Finding the Lost One

The Extraterrestrial Zoo #1

by Samantha van Leer

13 year old Ava helps run her family’s refuge for extraterrestrials. But a sudden attack on the zoo leads to her discovering a government conspiracy that upends everything she believed to be true.

When meteors suddenly dropped to earth containing eggs in which alien babies were growing, the government called in the experts. Ava’s parents hatched, cared for, raised, and researched these unique beings. When Ava was born, she became part of the team.  So many extraterrestrial living beings (ELBs) came, that the government funded the Alien Zoo, where visitors could come and see the ELBs. It was a huge success in its day.

But now Ava is 13, and so much has changed. A terrible car accident claimed her mother.  And her father, in deep despair, left Ava and the Zoo in the care of his brother, who’s still healing emotional wounds from his wartime. Then the alien babies stopped coming, and so did the public.

So when 15 year old Harley shows up as an intern for the Zoo, Ava feels blindsided. This is her show. And then a terrible storm changes everything. The once beloved ELBs are loose, and being hunted.  Ava’s uncle is MIA. All she has is this strange new boy to help her save everything she loves.

Genres: Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure

240 pages, Hardcover

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

SAMANTHA VAN LEER is the co-author of the New York Time’s best-selling novels Between the Lines and Off the Page. Her newest work includes a middle grade sci-fi series entitled The Extraterrestrial Zoo. The first book in this series, Finding the Lost One is out now!

Reviews

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always on the hunt for middle grade science fiction and this story about a thirteen-year-old girl pretty much running an extraterrestrial zoo on her own since her mom died, dad left, and her distracted uncle is dealing with his own PTSD.

The devotion Ava has for the creatures under her care is heart-warming but it's the scenes between her and mysterious zoo intern Harley that really carry the emotional load of this novel.

I'd love to know more about the ELBs' (they don't call them aliens!) origins, but so would Ava and her family. And the government. This is the first in the series, and judging by that ending, further books will let us more into both Ava's world, and the out-of-this world lives of the ELBs. Can't wait!

Recommended for ages 10+

[Brenda Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a great young adult sci-fi book. A 13 year old girl runs an alien zoo with extraterrestrial beings. The book goes through her journey of losing her mom and her dad leaving shortly after her mom passed, while she is left behind to run the zoo with her uncle. A storm rolls in which causes the ELBs to get out of the zoo and she will do anything to find them. I highly recommend this for young adult readers that enjoy sci-fi.

[Misha Lowenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

a girl, a boy, an uncle and her extraterrestrials. throw in a hurricane and you have yourself a comical and heartfelt story.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ava has grown up in a zoo for extraterrestrials that fell from the sky over a period of years. Because of her father’s unique combination of degrees, he was chosen as the best person to care for these unique creatures. It was his idea to provide access to the public to reduce their fears of these beings. Popularity has declined in recent years, which is probably a good thing since Ava’s mother died and her father soon after left with her Uncle Pete in charge of the zoo and Ava. Ava feels like the one in charge, though, because Uncle Pete is dealing with PTSD from his last deployment. She handles things just fine and keeps everything running. But when a hurricane hits and all but one alien escapes into town and are being hunted by the military, Ava may not be able to handle it. With the acid-spewing Pingree in a carrier, Ava and the brand new intern Harley, set off into the Maine wilderness to see if they can find any other surviving aliens before the military kills them too.

Whew. Ava and Harley have enough baggage to drown an elephant. Both have lost parents. Both had to grow up too fast Ava’s mom is dead, her father abandoned her, and her uncle having PTSD isn’t super reliable; Harley’s mom had mental health issues, they were homeless, and then she died of hypothermia one night on the streets. He’s only 14 and has been backpacking in the woods to avoid being taken by children’s services. And both have trust issues. And here they are forced to trust each other with their lives and the lives of some of the last remaining aliens on the planet. I liked the imaginative descriptions of all the different aliens. I would have liked an explanation of how Ava’s parents knew how to decorate the aliens’ enclosures to look like their home planets since elsewhere it seems like they didn’t know where the aliens came from. Maybe that’s something that will be explained in future books. I saw the twist at the end coming a mile away, but I’m not sure middle grade readers will. I was hoping to LOVE this book, but I didn’t. I didn’t hate it. I think my biggest problem was that Ava wasn’t a very likable character for much of the book. Despite that, the premise is interesting enough I would be interested in reading the next book.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None. Ava and Harley have to share a small tent which they feel awkward about.
Violence: The news is reporting that the military is shooting and killing the loose aliens. Some of the shots are described. There’s a run in with the military at the end and some bad guys have unfortunate run-ins with dangerous alien creatures that results in some fatalities. A little blood described most of it Ava can’t see so she doesn’t describe as the narrator.
Ethnic diversity: I don’t remember any physical descriptions of Ava or Harley that really nail down their ethnicity.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Trust issues, young teens with trauma issues due to deaths of parents/parents abandoning them, a parent and uncle with mental health issues, homelessness.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her mother's death and the disappearance of her father, thirteen-year-old Ava is the only one who cares for the ELBs (extraterrestrial living beings) at the Alien Zoo. Well, her uncle is supposedly in charge, but she's really the only one who loves the beings and knows how to take care of them. When the uncle decides it's time for her to return to a normal life at school and hires an intern, Ava is furious, but this gets put on hold as a hurricane hits. The next morning after the brutal storm, Ava discovers all but one of the ELBs have gotten out and need to be brought home. Ava will do anything to save the ELBs. After all, they're all she has left.

This begins with a wonderful setting: a girl in charge of a zoo filled with the most amazing beings. Each creature packs imagination, a little danger, and tons of emotion. Their various personalities will have readers wishing they could see this zoo, too. Ava's ever-serious attitude melds well with the situation, and while she seems a little cold, her love for the creature makes it clear that she has a heart of gold. This goodness reveals itself increasingly as the story moves on, giving her tons of character arc and plenty to cheer for.

There are many unexpected twists and turns as Ava finds herself trying to save the ELBs. While the adventure and tension remain pretty high most of the time, these pages also deal with Ava's grief. There are plenty of emotional exchanges, especially with the intern, which touch the heart in many ways. The author does a lovely job at handling this aspect of the plot, and it's sure to leave readers with a little food for thought.

I was surprised by the heavier scene changes as the tale progressed. While the beginning zoo carried a somewhat playful and curious tone, it shifts heavily as the intern and Ava search for the last, missing ELB (as does the pacing). The ending takes another sharp turn, adding very unexpected plot twists. During each of these, the atmosphere also switches along with the purpose of what is happening. It creates an interesting read with several layers. There are a few triggers surrounding the animal abuse and violent (but not graphic) animal deaths, which might bother sensitive readers.

The ending surprises with a huge twist, which brings a few darker moments with it, which will pull at the heart strings. From what I understand, there should be a book two, and after this read, I'm wondering where everything will go next. I received an ARC and found this to be an original and grabbing read with emotional goodness, too.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Extraterrestrial Zoo 1: Finding the Lost One by Samantha van Leer is a first person-POV Upper Middle Grade sci-fi set in an alternative reality where alien eggs were sent to Earth twice a year but nobody knows why. Ava has been taking care of her parents’ zoo with her Uncle Peter ever since the death of her mother and later her father. When a hurricane hits and intruders enter the zoo to harm the aliens, Ava must do everything she can to protect her extraterrestrial family.

I think readers who loved Lilo and Stitch, particularly the TV series, are going to be really into this. There's multiple alien species with different wants and needs, some of which cannot even be exposed to Earth’s air without being at risk of dying, and Ava is determined to keep them all safe. My favorite alien was Mimzing and I'd love an entire art book of what the different aliens look like so I can see if the rough idea I have matches the author’s image.

Ava is pretty no nonsense and doesn't really trust other people nor is particularly interested in other humans. She's not friends with her classmates, mostly because they find her strange for living at an alien zoo, and she's hostile to Harley, a new hire who is a year older than her. Her relationship with her uncle is also pretty rocky and is more of a shared living space situation rather than an actual family. If she has a family after the death of her parents, it would be the aliens she cares for.

One thing I found really cool was how often more advanced scientific terms were used. It fits with Ava’s POV because she was raised around this kind of language given that her parents owned and operated the zoo with government funding, but it also fills a need for books that will satisfy a more scientifically-minded young reader who isn't quite ready for YA or isn't interested in sci-fi set in space or alternate dimensions. There is the use of the word ‘crap’ in the book, but that's about as crass as it gets and I'm not sure if that word is even seen as a bad word anymore like it was when I was that age.

I would recommend this to young readers who love sci-fi, fans of all ages who enjoyed Lilo and Stitch, and those looking for more advanced scientific vocabulary in a Middle Grade

[Teresa Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the Lost One
The Extraterrestrial Zoo #1
Samantha van Leer
03/04/2025
Pixel + Ink

It’s official. I have found myself utterly and completely immersed and mesmerized by Samantha van Leer’s writing.

Welcome to a world where extraterrestrials are landing on Earth. Two per year, each in their own egg with a white card containing one word written on it. No one knows why or how or where they come from, but the Extraterrestrial Living Being’s (ELB’s) have needs, powers and skills that could be harnessed for good or bad.

After her mother's passing and her father's departure, 13-year-old Ava Ardent has become the sole caretaker of 32 Extraterrestrial Living Beings (ELBs) housed in the Alien Zoo in Maine. Her already difficult life takes an unexpected turn when her uncle Pete, a veteran of the war in Iraq, hires 14-year-old Harley as an intern just as a powerful hurricane approaches them. During the storm, many of the ELBs escape, and with Uncle Pete joining the police to manage the crisis, Ava and Harley are left to care for the one remaining ELB while also pursuing an escaped creature in the nearby woods. As they navigate this high-pressure situation, Ava and Harley develop a deep connection, sharing personal stories and becoming each other's first true friend.

There are so many wonderful things to unpack on these pages. First of all, each ELB that was introduced was nothing short of vivid and so full of imagination that the world van Leer has created comes to life for the reader. This heartwarming and thrilling science-fiction adventure, will be loved by middle school readers while they navigate through a world where trust and friendship, responsibility and family are discussed in a way that they can understand and relate to.

[Rachael Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had such a great time with this book and following along with Ava and Harley to protect the Extraterrestrial Living Being (ELB) Zoo from sinister forces after a terrible storm.

The story opens with Ava, a 13 year old girl who has become "the parent" in many ways to her uncle who seems to forget to buy groceries and is suffering his own level of PTSD after being in the military. Ava suffers herself after the death of her mother and disappearance of her father. She feels abandoned and as though she only has the zoo and its inhabitants. She is also hyper-focused on caring for the ELBs and not asking for help from anyone, to the point she has no friends or outside contacts beyond the people she briefly interacts with at school.

The zoo is floundering with no one coming to see the ELBs, but her feels Av needs a life outside of the zoo and needs to do something more "normal" than spending all of her time within the walls of her own self-imposed prison. So the uncle hires an intern, Harley to cover some of the things Ava has been doing, such as feedings and containment maintenance. Ava is furious, but soon a storm rolls into the area and the action begins, the mystery and intrigue ramp up and we become incredibly invested in the welfare and protection of the ELB who is still missing.

I can't wait to see what might happen in the next installment in this series. I have to thank Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supposedly, this is going to be a series, because there was a plot point that was not resolved. Depending if a place that has books divide the books by genre, this could be in adventure or science-fiction. Personally, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I would have to put it in adventure. This book is basically set-up as a MacGuffin plot, which is a term I recently learned that means a person or a group of people are going out to get a thing (or in some cases a person, like Private Ryan in Saving Private Ryan). Now, if the plot point was resolved or mentioned more then I would place this most likely in science-fiction. I would also say this has a Race to Witch Mountain feels.

I'm going to list a bunch questions that I would like to be resolve and hopefully are out-of-context enough that they are not spoilers.

1. Who (singular or plural) started this?
2. Why did this person or people stopped?
3. What's with the names?
4. Why two?
5. Are the names personal or a category (i.e., Sue vs. jaguars)?
6. Was this an experiment?

There are more questions that I thought of as I listed them, but I felt they may cross into the spoiler category.

Verdict: While this was a MacGuffin plot, it was also a vehicle for other concerns and issues. Oh, Uncle Pete. Also, I know this is for kids, but you would think a character, who is a bit of scientist, would realize you need to expose things to different stimuli to elicit different responses, if you are truly want to understand something (without causing undue stress and harm). I also recognize that maybe this character felt he was barely treading water and did not think of everything as a scientist. As I have been told and experience, when we perceive a crisis or an issue, we are not always thinking calmly.

[Manon St-Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first part of the book is so adorable. You follow Ava as she explains to Harley how to care for and feed the different aliens/creatures. So you discover them little by little, what they look like, their needs and how some have abilities and can be dangerous. It's like visiting the zoo of wonders.

When the storm hits, the tone of the story changes completely and becomes tragic and serious. I wasn't ready for that. Now you focus on the young characters and with their journey to find the missing ELB, you learn a little how to survive in the woods. I think that's a very interesting knowledge to learn and Ava is a strong, resourceful and courageous character, a good example for a young reader. There is a twist that I did not see coming with a rescue mission.
I went through all sorts of emotions with this story and I can easily imagine that the twelve year old girl that I was would have been amazed by this book. It is the kind of story that I would have devoured.
I would easily recommend it to a young middle grade reader discovering science fiction.

This is the first in the series, and there is great potential for what comes next. I want to know why and where these ELBs come from, why on earth?

Thank You to Netgalley and Pixel+Ink for the eARC

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever science-fiction/adventure story. Middle-grader Ava is basically on her own running the family zoo in the Maine woods. Her mother died several years ago and her father left a few months ago. Her uncle is supposedly taking care of her but in reality she takes care of him. The zoo is unusual – it’s a zoo of ELBs, or extraterrestrial living beings. The ELBs mysteriously arrived as eggs and hatched on Earth. Some spit acid, some unzip their stomach to reveal sharp teeth to eat, some require special environments to breathe. Ava’s uncle hires Harley as an intern and right after he shows up, a hurricane destroys the zoo and Ava’s uncle disappears. You know there is more to the story when you realize the government oversees the zoo program. Readers will be ready for the sequel.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating idea -- a wide variety of alien beings arriving on earth and being placed in a zoo. Ava has grown up helping her parents take care of all of these ELBs (Extraterrestrial Beings). She knows each of them, their like and dislikes, their personalities and quirks. When a category 5 hurricane comes through Maine and the Zoo is destroyed, Ava sets out on a journey through the forest to find any of the ELBs that she can. She learns some surprising truths along the way, about herself, her family, and the ELBs. I only predicted one of the many twists in the book. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Céline Badaroux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's say I loved it 'till the 90% mark. Interesting setting, lively characters and an interesting way of dealing with grief. BUT the last 10% were... totally illogical and kinda gore. However, the gruesome deaths at the end apparently don't seem to disturb our 13 yo girl who keeps imagining herself as an action movie star. Full sociopathic behaviour. And the very last sentence really got me thinking, but not in the good way, as it contradicts a 100% the epiphany she has a few pages before. Is it the sociopathic behavious hitting full force again ? I really wonder...

And HUGE TW : violence against animals, animal death, violence, blood, fucking horrible deaths.

[Taryn Souders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally loved this book! Middle grade is the coolest genre to read and this one is right at the top of my favorites. Readers will be intrigued by the amazing creatures at the zoo, and then when the worst thing that could possibly happen occurs, the tension skyrockets. Samantha van Leer won't let the readers of this exciting conspiracy adventure go until the last page....but who really knows? There's the hinted promise of more to come! Libraries need multiple copies because this one will fly off the shelves.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique sci-fi. I was curious how the creatures and zoo would play. It's a type of sci-fi first-contact story we usually see for adults but not as much for a middle grade; the author did a great job balancing the military hunting, the creature's sadness, and drama with the personal issues of Ava and her new friendship. It's in many ways sad but builds up to a satisfying ending.

[Anita Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava grew up caring for ELB,s-Extraterrestrial Living Beings- after her parents were charged with caring for the ones who,hatched on earth. In fact, the ELBs are her best friends- actually her only friends. When they escape from the zoo after a hurricane Ava endangers herself to save them.

A pretty entertaining book. Although targeted for 10-14 year olds, I found it to be an entertaining book.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a genuine delight. I've read all thirty-ish of her mom's books and I'm a huge fan. This couldn't possibly be more different, but talent clearly runs in the family. Can't wait to find out what happens to Ava and the ELBs in #2!

[Emily McGaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun adventure story! My 10 year old son and I both enjoyed this fast pace and unique novel. The aliens were delightfully imagined and the plot kept us guessing (and periodically shocked!). Great easy read for anyone that enjoys sci-fi.

[Yuiko · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this in a goodreads giveaway for a free review

It started off really strong for the opening pages but after a while it just got boring . I'm to the point where I don't even want to finish it or care too.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

love me some middle grade sci-fi. great take on a what if spie of the future.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade science fiction is hard to find but this is an excellent example and I already know which students I’ll be recommending this to.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man, I LOVED this! I still have so many questions (were those actually their names? why did they stop coming? etc.) but I'm assuming those will get answered in book two, which I can't wait for!