I was impressed with the detail, the characters, and how much effort had gone into crafting the story. Some characters I liked more than others – of course, the ones who are nicer to others versus the mean ones. I think kids would enjoy this book because it shows that working together as a team versus being an independent loner is more rewarding. The book also demonstrates you should do things mutually beneficial for everyone on the team, not just yourself. I like that the story emphasized teamwork throughout with the animals learning how to compete, how to travel to the event, and how to remain a close-knit team, supporting each other throughout the event.
I would definitely recommend this book for young people. My favorite part of the story was the ending, both the events at Creaturapolis and how the story ends. It’s not a short read, but it’s entertaining, fun, with lots of good twists. It also has some solid moral messages, not too high and mighty, but enough of a focus about getting along and being empathetic. Good challenging read for kids who want more than a short story!