By book ten, most series are running on fumes, but Ape Escape proves the FunJungle world still has legs—or in this case, opposable thumbs. Stuart Gibbs manages to keep the pacing breakneck while smuggling in a semester’s worth of zoology and geography. It's the kind of book that makes a kid want to stay up an extra hour with a flashlight, and honestly, you should let them.

Teddy Fitzroy remains one of the most grounded and capable leads in juvenile fiction. Moving the action to Rwanda and Tanzania refreshes the formula, providing a much-needed look at conservation on the front lines. It's smart, it's fast, and it treats its young readers like they're capable of understanding complex global issues without sugar-coating the reality of poaching.