“Central Park may not be a literal jungle, but it’s still plenty dangerous for a group of sixth graders who find themselves transformed into small animals.

 

“In a madcap romp that boils over with breathless adventures, hilarious banter, and wild plot twists, Riley Trent comes upon a mysteriously glowing pile of poop that turns him into a rat even as his uber-competent twin sister, Kate, and several other classmates are similarly changed into a random array of creatures ranging from a raccoon to a water bug. Despite having left their human clothes behind, the children are, understandably, desperate to change back. Unfortunately, the only cure seems to be exposure to a second pile of magic poop—which has gone missing. Though Lerangis has his squabbling Beasties bond over their shared predicament, and despite frictions and contrasting character types, he shows more interest in concocting ever more unlikely revelations and situations to challenge his young ensemble cast. And though all the frantic escapades and rescues in the face of deadly threats—from street traffic to animal and human foes—do lead at last to a satisfying resolution, the author saves one final sequel-portending spin for the end that readers aren’t likely to see coming.”