Noah Prime, with his ability to transform into various animals, embarks on a wild intergalactic adventure to rescue his friend Claire from aliens after a misguided birthday gift goes awry. Filled with humor, action, and unique characters like android Andi and brainy Ogden, this sci-fi tale is a thrilling and educational read for young audiences.

Reader Review Summary

"Shock the Monkey" is a wildly entertaining and imaginative science fiction adventure that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. As the jaw-dropping sequel to the New York Times bestseller "I Am the Walrus", it takes the story of Noah Prime and his extraordinary abilities to exhilarating new heights.

One of the book's biggest strengths is Noah's unique power to manifest characteristics of any animal on Earth due to containing all of their DNA. This clever concept allows for boundless possibilities and pure fun as Noah can shapeshift to utilize the amazing skills of countless creatures. Whether it's summoning the strength of a mighty bear, swinging through trees like an agile monkey, or taking flight as a soaring bird, Noah's ever-changing animal abilities keep the story feeling fresh, unpredictable, and endlessly creative.

Not only is this shapeshifting ability wildly entertaining, but it also serves as an educational opportunity for readers to learn fascinating facts about the remarkable capabilities of the animal kingdom. Details about animals that can secrete venom, change colors, or survive with little oxygen make for captivating reading. Noah's diverse powers prove indispensable as he faces a series of pulse-pounding, high-stakes challenges in his mission to rescue his friend.

The laugh-out-loud humor that saturates the narrative is another major highlight. The authors deftly inject wit and whimsy into the wildest of circumstances through Noah's interactions with his Android "sister" Andi and his socially-awkward genius friend Ogden. From soaring through space in an old lady's house to alien pacifier-induced chaos at a pool party, the zany situations and clever wordplay will have readers frequently chuckling.

Amid the rapid-fire comedy and thrilling action set-pieces, the authors still find depth by separating the main characters to allow for intriguing character explorations and world-building. Noah's journey sees him cross paths with another version of himself - a N.O.A.H from another planet with abilities drawn from its alien fauna. Meanwhile, Ogden and Sahara's destination reveals a malevolent scheme playing out on the planet Claire, adding high stakes to Ogden's determined mission to rescue his hopeless crush.

With its endless stream of dazzling imagination, riotous humor, breathless adventure, and heartfelt friendship at its core, "Shock the Monkey" is a masterclass in creating an unputdownable sci-fi romp perfect for fans of Eoin Colfer and Rick Riordan. The creative worldbuilding, deep well of entertaining animal abilities, and brilliant balance of laugh-out-loud comedy with gripping life-or-death stakes make this a spectacularly fun reading experience from start to finish. Brimming with action, humor, and heart, it's a sequel that more than lives up to its predecessor.