The Ostrich Conspiracy

Platypus Police Squad #2

by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Jarrett J. Krosoczka is back with The Ostrich Conspiracy, the second installment in a fast-paced, action-packed, and hilarious middle-grade series featuring two platypus detectives, perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Big Nate, and Lunch Lady.

The opening of the Kalamazoo City Dome--the world's largest indoor amusement complex--has everyone in the city buzzing, especially because it's going to be the shooting site for Chase Mercy's new blockbuster film. But that's when things start to go haywire. Who would want to sabotage the Dome, and why? Detectives Rick Zengo and Corey O'Malley are on the case!

Genres: Mystery, Humor, Middle Grade, Childrens, Action, Chapter Books, Juvenile

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2014

About the author

Jarrett J. Krosoczka, known since boyhood as "JJK," is the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star Wars™: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist. Krosoczka creates books with humor, heart, and deep respect for his young readers—qualities that have made his titles perennial favorites on the bookshelves of homes, libraries, and bookstores over the past twenty years.

In addition to his work in print, Krosoczka produced, directed, and performed in the full-cast audiobook adaptations of his graphic novels. The Hey, Kidoo audiobook garnered both Audie and Odyssey Awards for excellence in audiobook production. The Lunch Lady audiobook cast is led by Kate Flannery (The Office) and is rounded out by famed audiobook narrators and real kid actors! Krosoczka has been a guest on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, has been profiled in The New York Times, was featured on Good Morning America, and has delivered three TED Talks, which have accrued millions of views online. Krosoczka has garnered millions of more views online via the tutorials he has produced for YouTube and TikTok. As well as working on his books' film and television adaptions, Krosoczka has also written for The Snoopy Show (Apple TV+) and served as a consultant for Creative Galaxy (Prime Video), and appeared in live segments for the show.

Realizing that his books can inspire young readers beyond the page, Krosoczka founded School Lunch Hero Day, a national campaign celebrating school lunch staff. A consummate advocate for arts education, Krosoczka also established the Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarships, which fund art classes for underprivileged children in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Krosoczka lives in western Massachusetts with his spouse, their three children, pugs Ralph and Frank, and a French bulldog named Bella Carmella.

Reviews

[Mitchell Haskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m very upset that I only have one Platypus Police Squad book left to read

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for my child parent book club. It was suggested by downtown and had a prepackage book club program. A nice enough story with a rookie cop and his experienced partner. Someone is sabotaging the new amusement park and there are numerous suspects. I'll try to get back and record what the book club thinks.

[chess mangum · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book platypus police squad 2 is a great book and i like it alot. The police squad ends up in an amusement park because the shut off button was turned off and there was no power and people started thinking that it was the operator. Then the next day the chief said that his daughter was stuck at the top of the ferris wheel and she was already afraid of heights and her boyfriend made her go on the ride and he said nothing bad would happen but he was wrong. Then there was movie premiere and there was going to be some scenes at the amusement park but the police squad thinks that the power shut off has something to do with the movie but they don't know for sure yet, and that's where i'm at right now in the book.

[Dalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the joyfully silly quality of having the platypus policemen and a town populated by animals, there was actually a rather high level of intelligence to the book. The writing never treats its audience like they’re little kiddies, while still working on a level that is understandable to them. There are some smart jokes, and the characters are actually quite multifaceted, showing a range of emotion and motivations for their actions.

[Kamron Manto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would highly recommed any platypus police squad book it is a very interesting series and all are very great mystery novels. Anything could happen at anytime it is very intresting because things randomly happen that builds tention and makes you want to read more and more of it and it might persway you to read the whole thing.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fast paced book for any mystery loving and animal loving elementary school readers. It was full of funny moments and action. The mystery of who done it had lots of twists and turns. I rest my case.
Charlie and I read the book and wrote this together.

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was better than the first. The mystery and the characters were funnier and better.

[Brenda Wharton · Rating 4 out of 5]

book #2 in the series
4th grader thought it was good.
Zengo and O'Malley are on the platypus police squad and team of for their next case

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going through this series as our nightly read aloud with my boys ages 8 and 10. They love it. On to #3!

[Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it was an amazing book, because it had a lot of rush. But it ended on a cliff hanger so you have to buy the next book.Overall it was an amazing book

[Susie Wiebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was glad to add this to the library bookshelves. A funny read, reminiscent of 90/00s cop shows.

[Jennifer Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, possibly more than the first one. The mysteries on both were solid, and I think that this one had a lot more action -- the end was quite fast-paced and action-packed -- but the first one perhaps had more going for it in terms of characterization. The bottom line is that they are both great books. If you liked the first, you'll probably like this one. If you aren't familiar with these series and are looking for action-packed books with humor and a strong plot, you should check them out.

Platypus detectives O'Malley and Zengo are back fighting crime in Kalamazoo City. Zengo has more experience under his belt and is bummed out about still being known as Rookie. O'Malley is still hard at work at fighting crime and trying to balance work and family. His teenagers feature prominently in this mystery as well, and I love that element.

One might assume that the relatively thin books with pictures liberally interspersed with text would be good for early readers, especially those who are fans of Jarrett J. Krosoczka's picture books or Lunch Lady series, but these books have advanced vocabulary and pretty intense plots that can easily be appreciated by older middle grade readers as well. That said, these elements also make them perfect for younger readers who are on a more advanced reading level.

***I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still like the premise of this mystery-detective series. But I think I liked the first book more than the second. Or else I was just really in the right mood to love the novelty of it, the humor of it. Mood does play a significant part sometimes. That being said, I did like this one. I liked our platypus heroes. I liked Zengo and his partner O'Malley. The book opens with a crime or potential crime. Something goes horribly wrong on the opening night of the new indoor/outdoor amusement park. As horribly wrong as you'd expect a juvenile mystery to get perhaps. Someone tampered with the power, people were stuck on rides for hours, the fireworks went off early and before the roof could be opened up, and the fireworks caused some fires. So not a great opening day but certainly memorable for all the wrong reasons. Zengo and O'Malley decide to take the case and see if it was all deliberate. They have a feeling it was, but, no proof at the beginning. They have strong feelings about some of the people--or should that be ANIMALS--involved. But they have to look for evidence and proof to build a case. Some characters readers met in the first book, but, plenty are new to the second book.

I liked this one. There are a handful of action sequences in it. Those who are looking for ACTION may like it more than the first one.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Platypus Police Squad, The Ostrich Conspiracy by Jarrett J. Krosoczka – Expected publishing date: May 6th, 2014. Animal Fiction/Mystery – A new police officer, Zengo, a platypus, has an adventure while trying to solve crimes. I couldn’t stop reading this book: it has car chases, fireworks, ferris wheels breaking down, sabotage, and it is packed to the brim with action! All this leads to a solid, entertaining mystery that keeps you guessing the culprit right to the end of the book. The setting for a large portion of the book is in quite the appealing place: an indoor amusement park! What a brilliant idea. I know students will get lost picturing the action, especially with all of Jarrett’s accompanying pictures. I think this book could completely be a stand alone book but also has fantastic connections to characters in Jarret’s first Platypus Police Squad book. Personally, I was thrilled to revisit characters that I met and got to know in the first book. I can’t wait to read this with all of the illustrations complete since I’ve enjoyed the Advanced Readers Copy! I highly recommend this book!

[Daniel W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roller coasters, platypie, movie stars, detectives, ostriches, car chases, and suspense… What more could you want? The book Platypus Police Squad, The Ostrich Conspiracy, by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, gives you wall this and more! There is lot of mystery and action within the book.


The city of Kalamazoo has recently built an indoor amusement park called the Dome™, but something went wrong. All of the rides went haywire. Detectives Rick Zengo and Corey O’Malley are sent to investigate what truly went wrong at the Dome™. The Mayor and the Dome™ security are trying to repel the investigation.


This book is exciting, and fun to read. My personal favorite part was the car chase in chapter 8. “Just then a loud engine roared. Zengo turned to see a motorcycle bearing down on them. Before he could even react, the helmeted motorcycle list grabbed the crate out of O'Malley's hands and zoomed towards the parking lot exit at full throttle.”


I would recommend this book to anyone that likes Scooby Doo and other mystery type books with lots of action, also to anyone that likes animals.


I would rate this ⅘ because, some parts of the story were unexplained, but most of it was pretty good!

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Platypus Police Squad series, and it has just as much mystery and action as the first. I read both books to my daughter and she loved them. She keeps asking if there is another one.

In this installment, Zengo and O'Malley are out to discover who sabotaged the opening night of Kalamazoo City's newest attraction. They follow the clues, have a few action packed chases, and even have some well-timed rescues. These two platypus detectives are a heap of fun to read about. I would recommend this series to kids ages 8-12 that like mysteries, cops, and detective work.

These books have great characters, solid writing, and plenty of action to keep kids glued to the page. The illustrations are plentiful and add just the right amount of visual for the age group.

Content: Clean

Source: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way.

My blog: Batch of Books

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Platypus Police Squad: The Ostrich Conspiracy" by Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the second in the series of the Platypus detectives. The Kalamazoo City Dome is the city's brand new family attraction. It opened only 13 months after it was announced. The opening night of the Dome the fireworks show begins and then the electric goes out and everything is pitch black. The Dome can't finish retracting and the fireworks explode on its hard surface and start a fire.
The detectives Rick Zengo and Corey O'Malley from the Platypus Police Squad investigate the mishap. The city of Kalamazoo wants to know why it happened and if the movie that Chase Mercy stars in will still be filmed there. Chase Mercy is their native son who became a movie star. The detectives solve the mystery and the Dome safely opens again.
This series is for middle school kids who love mysteries. The different animal characters are humorous and entertaining. The story holds your attention until the very end.

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read the first book in this series, but after reading this one, I’m going to pick it up. I love that the characters are animals. I think animal characters leave more room for humor and Mr. Krosoczka takes advantage of that (for example, a walrus owns a contractor company, and chameleon runs a newspaper). The book is hilarious. The story is well written and the plot is solid. There are black and white sketchy illustrations scattered throughout the book that breaks the text up and add to the story. They also make it more funny (if that is possible)! I also like that, in this book series, Mr. Krosoczka doesn’t have guns. The replacement is a boomerang. I think that that is great because, a) boomerangs are cool, and b) it makes the book more appropriate for younger kids.
*NOTE I got an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kalamazoo City is set to be the next site for celebrity Chase Mercy's action film, but when something mysteriously goes wrong at the grand opening of its newest amusement park, detectives Rick Zengo and Corey O'Malley must unravel the clues as to who is responsible. Their investigation pits the developers from a neighbor city against Frank Pandini Jr., who is trying to bring in Chase Mercy's movie. Who will ultimately be responsible? I really liked how the action picked up in The Ostrich Conspiracy, with all the added chase scenes and boomerang throws. Even the investigation took on a nice spin. Overall, the illustrations and humorous detectives made for a fun exciting read. My ARC was from Walden Pond Press as a part of a giveaway offered during Middle Grade March.

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roughly 3rd grade, probably more boys than girls. The story--in Kalamazoo City, someone is sabotaging the new amusement park. Could it be the workers from nearby Walhalla? And what are the mysteries surrounding the design and building of the park? It's up to the Platypus Police Squad, that elite Kalamazoo City detective squad, to figure it out.

Full of puns and plays on words. Lots of very good (black and white) drawings, large print, well spaced print. This will be a fun book for a lot of children.

[Rochelle Sondae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't what I was expecting. For some reason I thought it was going to be a graphic novel. As if every illustrator can only tell a story with pictures. I was pleasantly surprised. I might even have to read the other book in this series, Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked

[JohnnyG150 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great funny and intriguing quick read. It is funny how some of the clues in the story relate to the different animal's characteristics. For example an animal has lots of cheese but the animal wouldn't like cheese in real life so something suspicious must be happening! The two platypus policemen who are in the entire book have very developed while different personalities. I loved reading this book and I think a great many people do as well.

[Terry]

The story is funny, but also poignant. Zengo is an "every platypus" character - clever, unsure of himself, and prone to jump to conclusions. The mystery is well presented. There is just enough suspense to keep you reading, but neither scary nor predictable. I highly recommend this as a read-aloud.

To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.

[Sam Rojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read the book Platypus Police Squad written by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. The setting of the book was mostly Kalamazoo City, and sometimes in their rival city Walhalla. The book was totally fantasy because their were talking Platypus people who lived in a fake city. The book is about two platypus people that try and figure out a mystery because they are detectives, but you will have to read the book to find out what happens.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this latest installment in the Platypus Police Squad series! The final illustrations aren't done in the copy I have, but I could still tell that kids will love it! This one develops the characters even more, and we get another great mystery. I will be very popular in January when we return from break, and I have this in hand!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, Platypus Police Squad. I think that the Jarrett is an amazing, amazing creative force. He had started his writing and illustration career in children's picture books and then went on to do a comic series, the Lunch Lady. And in all these endeavors his illustrations are classic, fun, and spunky. This is his first full length novel series. I cannot wait for book 3.

[Matt Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very good. It is like the other book. It is a action book that has a mystery and is funny. The book just makes my keep reading and that doesn't really happen. I love this author and i would read any of his books. I recommend this book to and one who like a mystery book that is different.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd book in the Platypus Police Squad series. I enjoyed the first one, but this one is even better. The characters are more developed and it has another great plot. The ending leads right into the third book

[Katie Florida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was good, but not as good as the first one. The nature of the conspiracy was a little complicated for my 1st grader, but she still loved it. There are lots of idioms and cop jargon that needed explaining, so for us, this worked better as a read-aloud.

[Kelly Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Platypus Police Squad is back on the case. This time the new amusement park is being targeted. Who would sabatage the mayor's economic project? All is not what it seems and old memories. especially negative ones never die.