Children's Audiobooks · Sci-Fi
The secret zoo
Editorial direction by Kevin CravediFounder, Recommended Audiobooks
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Recommendation DNA i
Provisional Recommendation DNAThe supported DNA traits remain visible while the overall Quality score is recalculated under the current methodology.
The overall DNA score uses supported Quality dimensions only. Trait bars describe characteristics such as complexity, romance, pace, and accessibility; those traits do not raise or lower the overall score.
A fast-paced and exciting read for middle grade fantasy, mystery, and animal buffs. Something strange is happening at the Clarksville City Zoo. Late at night, monkeys are scaling the walls and searching the neighborhood—but what are they looking for? Noah, his sister Megan, and their best friends, Richie and Ella, live next door to the zoo. Megan is the first to notice the puzzling behavior of some of the animals. One day Megan disappears, and her brother and their friends realize it's up to them to find her. Their only choice is to follow a series of clues and sneak into the zoo. But once inside, they discover there's much more to the Clarksville City Zoo than they could ever have guessed... The author originally had the idea for The Secret Zoo when he was nine and wondered what would happen if zoo exhibits had secret doors that allowed kids to go inside—and the animals to come outside. He brings that sense of adventure and excitement to this story, making it a favorite for home and classroom reading along with such middle grade fantasy favorites as The One and Only Ivan.
Evidence Confidence
Why this matters →- The book itself is well identified and supported across independent sources.
- We still have limited information tied to this exact recording or edition.
- We don’t yet have enough narrator-specific commentary to characterize the performance.
We have a useful picture of the audiobook, though some listening and edition-specific details are still becoming clearer.
Evidence Snapshot i
These cards measure different things in the same evidence pool, so they are not meant to add together. Retained Evidence counts unique saved records; discussions and networks count independent groups; narration and edition cards count only records qualified for those specific jobs.
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Unique evidence records that remain after filtering and deduplication. The larger evidence-signal total shown below can be higher because one retained record may support several separate facts or observations.
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Different platforms and publications represented in the research behind this page.
What this means
Performance evidence that can actually describe how this narrator sounds or performs this recording. Identity records, narrator biographies, sample links, and awards are useful context but do not count here on their own.
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The most recent date this page’s saved evidence picture was refreshed and checked.
A larger evidence pool gives us more to work with, but volume alone does not make a conclusion stronger. Relevance and independence still matter.
Narrator Experience
What we can responsibly verify about the narrator and this recording.
How we build this section
The narrator credit can be shown, but a performance description waits for qualified recording-specific commentary or a verified analyzable excerpt.
What the Story Feels Like
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What this means
This is the emotional atmosphere readers most often encounter in the story — the mood you are likely to spend the most time in.
Why it appears: Book information and independent reader or listener observations that speak directly to this trait; recording-specific claims are kept separate unless they are actually supported.
What this means
The story tends to keep moving, with enough forward momentum to make scene changes and plot turns feel relatively quick.
Why it appears: Book information and independent reader or listener observations that speak directly to this trait; recording-specific claims are kept separate unless they are actually supported.
What this means for you: The story carries a intense tone with a brisk sense of momentum.
Built from the book and story evidence that speaks directly to these traits; it does not describe an unverified recording.
Reader Themes
How themes are identified
Violence is the theme readers return to most consistently, making it a useful clue to whether the book fits your tastes.
Based on themes repeated across 0 independent discussions and 0 source networks.
Where Readers Agree
The strongest agreement centers on pace and story quality. The leading theme appears across 7 independent discussions and 6 source networks, which makes it more than a one-off reaction. Violence also recurs as a meaningful secondary part of the response.
The strongest theme is independently supported across 7 discussions and 6 source networks.
Is This Right for You?
Story and reader-fit guidance remains useful while the exact audiobook recording is still being resolved.
You’ll probably enjoy this if…
- You are looking for a children's audiobooks story.
- You are looking for a teen & young adult story.
- You are in the mood for a intense tone.
- You tend to enjoy a brisk pace.
It might not be the best fit if…
- If narration matters to you, confirm the exact edition and narrator before choosing the recording.
Our Take
The secret zoo fits naturally within children's audiobooks and teen & young adult, with violence doing much of the work in shaping its appeal. Pace is one of the more consistent strengths readers point to. The narrator is confirmed, but the book itself is easier to characterize than this particular performance. Until the recording has stronger support, the narrator credit is useful context rather than a performance verdict.
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Runtime & Edition Details
- Runtime
- 6 hours and 18 minutes
- Audiobook release date
- 2010-06-01
Before You Listen
- The available book-level evidence repeatedly flags violence as part of the material.
Why You Can Trust This Recommendation
- Identity and edition signals are checked separately
- Independent discussions and source networks are counted distinctly
- Narration claims require edition- or narrator-specific support
- Unsupported information is withheld instead of displayed as a zero score
0 evidence records remain in the research set behind this page after filtering and deduplication.
Ready to experience The secret zoo?
Continue to this audiobook’s current verified edition and availability.