The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari H. Sutherland

Logan is new to the town of Xanadu, Wyoming, and he is having a hard time making friends.  One of only a couple African-American students at his school, and definitely an outsider from the big city of Chicago, Logan doesn't even know what to do to try to fit in.  Then, something really odd happens when he wakes up one morning.  His pets are afraid of something, and there are feathers in his room.  Then he sees feathers around town, and Zoe and Blue (two kids from his class) are acting all weird and say they are looking for Zoe's dog. 

Logan tries to be helpful, but Zoe and Blue seem to have a secret they don't want to share.  However, when Logan gets home after school and finds that his pets were afraid of the griffin cub under his bed, it isn't long before Logan is thrown full into the secret of The Menagerie by Tui T. and Kari H. Sutherland (Lexile: 710; Interest Level: Grades 3-6).

Are you thinking what I was thinking?  Griffin (part lion/ part eagle) cubs?  In WYOMING?  Yep.  That sealed the deal for me!  And griffins are not the only magical/ mythical being living at the Menagerie in Xanadu.  Fans of Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series are sure to love this new series by the Sutherland sisters.  Also, students who have heard of Fablehaven but need a little easier of a read will be delighted with this tale! 2016-2017 Indian Paintbrush Nominee. (272 pages)

---