Book Review Wild Summer Laugh-out-loud Adventure for Ages 8-12

This charming animal adventure follows a determined girl and her mother as they transform their struggling donkey sanctuary into a makeshift zoo through creative—and hilarious—deceptions. When faced with losing their home, the pair employs increasingly inventive solutions, from painting horses as zebras to deploying radio-controlled sloths, creating a cascade of comical mishaps. The story captures the spirit of childhood ingenuity while addressing real stakes that will resonate with young readers. This humorous animal story blends genuine heart with laugh-out-loud moments as the characters' well-intentioned fakery spirals into unexpected chaos.

What makes this middle-grade novel particularly engaging is how it balances absurd humor with authentic emotional challenges, creating a story that feels both fantastical and grounded. Children who enjoy stories about underdogs, creative problem-solving, and animal antics will find themselves thoroughly invested in the sanctuary's fate. The narrative celebrates resilience and family bonds while delivering steady comedic relief through the animals' increasingly ridiculous disguises. Young readers will emerge from this wild summer adventure both entertained and subtly reminded that sometimes the most extraordinary solutions come from ordinary determination.