Children's ✦ Penny’s Take
Middle School
James Patterson · 2022
75/100
👍 Worth It
Rafe Khatchadorian's latest adventure keeps the formula that has made this series a go-to for kids who resist reading — fast, funny, and illustrated on practically every page. The zoo and country estate setting gives him fresh material to work with, and there's genuine warmth underneath the comedy. If your 8-to-12-year-old is a reluctant reader, this is a very safe bet; just know the series is long and the groove is well-worn.
✦ Penny’s Take — this is The Review Group’s own editorial assessment. Penny’s analytical review line researched this book from real sources and scored it across the lenses shown below. It’s an honest first-party read — not a page-by-page personal one. The gold ✓ Penny Tested mark is reserved for books Penny reads cover to cover herself.
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Show the math
Verdict receipt0–100
safety88
substance62
craft68
originality52
accuracy80
hype72
age-fit90
human-eye70
Penny’s verdict75
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