The Animal Rescue Agency: Case File: Pangolin Pop Star

The Animal Rescue Agency #2

by Eliot Schrefer

New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer's second installment in the middle grade Animal Rescue Agency series sends your favorite fox and chicken duo on a tropical adventure to save the world's biggest pangolin pop star.

After a frigid arctic rescue, Esquire and Mr. Pepper get the perfect opportunity to warm up--an invitation to Beatle the Pangolin's private island concert. Sun and sand await!

But when Esquire and Mr. Pepper arrive, the island is in chaos. Field agent Alphonse delivers the bad news: due to an incident during dress rehearsal, Beatle is trapped underground, and foul play is likely. The worst news: There's no way to reach Beatle and there are multiple suspects:

Jewel, Beatle's sister and backup dancerArabella, the monkey stage managerButch, a vengeful wildcatFinding the culprit and saving Beatle before it's too late--this might be the Animal Rescue Agency's most challenging case yet!

Genres: Mystery, Animals, Childrens

181 pages, Hardcover

First published February 15, 2022

About the author

ELIOT SCHREFER is a New York Times-bestselling author, and has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award. In naming him an Editor’s Choice, the New York Times has called his work “dazzling… big-hearted.” He is also the author of two novels for adults and four other novels for children and young adults. His books have been named to the NPR “best of the year” list, the ALA best fiction list for young adults, and the Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best.” His work has also been selected to the Amelia Bloomer List, recognizing best feminist books for young readers, and he has been a finalist for the Walden Award and won the Green Earth Book Award and Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award. He lives in New York City, where he reviews books for USAToday.



Also: I love marshmallows and early twentieth century fiction. And apes.

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like this book as well as the first one. It's going to sound weird but the first one seemed to be based in a real possible scenario, a polar bear cub is captured to be trafficked, but this one is too whimsical. It's weird because I'm criticizing a children's book with talking animals and a team of fox and rooster animal rescuers (I love the premise) for not being realistic enough, but I didn't find a singing pop star pangolin who is too anxious to perform to be engaging. Granted a lot of animals are forced into entertainment and I appreciate Schrefer dealing with that subject but this particular story didn't grab me. I still think many children would love it so don't let my review sway you.

[Kevin Hogg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and funny book. I really enjoyed the silly moments, and it was just good to have the team back together for another adventure. The stakes in this one were less clear--not a flaw of the writing, but the specific danger wasn't as defined as in the first book. I enjoyed the cast of characters, and the mystery kept me guessing and changing my mind throughout. It looks like there are only two books in this series, which is disappointing. My family enjoyed them both and would be happy to read more.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in this series.
Esquire and Mr. Pepper head for a much warmer climate in this book. They've been called to rescue a missing pangolin. Readers may be surprised by some of the twists but will appreciate the humor throughout.
Love the lesson to actually share how you feel and talk with those you love.

[Mary Tharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book

[FirnMamaMakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 7yr old loves these books. We listened to them as audio books before and after school. She was so sad that there's not more in the series yet.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally, I thought this was not as good as the first one. On the plus side (if you view it as a plus), Esquire and Mr. Pepper did not have the Catwoman/Selina Kyle and Alfred Pennyworth vibes in this one. Once the plot was revealed it is fairly standard one that can be a let down in terms of action. The solution to the mystery bought down the energy of the whole things, which is a smidge of a letdown, yet it did make things not as intense as it could be. On that front, that is a good thing for this written for younger kids.

Verdict: This was an okay to a solid sequel.