A solid middle grade read that focuses on many topics. Great characters and even though it was predictable and somewhat implausible a good mystery for all to enjoy.

WOLF KEEPERS by Elise Broach is an absorbing mystery adventure.
Written for middle grade readers, young Lizzie spend her time with the animals at a zoo. Her life changes when she encounters a runaway living at the zoo. Together she and her new friend investigate a mystery involving wolves that takes them on an adventure to Yosemite National Park.
Librarians will find this book appeals to a broad audience including those who enjoy mystery, adventures, and animals. The historical connections with John Muir provide the opportunity to connect to the origins of national parks. Animal lovers are sure to be attracted to both the setting and the engaging story.
Published by Henry Holt and Company on October 11, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

This was both exciting and thought provoking, the kind of book that my readers would love, particularly the animal lovers. Though the setting is entirely different, this book is more reminiscent of Shakespeare Secret than her other work, which is sure to be an appealing comparison. Two children who seem to have little reason to become friends find themselves becoming friends, and unexpectedly find themselves trying to solve a mystery together without getting the adults in their lives too involved. Though this book is certainly more the type that will appeal to the outdoorsy crowd, the mystery at its core would draw in any reader, be they a fan of nature or not.

Readers must also answer a morality question for themselves, as the characters deal with the ethicality of one character's brazen and questionably dangerous actions, the consequences of those actions, and decision that other characters make about whether to reveal the characters actions when they discover them. There is certainly an element of moral ambiguity to be dealt with after reading this, one that would probably leave a classroom of readers divided over how the situation was handled. I really liked that. I, for one, thought the that characters made a poor decision at the book's end, and I liked the book more for having gone that way. It means that readers might have to thing more deeply about the outcome. It could be a lot of fun to talk this out with a group.

I will be sure to add this to my library as quickly as I can get my hands on a copy. Another well done middle grade novel from an accomplished author.