• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7

What would middle school be like if you lived in a zoo? Just ask Ana Wright, star of the hilarious, award-nominated My Life is A Zoo series that combines first crushes, friendship fails...and pack dynamics.

Surprise! Ana's long distance BFF is finally coming back to visit. But with her purple hair and new attitude, Liv is barely the girl Ana remembers. This new Liv probably thinks a birthday party at the zoo is lame. Maybe if Ana has a super-secret sleepover instead, she'd never have to introduce Liv to Ashley, former enemy and now Ana's best-ish friend. What could go wrong?

Creature File for Liv:

Species Name: Best Frendicus

Kingdom: New Zealand

Phylum: girl who used to be Ana Wright's best friend, girl who used to like getting milkshakes at Shaken, Not Stirred

Feeds on: video chats with Leilani, attention from boys

Life span: undetermined, but if things keep going the way they are, the lifespan of Ana and Liv, BFFs isn't going to be the "forever" they thought…

Jess Keating combines the quirky humor and animal-centric plots of Carl Hiaasen with the awkward adolescent antics of Lauren Myracle in this fresh new middle grade series!

Praise for How to Outrun a Crocodile When Your Shoes Are Untied (My Life is a Zoo Book 1):

2015 Red Maple Award nominee

2015-2016 Georgia Children's Book Award nominee

"Keating delivers a fun-filled, pitch-perfect book…about the perils of being 12 in a snake-eat-snake world."—Kirkus STARRED Review

"Life is literally a zoo for shy twelve-year-old Anna, who is trying to avoid seventh-grade bullies while hiding that her family lives among crocodiles and elephants."—Los Angeles Times

"A menagerie of laugh-out-loud antics."—Anna Staniszewski, author of The Dirt Diary

"A wild romp, filled with humor and heart."—Lisa Schroeder, author of It's Raining Cupcakes

JESS KEATING est une auteure, bédéiste et zoologiste. Jess vit en Ontario.

As a zoologist and author, Jess Keating has been sprayed by skunks, bitten by crocodiles, and victim of the dreaded paper cut. Her books blend science, humor, and creativity, and include the acclaimed My Life Is a Zoo middle-grade trilogy and award-winning picture books, like Shark Lady and Pink Is for Blobfish. Jess lives in Ontario, Canada, where she loves hiking, nerdy documentaries, and writing books for curious and adventurous kids. Jess can be found online at www.jesskeatingbooks.com or on Twitter at @Jess_Keating.

Jess Keating's profile page

"A pleasing story about the trials of friendship, first boyfriends, and what it means to truly start growing up." — Booklist

"With her trademark kid-oriented wit and lighthearted touch, Keating leads readers through the daily emotional ups and downs of the typical just-turned-teenager who is trying to juggle hormones, parents, schoolwork, and, most importantly, her friends...A sweet reminder that being middle school girl is about far more than boys and makeup. -Kirkus, starred review " — Kirkus Reviews

"Keating has crafted another engaging work that will speak to readers anxious about navigating social situations—and the fun animal factoids interspersed add to the fun," — School Library Journal