47 pages 1 hour read

Gordon Korman

Zoobreak

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2009

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Symbols & Motifs

All Aboard Animals

All Aboard Animals represents the real-life challenges animals face in captivity, as well as how people can make a difference in animals’ lives. While a traveling zoo could offer benefits, such as allowing people in different places to learn about animals they wouldn’t otherwise see, the idea only works if the zoo treats the animals well and provides an environment where all the present species can thrive. All Aboard Animals is dark and stuffy, and most of the animals live in enclosures that are too small for them. The animals are underfed and feeble, showing how little Mr. Nastase cares about the creatures. The response of visitors reveals the unfortunate truth about how such zoos are dealt with. With the exception of Savannah, the guests see the zoo either as an experience to take in or as an unfortunate situation they can’t change. In this way, All Aboard Animals is a cautionary tale of what happens when abuse and neglect are ignored, and the zoo also acts as a call to action for readers who wish to see change in the real world.