mangrove forests of Cuba, where they’re going to help rescue an injured crocodile. But things get off to a rocky start when Feye is injured in an accident partially caused by Adrianna. The status of the show is in jeopardy, and Adrianna’s parents want her back behind the scenes, or maybe even back at home.

Adrianna is determined to prove herself, and save the show-whatever it takes. Even if that means confronting the legendary Mega Croc of Cuba that’s rumored to inhabit the murky waters around their base camp.

Based on the author’s real-life wildlife encounters, this middle-grade series will include real animal facts, light illustration of the creatures mentioned in each book, and an Author’s Note from Melissa.”

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Review:

If you’ve got a reluctant reader on your hands who isn’t interested in historical fiction (I love recommending the I Survived series), then try this one! When I saw it had 240 pages, I was shocked because it reads really easily and quickly. Kids who love animals will be drawn to the Villalobos family who own an animal sanctuary. And I love that this first book heads straight to crocodiles rather than a cute and cuddly animal instead. It definitely makes the book feel more adventurous and full of action when you’re talking about a crocodile!

The book also feels very modern in that the family produced their own show on YouTube, before being approached by a larger company to produce something even grander. I love that throughout the book, the author includes these little call-outs about the different animals the family encounters. It’s not enough to distract from the story, which is great. It only enhances the story and I learned a few things I never knew!

Verdict:

I loved the author’s note about her experience with crocodiles! Unbelievable! This is sure to be a quick-read for kids searching for something interesting, exciting, and different, especially if they’re animal-lovers.

If you’re interested in purchasing Wild Survival: Crocodile Rescue by Melissa Cristina Márquez, please use my affiliate links for Bookshop.org or Amazon.com. When you purchase from either of these links, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.

Need to Know:

Title: Wild Survival: Crocodile Rescue
Author: Melissa Cristina Márquez
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: February 2, 2021
Page Number: 240 pgs.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.