Greg Schechter, Flickr Used to be that that the only food chains affected by turtles and ooze were pizza places Not merely an eyesore, these algae-fied ponds also reflect sunlight and rob the water of precious oxygen, slowly choking the life out of local plants and, eventually, every other living creature in a five-mile radius. As with goldfish, their oversized poop promotes hazardous algae bloom that turns local ponds into green sludge pools. And every part of their feeding frenzy seems tailor-made to utterly destroy their environments. state, including Hawaii, bulking up to the point that neither the local predators nor turtle species stand a chance against their slow-but-steady rampage. Originally from certain parts of the Mississippi, these blood-marked bastards have taken over almost every U.S. Adorable red-eared sliders, the most popular pet breed, are an absolute menace in the wild. The same is true of those ickle turtles stacked in Tupperware boxes outside of boardwalk pet shops. KoiQuestion, Flickr You're gonna need a bigger bowl. But in a big-ass lake with no natural predators and a bunch of dodo-level local prey? That Darwinian balloon trick will turn them into bloated bastards that can terrorize the waters for 10, 25, even 40-plus years. So within the confines of a plastic bag and your niece’s at-best nonchalant approach to a feeding schedule, a goldfish will eke out a meager existence as a scrawny gup for a couple of months. Like most invasive species or Facebook, carp grow as monstrous as their environment lets them get away with. Strip away the branding, and they’re just a type of carp, the rat of the sea. Turns out that the same characteristic that lets aquatic starter pets hang on in four inches of tap water just long enough to teach Timmy about responsibility and mortality makes them nightmares as an invasive species.

Instead, the most terrible invader hordes spawn not in expensive terrariums but the dirty fishbowls and hamster cages in kids’ bedrooms: kitties, ducklings, and, most terrifying of all, turtles and goldfish. But those exotic pets have about as good a chance of surviving in their unnatural habitat as their owners would if marooned on a deserted island. Typically, when people hear about dumped pets terrorizing the local landscape, it’s the odd five-foot gator or snapping turtle with a snappy nickname that manages to draw the attention of the local news station. Those Kids from Fawn Creek will enchant fans of Rebecca Stead, Jerry Spinelli, and Kate DiCamillo.Surely, these orange kaiju aren’t the same critters as the cute guppies you can win at the funfair, right? Wrong. Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor winner Erin Entrada Kelly explores complex themes centered on family, friendships, and staying true to yourself. Who will claim Orchid Mason? Who will save Orchid Mason? Or will Orchid Mason save them? She's wearing a flower behind her ear.įawn Creek Middle might be small, but it has its tightly knit groups-the self-proclaimed 'God Squad,' the jocks, the outsiders-just like anyplace else. Orchid-who was born in New York City but just moved to Fawn Creek from Paris-seems to float. When Orchid Mason arrives and slips gracefully into Renni's chair, the other seventh graders don't know what to think. Renni's desk is empty, but Renni still knows their secrets is still pulling their strings. That's because Renni Dean's father got a promotion, and the family moved to Grand Saintlodge, the nearest big town.

There are thirteen desks in the seventh-grade classroom. And in this small factory town where everyone knows everything about everyone, that's not necessarily a great thing. There are twelve kids in the seventh grade at Fawn Creek Middle School. From Erin Entrada Kelly, the winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this contemporary school story set in small-town Louisiana is about friendship, family, deception, and being true to yourself and your dreams. 'A raw, real exploration of belonging that's also sweetly hopeful.'-Publishers Weekly (starred review)Įvery day in Fawn Creek, Louisiana, is exactly the same-until Orchid Mason arrives. 'An emotionally resonant story about authenticity and belonging.'-Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 'A powerful and thought-provoking story.'-Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Mega predators