The Capybara Conspiracy: A Novel in Three Acts

by Erica S. Perl

Fans of Tim Federle and Louis Sachar will love this hilarious story of what happens when the non-jocks kidnap their sports-obsessed school’s beloved mascot.
 
Seventh-grade playwright Olive Henry is frustrated by her middle school’s lack of appreciation for anything but sports. While the principal drones on and on during morning announcements about the sports teams’ victories, all non-athletic club meetings are relegated to the school basement, never to be mentioned on the loudspeaker. So Olive and her best friend, Reynaldo, hatch a plan to kidnap the school’s capybara mascot, planning to return it, heroically, just in time for the school’s pep rally and claim a reward: permission for their drama club to practice in the auditorium. And, hopefully, some overdue respect for the school’s non-athletes. But when an animal-rights student activist and an undercover athlete with murky motivations join in the conspiracy, their plans—along with Cappy the capybara—veer wildly out of Olive’s control.

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Childrens, Plays

192 pages, Library Binding

First published October 11, 2016

About the author

Erica S. Perl is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 40 popular and critically acclaimed books for young readers. She won the National Jewish Book Award and a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal for her middle grade novel, ALL THREE STOOGES. She is also the author of many well-loved picture books, including THE NINTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH and GOATILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, as well as several book serieses (including the TRUTH OR LIE nonfiction series). She is the co-author, with Dolly Parton, of the BILLY THE KID picture book series. She is also the co-author, with R.J. Palacio, of WHITE BIRD: A NOVEL. A crowd-pleasing presenter, Erica is available for school visits, bookstore, and library events. Follow her @ericaperl on social media and visit her website to connect with her.

Reviews

[Erica Perl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I'm the author. Visit me at www.ericaperl.com. This book is a novel but it is also a play (think of it like a graphic novel or a prose novel... just a different way to tell a story, but one that gives you a variety of voices and perspectives on a situation). Which makes it a good choice for enthusiastic and reluctant readers alike, so please give it a try and if you like it, recommend it to kids!

Here's a quick synopsis (no spoilers, I promise!): Seventh-grade playwright Olive Henry is frustrated by her middle school’s lack of appreciation for anything but sports. While the principal drones on and on during morning announcements about the sports teams’ victories, all non-athletic club meetings are relegated to the school basement, never to be mentioned on the loudspeaker. So Olive and her best friend, Reynaldo, hatch a plan to kidnap the school’s capybara mascot, planning to return it, heroically, just in time for the school’s pep rally and claim a reward: permission for their drama club to practice in the auditorium. And, hopefully, some overdue respect for the school’s non-athletes. But when an animal-rights student activist and an undercover athlete with murky motivations join in the conspiracy, their plans—along with Cappy the capybara—veer wildly out of Olive’s control.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a quirky, funny middle-grade novel that's written in play format. Basically, there's a young, budding playwright who is tired of being at a completely sports-obsessed school and wants some of the other activities (like theater!) to get some attention, too. So Olive and her best friend Reynaldo hatch a play (that quickly brings in more players) to kidnap the school mascot (a real, live capybara!) in order to get adoration and attention (and hopefully space in the theater, which is currently used as an ultimate frisbee practice area). Needless to say, things don't go quite according to plan. There are crosses and double crosses, and no one is quite who they seem to be.

I've been sitting with my thoughts on this book for a while now, and the truth is that there are parts of it that just made me uncomfortable. Some of the humor came from playing on stereotypes, and I'm just not OK with that. 1. There are some female cheerleaders who are depicted throughout as unintelligent and image obsessed. At the very end this stereotype is debunked, but regardless, you go through most of the play with it being reiterated that girls like this are dumb and shallow. 2. The Reynaldo character is your stereotypical "gay best friend"--he's jolly and effeminate and not into sports, and everyone just adores him. 3. The Pablo character is a Latin American immigrant, and for reasons that really aren't at all central to the plot and are never explained in any way, Pablo has a brother that spent time in prison in the United States. With all the rhetoric going around trying to criminalize immigrants, it seems particularly inappropriate to depict an imprisoned immigrant for no reason and with no explanation.

So, yeah. I wanted to like this book, and I appreciated that it was written with an intentionally racially and ethnically diverse cast, but I just felt like it missed the mark on a number of identity fronts with derivative humor.

[Scott Fillner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique novel written in a play format. It could be a fun book to read as a book club. There is a lot of fun, playful humor found in this MG novel.

[Amanda Schreiber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun & dramatic tale written in drama form! Perfect for middle grade readers who want to "act out" or read books with a friend! Passion & voice drive this story of conspiracy to steal the school's beloved capybara mascot, Cappy! Readers will root for Cappy as he's kidnapped not once but TWICE in this fun & fresh novel!

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Capybara Conspiracy is a middle grade novel by Erica S. Perl. Seventh-grade playwright Olive Henry is frustrated by her middle school’s lack of appreciation for anything but sports. While the principal drones on and on during morning announcements about the sports teams’ victories, all non-athletic club meetings are relegated to the school basement, never to be mentioned on the loudspeaker. So Olive and her best friend, Reynaldo, hatch a plan to kidnap the school’s capybara mascot, planning to return it, heroically, just in time for the school’s pep rally and claim a reward: permission for their drama club to practice in the auditorium. And, hopefully, some overdue respect for the school’s non-athletes. But when an animal-rights student activist and an undercover athlete with murky motivations join in the conspiracy, their plans—along with Cappy the capybara—veer wildly out of Olive’s control.

The Capybara Conspiracy is written in play format, which is not my favorite, and took me a while to get used to. I liked the idea of kids being creative, and liked the amount of humor and twists involved in kidnapping a capybara. I also liked the information in the back of the book, which gives ideas for kids group reading the book because of the format. I enjoy the idea, and think many reader would find it to be fun and satisfying to do so. However, I think many of the characters were either underdeveloped or based off of less than flattering stereotypes. I get that it was part of the gag, but with the current state of the country with immigration, and the amount of girls that still think dumb and pretty is the way to go, I was not amused. Although, I was not the target audience either- so maybe I was just not in the right headspace to enjoy the read.

The Capybara Conspiracy is a book with humor, and wacky escapades. However, it also has some standard stereotypes (some of which are proven untrue about the specific characters) that I just did not enjoy. I think there are some readers that will enjoy it, but between the stereotypes and the format I was not one of them.

[McKenna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seventh grader Olive has a passion for the arts, specifically theater and she is trying to raise more awareness for the stage in her sports obsessed school. Her and her friend Reynaldo steal the schools capybara in order to get more rehearsal time in the auditorium. But in true middle school fashion, something always goes wrong. This hilarious book by Erica S. Perl is set up so the readers can use the book itself as a play. The book itself is presented as a play and in the back of the book there is a break down of what would be needed in order to put the play on. I think that factor makes this book very unique and would be another great way to get students excited and involved in reading. This book’s dialog and humor is very entertaining and because of this readers will fall in love. This would be a great readers theater activity if you do not want to put on a full play, or if you want to introduce plays to your classroom.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The unique thing about this novel is it is presented as a play written by seventh graders main character Olive. In a plot to gain more attention for the nonathletes in the school, Olive and friends conspire to kidnap the school's mascot a capybara (large rat like rodent). The universal theme of making sure all students are appreciated for their talents will ring familiar for some readers, but this books greatest appeal might be for a readers theater or full on dramatic presentation.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cute story written in play format. As a theater major turned media specialist, I could see lots of my students who would enjoy reading this aloud in a book group or with the class and others that would love to present it as a play. Now I want to learn more about capybaras!

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky little tale and a fun group read, I'm sure! I am sure plenty of young students feel neglected by their schools and will enjoy reading this story! It may even be an eye opener for some school officials! Fun story!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great in class read-aloud. Written in play format, students would have fun getting to bring the relatable characters to life. I recently recommended that a local theatre do this as their staged reading for their children's program for the upcoming season.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A school mascot kidnapping takes some unusual twists and turns in this novel written as a play. Bring on the drama!

[Lisa Horner · Rating 3 out of 5]

We enjoyed the story but the twist at the end was unnecessary.

[Nan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Not going to finish it. Characters are too stereotypical. I didn't find it funny.

[Grace Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

i thought it was cool how it was written like a play

[Kristy McRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! Written in play form. A fun story, with, of course, a capybara--my all-time favorite animal!

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute format but not memorable.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast read that works for kids younger than the 7th graders depicted in the story.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of fun.

[Cameron (readsandwritesbyc) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m using this middle-grade play for daily read-alouds for my students and it is so great! Age-appropriate, relatable, hilarious, and crafted beautifully!

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is written as a play that students could put on. It’s cute. Set in a fictitious town/high school in MD.

[Luella Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was pretty good. Not sure if kids today can follow a play.

[Laura Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever and funny! This unusual format will be a good fit for dormant readers, as it’s not too text heavy and the twist at the end will be a fun surprise to all.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perl, Erica S. The Capybara Conspiracy. pgs. 181. Penguin Random House, 2016. $16.99. Language: G, Mature Content: G, Violence: G

Olive Henry is an academic existing in a sports-obsessed middle school. The only thing her achievements of being in a play, winning writing contests, and being in academic school clubs get her and others like her banished to the dungeon, the basement area of the school. When she wins a writing contest that gets her a trip to Florida, she tries to get her achievement on the school announcements. Not only is she barely mentioned, but the principal call her Henry. Determined to get noticed, she enlist the help of Reynaldo and a few other to kidnap the school mascot, Capybara, and get fame. Things, however, don’t go as planned. Can Olive and her friend pull off getting noticed without getting in trouble?

Told like a play, the author does a great job of balancing the storyline with keeping true to the format. The main characters are likable and quirky, but the secondary characters are under-developed. The under-development, however, plays well into the well written plot. Fans of realistic fiction, school stories, and anyone who’s wanted to get noticed at school will enjoy reading this book.

EL. OPTIONAL. Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it's the influence of J.K. Rowling, but I am really enjoying reading plays lately. This funny story was another great one. I love that the author gives ideas for how to stage the book in the back. Olive wants to get more respect for non-jock students at the school, so she comes up with a plan to steal the school's mascot. Things go fantastically, dramatically, awry. I laughed out loud quite a few times.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is unique in that it is written in a play format. Included in the back matter are tips on how to perform the play with a group of students. The story is entertaining and captures some of the stereotypes present in all middle schools, especially in the sports world, and highlights the fact that most students also have other talents that should be valued in an equal manner. The story moves quickly, especially because of the play format, which will appeal to reluctant readers, along with the engaging dialog. The story is missing that extra something that would make the book truly special, but readers in grades four through six will still find value in this quirky comedy.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might have given this four stars except it had a capybara in it...sort of.

The novel is novel in that it is presented as a play (in fact, the author acknowledges that it is a play and encourages students to put on a production). As an adult, this was an interesting approach. As a middle grade student (the characters are in the 7th grade), I'm not sure it will work. I suppose time will tell.

The story is interesting and the kids are engaging. At times it is quite humorous. The twist at the end is unexpected but fits the story well. The set descriptions are good, you get a real picture, not of what's happening in the story, but what is going on onstage. Which is not to say that the story is not vivid, just that there is another dimension to it.

As a capybara owner, I would like to add that while capybaras can make excellent pets for the right people, there are very, very few people who are the right people. Capybaras require a tremendous amount of care, including access to water deep enough, and big enough for them to swim in. They can become territorial or develop a grudge against particular people. This can be dangerous, although not life-threatening. Real capybaras are much too large and heavy (120-150 lbs) to be carried, and in fact, virtually none of them would tolerate this. I probably should not plug my own book, but if you want to learn more about capybaras, you can read Celeste and the Giant Hamster. Capyboppy. ,mentioned in this book, is also a wonderfully illustrated story of a pet capybara.

[The Keepers of the Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olive Henry is an academic existing in a sports-obsessed middle school. The only thing her achievements of being in a play, winning writing contests, and being in academic school clubs get her and others like her banished to the dungeon, the basement area of the school. When she wins a writing contest that gets her a trip to Florida, she tries to get her achievement on the school announcements. Not only is she barely mentioned, but the principal call her Henry. Determined to get noticed, she enlist the help of Reynaldo and a few other to kidnap the school mascot, Capybara, and get fame. Things, however, don’t go as planned. Can Olive and her friend pull off getting noticed without getting in trouble?

Told like a play, the author does a great job of balancing the storyline with keeping true to the format. The main characters are likable and quirky, but the secondary characters are under-developed. The under-development, however, plays well into the well written plot. Fans of realistic fiction, school stories, and anyone who’s wanted to get noticed at school will enjoy reading this book.

This book was featured on The Keepers of the Books' Weekly Reads 11 episode. For more reviews, recommendations, or online librarian advice, please visit us at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK3v.... You may also find a copy of this review on kissthebook.blogspot.com

Please Note: This book was given to us in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed, however, are our own.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories for middle grade readers told in play form are rare indeed, but this one fits the bill perfectly while also describing experiences that will be familiar to its audience. Seventh grader Olive Henry loves writing plays, but her school administration seems focused on sports and winning. With a nudge from an unlikely source, she and her best friend Reynaldo decide to kidnap Farley Middle School's mascot, Cappy, a capybara, and then return him for the right to use the auditorium to rehearse plays. But as most readers know, even the best of plans can quickly go awry, especially when there's a former baseball player trying to get back in the coach's good graces and an animal rights activist involved. As various members of the Pep Squad wander through the scenes and Reynaldo's mother turns out to be so much more than just the school gadfly, a great time is had by all. The book even includes stage directions and staging notes so that ambitious middle graders can perform the play. I laughed out loud as I turned the pages as quickly as I could, a sure sign that this one will be a hit if brought to a stage near you. The author seasons a serious topic with ample helpings of humor and downright silliness.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

So clever. I really enjoyed reading this and I'd love to see a school put it on as a play!