Logan has just moved from Chicago to the little town of Xanadu, Wyoming. He hasn't been having much luck making friends, until a fantastical creature shows up right under his bed and catapults him into the middle of adventure.Zoe is panicking. The griffin cubs have escaped, and it's all her fault. If she can't get them back soon, the Menagerie might be shut down, or worse . . .This is a mostly lighthearted romp as Logan and Zoe try to pin down several very cute, extremely hard-to-catch griffins. And Logan runs into a lot of other mythological creatures along the way, though the griffins are the main focus. One of the things I like best is that the griffin cubs read like kids. They're energetic, making up "torment Mom" kinds of games, terribly offended their parents aren't treating them like adults even though it's obvious they're nowhere close . . . but very proud of who they are. Overall this was a fast, fun read. It ends on a bloody cliffhanger, though, which is a bit of a change in tone from the rest of the book. I rate this book Recommended. The Menagerie is one of the best children's books I have read in a while! This author has really captured a good children's narrative style; it's on a child's level, yet older people can enjoy this book as well. She also made this book believable by keeping it well-grounded in reality. I love the idea of the Menagerie as well. The griffin cubs were So Adorable!! I want one...I was a tad annoyed because some problems were not solved in this book, but that just sets up for the sequel. A great book to set off a great new year! On to the next read!
