Animal train by Anh Do

Animal Train, the sixth book in the very popular Ahn Do series, Wolf Girl, will not disappoint the middle primary readers who wait in anticipation for each new story. In this very exciting and action-packed read, Gwen is no longer with Rupert and is travelling alone with the pack. They are still following clues to the whereabouts of Gwen’s family and are heading inland to the town of Tunny where Gwen’s mother was last seen. They arrive in the seemingly deserted town of Harrington and settle down for the night. They are woken by a crying baby and discover a starving family living in a cellar. Gwen and the pack discover a bunker full of supplies and the family safely moves there. The family shares their knowledge of how to get closer to the town of Tunny and advise Gwen and her pack to catch a train. Unfortunately, the train is full of soldiers but they carefully manage to climb aboard. There are suspicious empty crates in each of the carriages and further on in the journey the purpose of the crates will be revealed. After many hours the train stops at a loading dock and many crates of captured creatures are loaded onboard. Regrettably, luck has run out for Gwen and the pack, and they are discovered. This leads to an amazing struggle for survival.

Readers will on the edge of their seat wondering if Gwen and her four-footed friends will overcome their predicament. And what about the captured creatures? Will they be freed? Once again Ahn Do has written an entertaining read and the illustrations by Lachlan Creagh add so much to the text.

The bonus sealed section at the end continues the story of Gwen and Amber started in book five, Across the Sea. Book seven will be published soon.

Themes: Children, Adventure, Captured Animals, Survival, Trust, Danger.

Kathryn Beilby