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Evolution Revolution #3
Simple Lessons
Even though his woods are safe from construction machines, Jack the squirrel can't go back. The scientists who captured Rat, and his sister's mate Jerk, are searching for him-and show up at his human friend Collin's house. To save Jack, Collin and his mother take him to sanctuary. There, Jack meets Addy and other rescued squirrels, along with Horse and a group of barnyard animals. Collin visits, bringing Mina the talking bird, and teaches Jack the last simple machines: the pulley, the lever, and the gear. Jack shares what he learns with Addy, but Hawk and the scientists are hot after him. One final battle between humans and animals erupts. If Jack wins, he'll have to run away from everything he knows If he loses, he will never be free.
154 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2017
About the author
Charlotte Bennardo
9 books110 followersUntil Hollywood calls, Charlotte lives in NJ with her husband, three children, two needy cats and sometimes a deranged squirrel. Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines is her first solo novel. She is also the co-author of Blonde Ops (St. Martin’s/Dunne) and the Sirenz series (Sirenz, Sirenz Back In Fashion, Flux), and one of 13 authors in the anthology, Beware the Little White Rabbit (Leap). She’s written for magazines and newspapers, and has given presentations and workshops at NJ SCBWI conferences. Currently she’s working on sci fi, historical, fantasy, and time travel novels and loves to hear from fans.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 7, 2017
Orignally posted at Log Cabin Library
In Simple Machines, we were introduced to Jack, a squirrel, and Collin a boy who recognizes Jack's intellect and teaches him how simple machines work, together they hatch a plan to try and prevent humans from further encroaching on the animals habitats. As a true leader, Jack is able to gather an army of woodland creatures and ultimately they destroy the machines. In Simple Plans, their victory is short lived when Jack's friend Rat is captured by the scientists who are still angry about their machines being destroyed and who plan on catching him to figure out how he accomplished it. In Simple Lessons, Jack is still very much in danger of the scientists, who've been showing up at Collin's house asking questions and even placing elaborate traps and camera's in the woods. Recognizing the danger, Jack tells his friends to leave the woods. Fearing for Jack's safety as well, Collin agree's with his mother's plan to take him to an animal sanctuary far away from his home. It's here that Jack meets Addy, a fellow rescue squirrel and realizes that what he really wants is his freedom and to teach the other squirrel's what he has learned. However, the scientists are still on his trail and once again he will have to figure out how to outsmart them once and for all.
One of the things that I've so enjoyed in reading Bennardo's Evolution Revolution series is the way that she portrays her animals, the attention to detail to capture their mannerisms as the run, jump, and scamper through the trees. They act similar to the squirrels that I see in my trees and still face all the same dangers from predators in the wild like a fox, cat, and hawks, and of course those tricky humans. I also like that despite Jack not being able to communicate directly to Collin and his mother with words, that they use Collin's drawings and Jack's friend, Mina the mynah bird and her mimicry ability to learn the same vocabulary to communicate. Jack is such a wonderful character, he loves learning from Collin and cares deeply about the creatures in his woods, his friend Rat, his sister's mate and once he meets Addy and the other rescue squirrel's he's committed to helping them be free too. Jack often places himself in grave danger to protect them, but somehow he always comes out on top. Each of these stories is packed with humor, adventure and are just the right length for a classroom read along and I wouldn't hesitate in giving this to an animal story loving kid.
*In exchange for an honest review, a review copy was received from the author.*
In Simple Machines, we were introduced to Jack, a squirrel, and Collin a boy who recognizes Jack's intellect and teaches him how simple machines work, together they hatch a plan to try and prevent humans from further encroaching on the animals habitats. As a true leader, Jack is able to gather an army of woodland creatures and ultimately they destroy the machines. In Simple Plans, their victory is short lived when Jack's friend Rat is captured by the scientists who are still angry about their machines being destroyed and who plan on catching him to figure out how he accomplished it. In Simple Lessons, Jack is still very much in danger of the scientists, who've been showing up at Collin's house asking questions and even placing elaborate traps and camera's in the woods. Recognizing the danger, Jack tells his friends to leave the woods. Fearing for Jack's safety as well, Collin agree's with his mother's plan to take him to an animal sanctuary far away from his home. It's here that Jack meets Addy, a fellow rescue squirrel and realizes that what he really wants is his freedom and to teach the other squirrel's what he has learned. However, the scientists are still on his trail and once again he will have to figure out how to outsmart them once and for all.
One of the things that I've so enjoyed in reading Bennardo's Evolution Revolution series is the way that she portrays her animals, the attention to detail to capture their mannerisms as the run, jump, and scamper through the trees. They act similar to the squirrels that I see in my trees and still face all the same dangers from predators in the wild like a fox, cat, and hawks, and of course those tricky humans. I also like that despite Jack not being able to communicate directly to Collin and his mother with words, that they use Collin's drawings and Jack's friend, Mina the mynah bird and her mimicry ability to learn the same vocabulary to communicate. Jack is such a wonderful character, he loves learning from Collin and cares deeply about the creatures in his woods, his friend Rat, his sister's mate and once he meets Addy and the other rescue squirrel's he's committed to helping them be free too. Jack often places himself in grave danger to protect them, but somehow he always comes out on top. Each of these stories is packed with humor, adventure and are just the right length for a classroom read along and I wouldn't hesitate in giving this to an animal story loving kid.
*In exchange for an honest review, a review copy was received from the author.*
Displaying 1 of 1 review