The Bug Bandits

by Jenni L. Walsh

When a science-loving girl and her friends overhear a plot to rob her father’s insectarium, they embark on a mission to stop the burglary of the museum’s rarest insects. Inspired by true events.

Without a mom and with her dad busy running the museum, Liberty Jacobs was practically raised by the tarantulas, leopard geckos, and rare butterflies of the Walnut Street Insectarium. She loves being the resident “Bug Girl,” but unless Liberty and her dad can snag a big investor, they’ll lose the museum, their home, and the funding Liberty needs to launch her dream a butterfly release program called Life & Liberty.

The investor meeting is a week away, but there’s a big Liberty has reason to suspect there’s going to be a "buglary" of the museum’s rarest animals. But the police don’t believe her, and with Dad out of town for an insect convention, it’s up to Liberty and her friends (and her vast knowledge of bug defense mechanisms) to thwart the thieves and save the museum.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Audiobook, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Nature

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2025

About the author

Jenni L. Walsh is the USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books for adults and children, spending her days knee deep in words in Philadelphia’s suburbia. Beyond words, Jenni is a mama (of a soulful twelve-year-old, a soccer-loving ten-year-old, and six needy furbabies), a wife, a Philly and 'Nova sports fan.

But where did it all begin? Jenni was a bit of a late bloomer when it came to reading and writing. She didn't find her passion until the Vampire craze. Yes, vampires. Since then, she's been a voracious reader and writer, for both young readers and adults.

For the mamas, Side by Side is a historical women's fiction story of America’s most infamous crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde told in the raw and honest voice of the woman who lived it, Bonnie Parker. In Becoming Bonnie, a prequel set in the Roaring Twenties, a picture of Bonnie's earlier life, before and while she meets Clyde, is brought to life. Jenni's third historical women's fiction book A Betting Woman takes us to the California gold rush, featuring a little known woman from history, Eleanor Dumont, but who is largely remembered by the moniker Madame Moustache. In The Call of the Wrens, Jenni introduces readers to the Women's Royal Naval Service (the Wrens), who carried wartime secrets on their shoulders as motorcycle dispatch riders during both world wars. Unsinkable ​is Jenni's first bestselling novel, hitting the USA Today bestsellers list, and is about two resilient women, one of which is the real-life Violet Jessop who survived the Titanic and two additional maritime disasters. Jenni's next historical novel Ace, Marvel, Spy features Alice Marble, who was the world's number one women's tennis player, an editor for the Wonder Woman comics, and a spy during the Second World War. Up next from Jenni, in October 2025, is Sonora, a historical novel about performer Sonora Carver, one of the first women to dive from a forty-five foot tower on the back of a horse and who inspired the film Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.

For the kiddos, Jenni's debut middle grade books, She Dared, features true stories from women who, at a young age, accomplished daring feats of perseverance and bravery. She is also the author of I Am Defiance, inspired by a real-life resistance group, known as the White Rose. Jenni has contributed Hettie and the London Blitz: A World War II Survival Story to the Girl's Survive series. Revolutionary War hero Sybil Ludington, who is often known as the "female Paul Revere," is brought to life in By the Light of Fireflies, Jenni's first historical novel with a touch of magical realism. Over and Out is a thrilling and fast-paced espionage and escape story that is inspired by real stories of life in East Berlin during the Cold War. Operation: Happy, set during the attack on Pearl Harbor, tells the story of a real-life survivor and includes the POV of her dog, Happy, to soften the events of one of America's most notable moments in history. In May 2025, Jenni is excited to be releasing her first contemporary novel, a mystery/adventure story called The Bug Bandits, which is inspired by a real heist and the shenanigans of Home Alone.

Reviews

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I'm not really into bugs, but butterfly's are my exception, and this had a delightful amount of them. It was great!
The characters were all delightful, and liberty really did act just right for her age. I can't wait to read more by her. <3

[Meg Murdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advance copy.

A heartwarming middle grade mystery inspired by TRUE events!

This will be an immediate add to my 5th grade classroom library! Inspired by a 2018 insectarium robbery in Philadelphia, The Bug Bandit centers around Liberty, a bug enthusiast, who overhears a plot to rob her father’s insectarium. She and her friends embark on a mission to stop the burglary from happening. I found Liberty and Cam’s friendship really endearing and immediately thought about how much my 5th graders would be able to relate to the two of them. The book was a well paced story perfect for middle grade readers who want a book full of mystery, adventure, and friendship. Readers will love unraveling the heist and trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters in the book.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

🪲 4 stars 🪲

Liberty Jacobs is very passionate about bugs, especially because she has been raised in her father's insectarium. The insectarium is struggling to make ends meet, and an upcoming inventor meeting is on everyone's minds. But another hitch arises in their plans for the meeting pitch when Liberty's friend overhears a plan to rob the insectarium. Now, Liberty must plan to save her home and family business in more ways than one.

The Bug Bandits was a breath of fresh air in the middle-grade genre. And by that I mean the presence of attentive adults within the novel. When Liberty has a business idea and concerns about the insectarium's security, she brings them to her father, and he listens, validates her thoughts, and takes action. In a genre where a common trope is absentee parents, this was a very nice change.

I also enjoyed the Home Alone-inspired setup to deter robbers from completing their burglary. This was also an interesting way to include facts about insects' defense mechanisms.

If you are looking for a quick read with found family, bugs, and heist-interrupting shenanigans, I would recommend The Bug Bandits; it will have you buzzing to see if Liberty can save her home.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little middle grade mystery with a lot of bug facts.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love finding books that I can hand to my students and know that they are going to enjoy reading.
This story is the perfect mix of struggle, friendship, and fun facts for my 5-6 class.
Thank you, NetGallery for the ARC. This one will definitely be added to my shelves!

[Stacey Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh you guys, this is such a fun story. My kids and I loved it, especially listening to the audio together.

Liberty Jacobs, affectionately (or maybe not so affectionately) known as the "bug girl" by her friends, is the science-loving daughter of parents who run a local museum...a bug museum to be specific. When Liberty and her friends overhear a plot to rob her father's Insectarium, the band together to stop the burglary and save the museum whether the grown ups around them would believe them or not.

My kids loved the shenanigans of the friends as they worked to stop the burglars and likened their plots to the pranks pulled in Home Alone, which just happens to be their favorite movie right now. They related not only to Liberty's struggle with her best friend moving away and feeling alone but to feeling young and like she had to work to be heard by the grown ups. The celebrated when they "won" at the end and loved the way that it happened.

Consider this middle grade heist novel full of friendship and self-discovery if you have kids aged 6-12. And this mom enjoyed it too.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun middle grade mystery! Main character Liberty relies on her wits and her friends to stop a planned burglary of the insect museum her family owns.

This one has tons of hijinx and problem solving (sometimes Home Alone style). I learned so much about insects as Liberty uses her knowledge to create diversions and traps for the burglars. You definitely have to suspend your disbelief for certain moments, as I'm sure a tween's plans would not really take down the bad guys in real life. As a reader, though, I was rooting for Liberty and had fun seeing where the story went. There are some deeper discussions about grief, communication, and betrayal that felt very well developed. A great read overall!

[Blink Young Adult · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun middle grade book about a girl who lives in an insectarium. Thieves try to steal the rarest bugs, based on a true event!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's always been just Liberty Jacobs and her dad running the Walnut Street Insectarium in Philadelphia after the death of her mother when she was very young, but they do get help from Grams, who lives nearby, and Dr. Rosie Rossetti, her dad's business partner. There's also Mary Sue, who runs the gift shop and keeps an eye on Emmy, since the family apartment is on the fourth floor of the museum. Emmy is worried about the financial health of the museum, and her dad has an appointment with bankers in a week to try to get some funding. She also misses her friend, Emmy, who has moved to Florida, although the pair video chat every day. Liberty wants to propose a new program to her father which she hopes will bring in some revenue so that she can travel to see her best friend. She wants to deliver pipeline swallowtail eggs to people, give them a talk about the butterflies, and help them hatch the eggs... all for $49.99. Her father is trying to spiff up the museum a bit, and brings in her classmate Cam Jones to refresh some of Emmy's paintings that decorate the walls of the museum. Liberty (or Libs) is a little leery, since Cam is a track star and very popular, while she is often referred to as "bug girl" and doesn't have many friends. The two hit it off, however, and are able to band together when Emmy overhears (via the phone) to men talking about Thursday and things bringing "a pretty price". "Buglary" is a real problem, and after a scourge of recent insect deaths, Libs knows the museum can't afford to lose any more creatures. She confides in her father, the police are called, and they do take things seriously, posting a guard. But when there is no activity, they call off surveillance. Libs is sure that it will happen, so she and Cam find a way to stay in the museum when her father is out of town, and study the ways the insects repel predators in order to boobytrap the museum, ala the 1990 film, Home Alone. They do a good job, but there are some false starts. Will they be able to save the museum from closing, even if the theft might be an inside job?
Strengths: I love that Liberty gets along with her father and Grams, and is super passionate about her family's museum, even coming up with new and interesting ways to spread the word about the collection and to raise money. Having Cam come to do volunteer work in the museum was a great way to introduce a side kick, and having Emmy on the phone is probably all too realistic for friends who are separated. I don't want to ruin the mystery and reveal the culprit, but it made sense, and I only have the slightest inkling early in the book. I also really appreciated that the father believed Liberty, as did the police. This makes the situation even more serious. The description of the museum, with the location of all of the different collections, was very interesting, and there's plenty of good STEM inclusion about insects. This is a departure from Walsh's historical novels I am Defiance (2021), (Over and Out (2022), and Operation Happy (2024), but is a fun, action packed mystery.
Weaknesses: I'm trying to look more kindly at the inclusion of dead parents in middle grade literature after a Bluesky conversation with Kate Messner, but there really was no reason for the mother not to be in the picture. Not entirely sure that today's children know about Home Alone, but maybe this will encourage them to look it up. I've never seen the movie, and it did not impact my enjoyment of the book.
What I really think: Well, I just want to go live on the top floor of the Corning Museum in New York or perhaps the Victoria and Albert Museum now! A building with collections of amazing things is a great setting for a middle grade novel, and this will be popular with readers who have enjoyed museum-centered mysteries like Averling's The Curse of Eelgrass Bog, Durst's Spy Ring, or Hosch's Mabel Opal Pear and the Rules for Spying, Landis' Capitol Chase, Leali's The Civil War of Amos Abernathy, Noel's Cats of the Silver Crescent, Parks' Summer of Brave, Ponti's Framed, Savaryn's The Night Train, Wells' Eddie Red: Mystery on Museum Mile.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenni Walsh (author of MG historical fiction Operation: Happy, Over & Out, I am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies and more) branches out into a slightly different genre with this loosely based on fact, realistic fiction for grades 4-7.

Liberty and her father live above the Insectarium, a Philadelphia museum focused on insects including a butterfly atrium and many other live specimen exhibits, a place that is both home and a shared passion for the two. Finances are tight and with a disease wiping out some of their insect population, a meeting with possible investors has become critically important or the museum may close, leaving both of them without purpose or a place to live. The tension is high, made worse for Liberty with her best and nearly only friend Emmy living in Florida and only daily FaceTime calls to keep them connected. Liberty is a planner and with a well-thought out proposal to start up a butterfly release at home program hopes she can add an extra component that helps to wow potential investors. An overheard conversation leads to suspicions of a burglary that would certainly scare off those who might ordinary support the Insectarium and prompts Emmy to team up with Cam, a classmate who has been sprucing up some of the museum’s murals and discovered the magic of the exhibits, in order to catch the burglars in the act and thwart plans that would ruin everything.

Liberty/Libs is a strong, intelligent middle schooler who has her own style and interests and is almost content with being unashamedly herself. She does miss having friends and worries that distance is going to damage her closeness to Emmy. Cam is popular and an athlete who is trying to keep his love of art a secret from parents he is sure will disapprove. Readers will relate to many of those feelings and some will connect to the Liberty’s single parent home. Regardless of connections to the main characters, the Home Alone-like plan the duo creates in order to get the evidence needed to reveal the thieves will keep all engaged and possibly thinking up their own tricks to slow down sneaky criminals.

Highly recommend this one for middle grade libraries and see it as an excellent read aloud choice for those in the targeted age range and slightly younger. ELA teachers will find plenty of opportunities for character study, prediction with evidence to support those hypotheses, cause & effect as well as passages providing such vivid descriptions of exhibits suitable for examples of excellent writing. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence.

Thanks for the eARC, NetGalley.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
Liberty has a special love for animals with six or eight legs and she’ll do anything to save her father’s insect museum. She doesn’t mind being called Bug Girl although she’s learned not to advertise her unusual interest in school. She feels a bit alone this school year since her best friend moved to Florida although she video chats with Emmy every day at 5:00. Later, the most popular boy in school begins working for Liberty’s father but he’s keeping a secret from his parents. Liberty has full access to all areas of the museum as she helps to care for the insects, spiders, and lizards living among the various rooms and floors of the building. She has a special love for these creatures and she can’t imagine losing them.
Drama surrounds the museum’s survival as it’s still trying to recover from the deaths of valuable insects. Chapters count down the days remaining until the father meets with potential investors; later chapters count down to a possible robbery. Liberty gets an idea to begin a butterfly release program that should be sustainable and help raise money for the insectarium. However, she must pitch the concept to her father and await his approval or rejection. Emmy inadvertently hears voices one day and shares what she hears with Liberty. This moment transforms the plot into a mystery as the girls suspect something nefarious will occur. The police are skeptical of the girls’ story and it eventually becomes clear the girls will need to take matters into their own hands.
Bug lovers will enjoy this book as it’s packed full of buggy information. Liberty talks about different butterflies but focuses more on the pipevine swallowtails she’d like to use for her release program. The museum has a popular turtle named Franklin. A green iguana frightens Cam so Liberty shares facts about why Kermit is harmless. Stag beetles, pink katydids, and rare tarantulas are the most valuable exhibits in the museum. The plot builds to a climax where Liberty takes hints from defense mechanisms found in the bug kingdom. This is the part of the book where the characters are inspired by Kevin McCallister in the movie “Home Alone”.
What didn’t work as well:
Readers learn a little bit about the characters but there isn’t much depth to them. We hear about Liberty’s past issues with classmates but what’s happening now? It’s surprising when the epilogue takes place at her school, on the last day before summer break. Readers know Cam wants to explore his talents in art and readers, along with Liberty, are under the impression he’s being pressured by his parents to play sports. His decision later in the book would make more sense if readers had more information about Cam’s situation.
The final verdict:
Although many readers may not share Liberty’s interest in insects and small creatures, her passion for them is contagious. A mystery evolves as the date of the investor meeting gets closer and young readers will enjoy unlocking the clues along with the characters. The book will surely appeal to bug lovers but I recommend you give it a shot too!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenni L. Walsh's The Bug Bandits proves that sometimes the most interesting heist stories involve creatures with six legs and absolutely zero moral compass. Inspired by a real 2018 Philadelphia insectarium robbery (because apparently someone looked at a butterfly and thought "I need to steal that"), this middle-grade mystery follows Liberty, a bug enthusiast whose father runs an insectarium that's hemorrhaging money faster than a punctured cocoon.

The plot has more countdowns than a NASA launch: days until the investor meeting, days until the potential robbery, and presumably days until Liberty's father considers a career change to something less stressful, like air traffic control. Liberty's brilliant solution? A butterfly release program, because nothing says "financially viable business model" like letting your inventory fly away on purpose.

When Emmy overhears suspicious voices (as one does), the girls transform into amateur detectives with the investigative skills of Nancy Drew and the credibility of two middle schoolers telling adults about their bug-related conspiracy theories. Predictably, the police are about as convinced as parents listening to excuses about missing homework, leaving our young protagonists to handle things themselves.

Walsh succeeds in making Liberty's passion for creepy-crawlies genuinely infectious—you'll find yourself rooting for beetles you never knew existed. However, some characters remain as underdeveloped as larvae, particularly Cam, whose artistic aspirations and parental sports pressure are mentioned with all the depth of a Wikipedia summary.

Despite its flaws, The Bug Bandits delivers enough mystery and heart to keep young readers engaged, even if they prefer mammals with the standard number of legs. It's a solid reminder that sometimes the smallest creatures make the biggest impact—both in ecosystems and in surprisingly entertaining heist plots.

Perfect for: Bug enthusiasts, aspiring detectives, and anyone who's ever wanted to solve a crime involving creatures that most people try to swat. 3.5 stars bumped up to 4 because I actually enjoyed it.

[Nannette Demmler · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by Zonderkidz Books via Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a fun and exciting middle grade novel featuring a delightful young entomologist and her new friend foiling some burglars intent on stealing some expensive bugs. I really enjoyed this science centered story and I think kids will find it delightful as well.

Liberty is a very sweet young girl who lives with her father above their bug museum. She is very into bugs and insects, but especially butterflies. Liberty’s best friend has recently moved away and she is feeling a little lonely, as she thinks the other kids at school don’t like her because of her interest in bugs. But then Cam, a popular boy from her school, starts to work at the museum and things start to change for Liberty. I really liked how their friendship blossomed and how cool Cam thought her life was. They grew to be very supportive of each other which was really nice to see. I also like how even though they were living far apart Liberty and her best friend Emmy keep in touch and continue to maintain their friendship. Emmy actually becomes very important to the capture of the burglars.

Liberty has a great relationship with her dad and the other adults who work at the museum. This was really nice to see, as so often in middle grade books you have cruel or evil adults out to get the kids. Or parents who are overbearing or indifferent to their kids. It was just nice to see a group of adults who enjoy kids and are so supportive of them, even when they are doing something a bit on the dangerous side.

I really enjoyed the science aspect of this story. Many facts about insects are woven seamlessly into the story. I also appreciated that when Cam and Liberty were looking at the movie Home Alone for inspiration about how to thwart the burglars, it was emphasized how deadly the pranks in the movie were. I also really enjoyed how the pranks that Liberty and Cam come up with are based on insect defenses and camouflage. This aspect of the story was nicely done and felt realistic as well.

This is a nicely done middle grade adventure with a great cast of characters. It will be one that any budding young scientist will enjoy, especially anyone interested in bugs and insects.

https://elnadesbookchat.com

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute book!! This middle grade read was endearing and fun even as an adult! I consumed the audiobook ALC which has a 4 hour run time which when I sped it up to 2x speed was able to do in half the time making it a very quick read.

It’s narrated by Gail Shalan and she did a fine job with her performance with one minor challenge. While I enjoyed how she portrayed the FMC Libery Jacob’s young voice her choice for her friend Emmys voice made her sound much too young for the middle-grade range as she sounded like a toddler. Had this been a longer book that I had to listen at regular speed throughout, I’m not sure I would have been able to deal with it. But I’m an adult and a young reader may experience it very differently. That being said she narrates at a great pace for the 1x speed. The narration really allows the reader to jump into the story as well.


For the book itself it’s chock full of information about insects but done in a fun and engaging way of Liberty and her friends stopping a potential “Bug-lary” (bug burglary) “Home Alone” style. It was such a great way to engage young reader in not just reading but STEM topics.

I highly suggest this book for 3rd grade on up.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from ZonderKidz through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.


My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books

⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.

[D.K. Hundt · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BUG BANDITS – by Jenni L. Walsh

‘Without a mom and with her dad busy running the museum, Liberty Jacobs was practically raised by the tarantulas, leopard geckos, and rare butterflies of the Walnut Street Insectarium. She loves being the resident “Bug Girl,” but unless Liberty and her dad can snag a big investor, they’ll lose the museum, their home, and the funding Liberty needs to launch her dream business: a butterfly release program called Life & Liberty.’
‘The investor meeting is a week away, but there’s a big problem: Liberty has reason to suspect there’s going to be a "buglary" of the museum’s rarest animals. But the police don’t believe her…’

Me Heart!! Oh, I love this book! THE BUG BANDIT is a heartwarming, intense read I know kids young and old are going to love too.

Even at a smidge over middle age, there are several things I learned about Insects and Reptiles that I did not have a clue about until I read this Book.

For example: Did you know that cicadas are the only Insects that sweat???

I, for one, did not! My sweat is sweating just thinking about it. That, and the blink of Spring we Californians are experiencing before the dreaded rays of Summer blast our retinas.

Okay, that was a little dramatic, but seriously…Pre-order This Book!

Highly Recommend!

Scheduled For Release: May 6, 2025 (Though Subject To Change)

Reading Age: 8 – 12
Grade Level: 4 - 6

Thank you, NetGalley and Zonderkidz Books, for providing me with an eBook of THE BUG BANDITS at the request of an honest review.

[Alison (readinginazaleawoods) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars rounded down)

If your kids love Night at the Museum, Home Alone, and all things bugs, this one is a win!

We listened to the audiobook, and my girls were hooked from the very beginning—which says a lot, because we are not an audiobook family no matter how hard we try 😅. But between the mystery, the museum setting, and the fascinating bug facts, they couldn’t stop listening. Every chance we had to press play, we did.

And honestly? I was just as invested. I downloaded this so they could listen in their tents while camping, but the mystery had me so curious that I didn’t want them listening without me.

Inspired by a real-life heist, this story follows Liberty Jacobs—nicknamed Bug Girl—and her new friend Cam. When Liberty’s best friend overhears suspicious voices at the insectarium, the kids spring into action to stop a theft and protect the museum’s rare insects. It’s clever, engaging, and keeps you guessing who’s behind the “buglary.”

Overall, this is a clean, wholesome middle-grade read (great for 8+), and while there’s no faith content, I appreciated that Liberty confidently embraces her love of science and bugs without trying to change herself to fit in or impress others. That quiet confidence felt refreshing and age-appropriate.

I also love that the author offers free downloadable resources on her website, making this an even richer experience for families, homeschoolers, classrooms, and kids’ book clubs.

⭐️ Content note: A child lies to their parents about their whereabouts.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready for a heist story where the bugs are the real heroes! 🐜🔍✨

I had an absolute blast with this one! It’s fast, incredibly fun, and packed with so much heart and cool bug facts!

We follow Liberty Jacobs, a science-loving girl who was practically raised inside the Walnut Street Insectarium surrounded by tarantulas, geckos, and rare butterflies. Liberty is desperate to save her home and launch her dream butterfly release program, Life & Liberty. But right before a massive investor meeting that could save the museum, Liberty overhears a plot to pull off a total buglary and steal the insectarium's rarest creatures!

With her dad out of town and the police refusing to believe her, Liberty takes matters into her own hands. Armed with her best friends and her vast knowledge of bug defense mechanisms, she sets out to thwart the thieves herself.

What I loved most about this book is how it blends a high-stakes, race-against-the-clock mystery with real-life science and it's inspired by true events! Liberty is such a spunky, relatable heroine, and using actual bug defense strategies to outsmart museum burglars is pure genius. It’s accessible, energetic, and perfect for young readers and middle-grade mystery lovers alike.

A HUGE thank you to StoryGram Tours, Zonderkidz, and Jenni L. Walsh for sharing a copy of The Bug Bandits with me! I am so grateful for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful story. 🙏❤️

[Deb Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely lovely and heartwarming story of friends coming together to help each other in their time of need. Liberty Jacobs and her dad live above their insectarium in Philadelphia, PA. When her dad needs to meet with an investor to help secure the future of the museum, not everyone is on board with the plan. Liberty, with the help of her best friend Emmy and her newest friend, Cam, discover that there is a plot to rob the insectarium a few days before the meeting with the investor. The creative kids find a way an ingenious way to help to figure out who is behind the plot.
As a long time fan of Chasing Vermeer and A Night at the Museum, this book was right up my alley. The kids were well written and capable and each had a uniqueness to them that many middle grade students could relate to: Liberty could relate much better to insects than kids at her school, Emmy had moved to Florida and was a chess whiz, and Cam struggled to find a balance with his love of art and playing sports. The adults had secondary roles and filled in where they should. Any fan of museums, zoos, insectariums, and mysteries, will devour this book as I did. I wish I was still teaching as this would be a fantastic real aloud in my STEM classroom.

#BugBandits #middlegrade
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liberty helps her dad run the Instectarium with her dad where they also live. She absolutely loves the insects they care for, knows all about the displays, and can tell you 1001 things about different insects. Unfortunately, the kids at school would rather put her down and call her BugGirl instead of noticing what an amazing person she is. Which is why when a student from her class, Cam, shows up and is going to paint over her best friend's artwork, she is not at all pleased. Cam is just trying to do something he loves and has problems of his own, like his parents wanting him to only care about sports instead of art. Liberty starts to realize that there is more to Cam and their friendship grows just as there are rumors that someone is going to steal from the Insectarium! Cam and Liberty look to Home Alone and the defenses of various insects to create their own traps to save the Insectarium from burglary.

This is such a cute story. It shows the importance of being yourself, how friends can help you to be yourself, how to love the things about yourself that make you different, and how to work together on projects big and small. There are so many different facts dropped in about insects, their behaviors, life cycles, and their adaptations. The story was fast-paced and positive.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

In BUG BANDITS, Liberty and her dad live above the Insectarium, her family's museum focused on insects. The museum has hit a rough spot, and her dad will be meeting with investors to secure the future of the museum. She can’t imagine her life without the museum and has even come up with a plan to help bring in extra funds to support it. When a conversation in the museum is overheard, Liberty believes that a plan to rob the museum is in the works. Knowing that a robbery would jeopardize her dad’s chances with the investors, Liberty hatches a plan to stop the burglars in their tracks with help from her best friend Emmy and Cam, a classmate who’s been helping at the museum.

Liberty is a strong, confident protagonist. Her love of insects provides a natural and seamless way for fascinating information about different species to be shared throughout the book. A fun mix of science, mystery, and friendship, BUG BANDITS is a fast paced, engaging adventure with high stakes and hi-jinks. With its nods to the classic movie Home Alone and its science content, the book will appeal to a wide range of middle grade readers.

[WenDeeDeeDee36 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good story! I expected to be at least a little entertained and enjoy a cute story, but what I got was a whole rollercoaster of emotions and excitement. Liberty is a fun kid who likes what she likes and is only a little embarrassed by it. She’s going through losing her best friend I who moved states, trying to maintain their friendship through video calls, and keep her and her father’s insectarium (and home) running. It’s quite a lot for a young girl to shoulder and I think it is great that you see her go through a lot of different emotions. The intensity ramps up even more once you throw in a budding friendship, and suspicions that someone is going to “buglar” the insectarium! You get a lot of great reference to a great classic of my youth, Home Alone. I also like the research Walsh put into the insects and their habits. It was fun to learn some new things and I think it would be great for a younger reader too.
Gail Shalan does a wonderful job bringing all these characters to life in the audiobook. She portrays ALL the emotions and chaos of these kids and made it a very enjoyable listen!

[Bree Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute novel for elementary school kids, and it works especially well as an audiobook. The narrator is really energetic, which keeps the mystery and suspense moving. The narrator does a good job with different voices, so the students would not get confused. It’s perfect for listeners ages 8 and up. think even my high school locally developed students would enjoy reading it.

My highschool PLP class would love this audiobook, especially if I showed the Home Alone movie first. The book is full of Home Alone references, and making those connections is very important for the PLP group. I would also use an insect unit simultaneously. Students could investigate different kinds of insects and their defense mechanisms while listening to the novel alongside.

There are positive themes of friendship, trust, being truthful with parents, and the importance of being true to yourself. I also love that the idea came from an actual event.

Thanks to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bug Bandits by Jenni L. Walsh is a middle school mystery. Liberty and her father live above the Walnut Street Insectarium. Her father is busy running the museum so Liberty has learned about the insects from taking care of them and lots of research. Because she is so interested in bugs, her classmates call her the Bug Girl.

When Liberty finds out that bandits are going to try to rob the Insectarium Museum, she enlists the help of her friends to put her plan in action to capture the bandits.

This book kept me engaged and wanting to help Liberty with catching the burglars. And to help her come out of her shell and make more friends.

The book is very well written and kept me engaged. I look forward to reading more books by this author..

I am giving it 4 stars out of 5. I want to thank NetGalley, author Jenni L. Walsh and, narrator Gail Shalan and publisher Zonderkidz for this audio advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bug Bandit was such a fun story! The audiobook was a wonderful time. I think this book is perfect for the middle grade genre. With all the bug knowledge, friendship struggles and all around fun adventures I think kids and adults would have a fun time reading this story! Liberty is such a relatable character. She shows her anxiousness, her fun side, when she knows she should do something and her knowledge about bug. She grows as a character throughout the book and learns she can be herself! I loved the underlying mystery of if they were going to get robbed and if they were getting funding! It made for such a fun ride and the home alone antics were great. Overall, this audiobook did an amazing job at making me picture the what the insectarium looked like and it makes me want to visit one! I also really liked the authors note that shared it was based off a real event. I truly think kids will love this book!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liberty and her father live in an insectarium. She loves helping her dad and hopes so badly they can get the funding they need as things aren’t going so well. Unfortunately her best friend over hears what sounds like a planned burglary , or ‘bug-lary’. Who could be behind stealing rare bugs?! Her dad is headed to a bug convention to talk to some investors and the police are finished with their stakeout. What’s a girl to do but plan with her friend and go Home Alone on the place hoping to snag the culprit(s).

This was such a cute mystery. My daughter loved the bugs and the “who done it?” vibe. She’d ask me every time we got in the car, “can we listen to the bug book?!” I found it very interesting that this book was inspired by a real heist. I think this is a great middle grade book for those who like bugs & mysteries.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bug Bandits was a huge hit in our house! My daughter gave it 5 stars and couldn't stop talking about Liberty and Emmy's friendship. She loved following along with their adventure and thought they made a great team. The friendship between the two characters was her favorite part of the story, and she was excited to see how they worked together to solve the mystery.

As a parent, I appreciated that the mystery genuinely kept me guessing. In many middle-grade mysteries, it's fairly easy to predict the culprit, but Bug Bandits surprised me. I didn't figure out who was behind everything until the big reveal, which made the story even more enjoyable to read alongside my daughter.

This is a fun, engaging read with strong themes of friendship, teamwork, and problem-solving. We'd definitely recommend it to young mystery lovers and families who enjoy reading together.

[Kali Cordes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The suspense of finding out when the "buglary" was going to take place, and who was behind it, pulled me in and I couldn't put the book down. Throughout the story, Liberty narrates the reasons that each character could and couldn't be the burglar, and changes her mind multiple times about who she's leaning towards. I became suspicious of every character as a result, which made the mystery even more exciting and then surprising at the end. I learned so many new things about bugs that were woven naturally into the story. It was refreshing to read a book about a female main character who is so enthusiastic about bugs. I think readers will admire that she sought out friends who embraced her passion for bugs instead of trying to change herself to fit in. This book is great for middle grade readers who love mysteries and science!

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a TON of fun with this. Liberty, Cam, and the rest of the cast truly leapt off the page. Such vibrant, interesting characters. Furthermore, I thought Howe did such a good job handling the friendships between the core trio, and Liberty's relationship with her dad was a breath of fresh air. I thought the setting was so fun and cute, too, and I loved all the bug facts and obvious research the author did into entomology. Honestly, fun and cute are the two words I would most use to describe this book. That goes especially for the voice-driven writing, and the mystery. However, the mystery is what I knocked a star off for. It was rather predictable (although I'm not the target demo, so take that with a grain of salt) and I do think it could've been paced better.

[Regency_Fan_ Michelle RegencyFanMichelleAndMore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bug Bandits
The Museum is Her Home. Her Mission is to Save It.
By Jenni L Walsh

I recommend this book.

Imagine a mashup of Home Alone and A Night in the Museum in this clever middle-grade heist story about a science-loving girl and her friends who embark on a mission to stop a burglary at her dad's insectarium. I appreciated the clean writing style and the concise chapters, which provide readers with a satisfying sense of progress.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Zonderkidz-Books | Zonderkidz and NetGalley. #TheBugBandits #NetGalley #childrensfiction #middlegrade #

[LS Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and was greatly surprised that I did. It was mystery and adventure, with the added "Home Alone" references and lots of family caring and friendship, even across the miles. Liberty is a smart and hardworking character. Some of the secondary characters lacked a little development, but they added to the story. Some details of the "mystery" was vague in order to keep it from being solved too quickly, but I didn't mind because of all the bug information that was being passed along. I think there could be a lot of connections made to a science curriculum with this book if used in a classroom.