Guardians of the Taiga (Wild Rescuers #1)

Gr 3-5--Stacy Hinojosa, better known to millions as StacyPlays, the creator of the "Dogcraft" series on YouTube, pens a debut middle grade series based on her love of animals and belief in the importance of environmental conservation. Young Stacy doesn't know how old she is. All she knows is that for as long as she can clearly remember, she has been raised by a pack of six wolves who communicate with her both telepathically and through body language. Vague recollections of humans sometimes enter her mind--she can speak English, after all, but she has no idea what her life before the wolves was like. Her main occupation is to rescue all animals in trouble in the taiga forest in which she lives. She quickly adds a little dog to her pack and the dog, named Page, helps with the rescues. Hinojosa creates compelling animal characters and the plot moves along rapidly. The mystery of Stacy's past and just what the wolves know about it leave plenty of room for a sequel, as does the threat of development of the taiga area. VERDICT Reluctant readers will quickly find themselves absorbed in the story with its intriguing characters and varied plot threads. This series will appeal to fans of animal fiction and budding environmentalists.--B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA

In this middle grade adventure, first in a series from the creator of the YouTube personality StacyPlays and heavily inspired by the Dogcraft story line of her Minecraft videos, an amnesiac girl raised by wolves spends her time in the wilderness rescuing animals and honing her survival skills. Twelve-year-old Stacy doesn't remember how she wound up in the northern snow forest, or taiga (where, precisely, is never specified) with a pack of highly intelligent wolves for company, and she has no desire to leave them to seek out the buried mysteries of her past. Instead, she deals with issues such as careless campers, intrusive surveyors, a rival wolf pack, and a devastating forest fire, all in the name of protecting her home. Hinojosa includes subtle vocabulary lessons in her positive ecological messages that advocate for environmental stewardship. Those familiar with the author and her Minecraft escapades will have no trouble visualizing the world as she lovingly describes highly competent, self-sufficient Stacy's surroundings and woodcrafting efforts. The back matter includes an interview with a wolf researcher, offering further appeal to young animal-loving readers. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (June)