The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland. Logan has recently moved to a new town with his father and is struggling to make friends when he discovers a mythical griffin hiding in his bedroom. Attempting to help the griffin and unravel the mystery of his existence, Logan finds himself in a hidden world of mythical beasts with a daring rescue mission that he is determined to help with. As a middle grades book, I found this enchanting and thoroughly engaging. The characters are relatable and the conflicts are meaningful, while still being approachable to the intended age group. 5/5 stars. ( )

Fun, amusing book. ( )

This review will be for the 3 book series as a whole because each book was just as good as the last. I listened to this audiobook with my husband and 11 year old daughter each night before bed and here I'll report what each family member's opinion was.

My 11yo: "I really liked this series. I loved that everyone had their own personalities, making it easy to tell who was who. The cliffhangers were a little anticlimactic. I also didn't like how Jasmine was made out to look like a rude, selfish, brat when she was actually really nice. I enjoyed the writing, it was so good that the author was able to make me hate certain characters with all my heart... that's talent. I wanted more time with the creatures individually. The mythical members of the story deserved more page time especially when they were interacting with Logan who also was an awesome creature whisperer."
Overall:
"It's no Harry Potter (though who besides the original can be?) but it was a decent book series.
All in all I rate it a 4 out of 5 stars."

My 38 year old Husband: "this was a cute series. I personally wouldn't have picked it to read on my own but it held my interest even when it was a touch trite. The mythical creatures were the best part of the book.
Overall: it was interesting enough and everyone in the family enjoyed it. I rate it 3.5 stars."

Me: this Middle Grade book was a fun way to spend some time, listening, with the family! I won't recap the synopsis but I will say that I loved how vivid it was while still staying within the parameters of a Middle Grade read. The writing was solid and, apart from trying to figure out who was causing all the ruckus and why, I really enjoyed meeting the bevy of mythical creatures! There were the usual suspects... mermaids... gryphons... dragons... a basilisk... a kraken... a variety of were-creatures and more. The vast array of characters were introduced in a succinct/seamless manor. We, the reader/listener, were never bogged down and burried underneath a huge cast where it feels like homework trying to keep everyone straight. The characters were strong and well rounded yet they all brought something unique to the group. I adored the way the protagonists slowly learned to rely on one another and work together in a cohesive group in order to achieve success in whatever the current problem was. The pace was never stagnant (in any of the books) and it kept us guessing (almost) straight through. The ending tied things up neatly with a tidy wrapping and a pretty were-bow on top... not normally how I like my endings BUT in this Middle Grade book it worked out well.
Overall:
The Menagerie was a well written Middle Grade read with a bunch of mysteries to solve and great characters created to achieve that goal. The magic was entertaining and the backdrop just as good but the characters and fantastical creatures were the stars of this show. This is good, clean fun for the whole family and I give it a solid 4 stars. ( )

It all begins in the town of Xanadu, Wyoming with a Griffin under Logan's bed, but then Logan and must face his stereotypes of Zoe Kahn, the strangest girl in seventh grade. Together Logan and Zoe must weigh out the power of justice as they fight to return six Griffen cubs to Menagerie. Other magical creatures such as unicorns, dragons, and golden geese also make their debut at Menagerie. This light-hearted adventure also features the power of friendship in the face of mystery.

What would you do if you found a griffin cub under your bed? That is the surprise Logan found shortly after moving to Xanadu, WY. He soon discovers Zoe and Blue and The Menagerie, home to mythical creatures. Enjoy this fun, mysterious fantasy series!