Mission 1: All in a Day’s Work was okay.

middle grade books are hit and miss for me. The synopsis indicated this was one I would love. I just felt like too much was happening in the book.

Even though I didn’t love the story, I think a lot of kids and some adults will love it.

This was a cute short book about a girl slueth who can talk to animals and her sluething gets her and her friend into a bit of trouble with Russians. I would read another one the characters were fun, I really liked the animals.

"Mission 1: All in a Day's Work" is a thrilling and action-packed book that will keep young readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story follows a group of young adventurers who embark on a daring mission to save their town from a mysterious threat. As they face challenges and obstacles along the way, the characters demonstrate teamwork, courage, and quick thinking, making them relatable and inspiring role models for readers.

The author's writing style is engaging and fast-paced, with vivid descriptions that bring the story to life. The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping readers guessing and eager to turn the page to find out what happens next. The book also incorporates themes of friendship, loyalty, and problem-solving, making it not only an exciting read but also a valuable learning experience for young readers.

Overall, "Mission 1: All in a Day's Work" is a fantastic book that will appeal to fans of adventure and mystery. It is a perfect choice for readers looking for an exciting and immersive story that will ignite their imagination and leave them eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

Lot of action but hard to really care about the characters. Seems like this would be most interesting to kids familiar with New York.

What a fun book for kids 8 to 12 years old. This book has it all. Kid heroes; innovative animals; friendship; trust; mystery; a little fear. I highly recommend it for any reluctant reader as well as those who love to read.

Sophia and her friend Pedro discover Jack the Polar Bear at their zoo is upset. His regular keeper is missing and things are not right. With the help of a raven named Wahoo Sophia and Pedro set out to save Jack his keeper and discover exactly what is going on. Wahoo is an amazing inventor by the way.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Sophia is a typical 8th grade student, JK! She doesn't fit in with her classmates, wears red high top sneakers rather than the most popular and trendy shoes, has telepathic abilities, and is able to communicate with a variety of animals She learns from her zoo animal friends that their usual zookeeper is off work due to an accident and the animals do not trust his replacement. Sophia and her trusted sidekick/best friend, Pedro, find themselves investigating their favorite zookeepers replacement and realize this is much bigger than they expected! They have uncovered a Russian plot to steal Sophia's favorite zoo animal, Jack. And they thought it was rough dealing with middle school bullies!

Middle school readers will love following Sophia and Pedro through their investigation and adventures. It's engaging and fast paced with plenty of animal conversations and a little NYC history, too,

Both aged 10, Sophia and her friend Pedro are not just neighbours, they are classmates at a snobby school nearby, where other students claim ancestry with the likes of the Vanderbilts etc.

Pedro is Hispanic, has parents who work as service staff for rich people, and is a scholarship student - none of which help his popularity ratings at school. Sophia effortlessly keeps herself in the same bracket thanks to her outspoken views on feminism, and just about everything else...

After Sophia's grandmother who raised her dies, it is her Nana's friend Mr O'D (also a neighbour) who steps in to ensure that she is not noticed by child protective services, by pretending to be her grandfather.

And now, Sophia will need all the friends that she can get, from Pedro and Mr O'D to her friends who sell coffee and hot dogs in the park. And let's not forget the animals in the zoo.

The latter have a particular place in her heart, because Sophia can speak to many animals. Not that they always answer her back - her cat Zelda certainly doesn't listen to anything Sophia has to say to her!

Between trying to cheer up a depressed polar bear, dealing with a cheeky raven, and thwarting the plans of the Russian mob, Sophia and Pedro have their hands full in this story...

This book has packed in a lot of interesting ideas - from very smart ten-year-olds, to talking animals, to the evil designs of mobsters. Unfortunately, it did not work too well for me. The storytelling lacked a smooth flow and although I wanted to, I didn't care too much about the characters. On the other hand, it scores high for diversity, and very sound politics. The best part for me was Wahoo the Raven and Sophia's nice teacher at the school (the other one was pretty awful). So it's your call! I would give it 2.5 for good intentions and good ideas.