Author: Amy Timberlake
Genre: humor
Similar books: Kitty and Dragon by Meika Hashimoto
Freya and Zoose by Emily Butler
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): “X Marks the Spot!”
Buried in the heart of every animal is a secret treasure. For rock scientist Badger, it’s the Spider Eye Agate he found as a cub, stolen years ago by his crafty cousin, Fisher. For Badger’s roommate, Skunk, the treasure is Sundays with the New Yak Times Book Review. When an old acquaintance, Mr. G. Hedgehog, announces his plan to come for the Book Review as soon as it thumps on the doorstep, Skunk decides an adventure will solve Badger’s problems as well as his own. Surprisingly, Badger agrees. Together
they set off on an agate-finding expedition at Badger’s favorite spot on Endless Lake.
But all is not as it seems at Campsite #5. Fisher appears unexpectedly. Then a chicken arrives who seems intent on staying. Something is up!
Indeed!
Secrets, betrayals, lies
. . . and a luminous, late-Jurassic prize.
My opinion: At face value, the Skunk and Badger stories are exactly what you'd expect. They are a standard odd couple with the curmudgeonly Badger gradually opening up to the more playful Skunk. Timberlake has included enough weird and humorous details to keep young readers entertained. The plot is fairly straightforward and the sentence structure is basic, making the book easy to follow. Beneath that simplicity there are deeper messages at play. The first book talked about biases and long held misconceptions and the accompanying cruelties we can perpetrate. This volume addresses bullying, certainly, but also letting go of things and people. We see how the same things can motivate and hold us back. The final chapters suggest that nothing lasts forever and we sometimes have to say goodbye to things and friends even if we'd rather not. Sweet.
More information: Egg Marks the Spot releases today!
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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