The Extincts - Softcover

Cossanteli, Veronica

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1908435453 ISBN 13: 9781908435453

Publisher: Chicken House, 2013

Synopsis

George loves to help out at hidden Wormestall Farm, even though it's full of extinctly scary creatures, like the dodo in the dog bed and the dinosaurs in the duck pond. When Mortifer the giant basilisk goes missing, it's up to George to find him before wicked taxidermist Diamond Pye can add to her stuffed animal collection ...

About this title

About the Author

Veronica Cossanteli is an elementary school teacher who lives with three cats, two snakes, one guinea pig, and a large assortment of lizards. The Extincts is her first novel.

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–8—After seeing a "Help Wanted" sign, which advertises for "The Right Person" and "No Squamophobes," George Drake decides to apply for a position at Wormestall Farm. During his first visit to the farm, George successfully traps a Triassic period mammal, battles a kraken while on the toilet, and, ultimately, lands the job. As with ordinary farms, the animals at Wormestall require feeding, cleaning, and overall care. Unlike ordinary farms, Wormestall houses extinct, imaginary, and extraordinary animals. Just as George's adventure at Wormestall begins, odd things start to happen around town. Small pets are disappearing, and rumors fly about the "Squermington Wyrm," a raucous, meat-eating monster. George must use his newly discovered animal-rearing skills to solve the mystery and discover what and who are worth fighting for. Cossanteli creates a fantastical adventure of mystery and imagination, set in our own backyard. She uses our fascination with dodos, unicorns, dragons, and more, as she moves them from dreams to reality. The Extincts pushes readers to heighten their imaginations, provoking inquiry about these intriguing creatures, and leaves them to ponder such details as the composition of a unicorn's diet. Cossanteli's amusingly odd characters work to create interest, yet at times seem over-the-top. The quirky language and British-style vocabulary match the tone of the book yet disrupt fluency and may be challenging for some students. VERDICT With an appealing subject matter, The Extincts is a weird, highly imaginative adventure that will entice readers with its theme of animal conservation, which rings loudly in today's society. Recommended for school libraries.—Mary-Brook J. Townsend, Episcopal Collegiate School Library, Little Rock, AK

Edition details

• Publisher: Chicken House
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1908435453
• ISBN 13: 9781908435453
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224