Simon Thorn and the Wolf’s Den

Grades 3-6; ages 8-12

Twelve-year-old Simon Thorn’s life has never been easy or normal, but things like being bullied at school and living in a cramped Manhattan apartment with his Uncle Darryl are nothing compared to his biggest secret: He can talk to animals.

But when his mom is suddenly kidnapped by a herd of rats, Simon finds out that he, his mom, and his uncle are all Animalgams–people born with the ability to change into an animal at will. In search of his mom, Simon discovers the Animalgam Academy based at the Central Park Zoo. There he learns about the fractured five kingdoms–Mammals, Birds, Insects, Reptiles, and Underwater–that make up this secret world . . . and realizes he may be the only one who can save it.