The Wild Ones: Moonlight Brigade - C. Alexander London

Kit may have saved the Wild Ones from the Flealess, but he and his neighbors are not out of danger yet. Coyote has taken charge of the Thunder River Rompers, a notorious gang of nearsighted otters, and he has his sights set on Ankle Snap Alley. When, on the eve of the First Frost, Coyote and his henchmen steal all of the seeds and nuts that the Alley's residents have stored up for winter, Kit knows that he can't sit by and do nothing. As he tries to fulfill his school assignments and win himself a coveted invitation into the Moonlight Brigade, Kit knows he must outsmart the Coyote so that his fellow Wild Ones can survive the winter.

With so much depending on him, it's time for Kit to pull off his greatest trick yet and save the community he now calls home. Howl to snap!

In a brand now thrilling adventure, Kit, along with his best friend Eenie, set out to save Ankle Snap Alley from the clutches of Coyote and his gang of ruthless otters. Kit has to use all his cunning and smarts to outwit Coyote, especially after he makes a deal that requires him to break into a house and retrieve all the flealess food he can carry.

Along with the help of Eenie, the Rat King, a crew of bats, the Fox who teaches at his school, and a number of unexpected friends, Kit learns the value of trust and friendship while working his little furry butt off to free Ankle Snap Alley from the Thunder River Rompers before winter comes and they run out of seeds. London's pacing is superb, a solid mix of character development and action that will keep readers attentive from page one.

One of the other things I enjoy about London's writing is his ability to introduce young readers to new words without making it seem like a "lesson." The turns of phrase within the narrative--Howl to snap! for instance--are funny and also wonderfully deep. This book is a fun ride, though one with depth and complexity, and is a great sequel to boot!

Recommended

(NOTE: This review is from an Advance Reading Copy - Out Aug. 30, 2016)

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