Neeka and the Storm by Tina Strachan. Illus. by Max Hamilton

Neeka and the Storm is the second book in the refreshing and entertaining Wilder Zoo series. This engaging story begins with eleven year old Year 5 student Neeka riding her bike around the zoo feeding some of the animals including the Galapagos tortoise, penguins, Tasmanian devils and the African elephants. She is though increasingly aware of the impending storm and the need to start her last book for the school’s Reading Challenge with a looming deadline.

The relentless rain and Neeka’s need to finish ‘The Secret Garden’ for the challenge is causing great conflict with her desire to be out in the Zoo helping the staff look after the animals. As the heavy rain intensifies problems begin to arise for the zoo such as flash flooding affecting the relocation of the endangered Javan green magpies, a power blackout in the animal food preparation area and maintenance shed, a huge 100 year old fallen tree, missing zookeepers, flooding, unsettled animals and an animal nursery in Neela’s bedroom. All these events make for an exciting action packed story where Neeka, her friends, and a skeleton zoo staff work together to help maintain the zoo and the animals.

Added to the mix, is the need for Neeka to finish reading her book. Her school is scheduled for a day at the waterpark and will receive new sports equipment but it is entirely dependent on every student completing their sheet with five books read and signed off. Will Neeka be able to finish the challenge after her busy and exhausting weekend, and unexpectedly losing her book in the creek?

For those children who love animal stories set in zoos, this will be an enjoyable read. It is full of challenges and an array of likable characters including some very special non-human ones!

Themes: Zoos, Animals, Storms, Reading Challenge, Family, Problem solving, Working together, Friends, Schools.

Kathryn Beilby