Clubhouse Mysteries: The Backyard Animal Show by Sharon M. Draper, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson Ages 8-12 128 pages Aladdin July 2012 Paperback     In the fifth in the Clubhouse Mysteries series, Ziggy and his buddies are excited about watching a construction project with lots of heavy equipment take shape in their neighborhood. Unfortunately, one of the trucks hits and kills a doe. The kids rescue the animal’s orphaned fawn, leading to a plan to hold a neighborhood animal show to raise funds for the local wildlife center. What begins as a simple idea gets complicated when the boys find that handling a number of housepets may not be as simple a job as it might seem at first. They also discover that big projects—like the new apartment complex—can have some harsh impacts on nature. For independent readers ready for more complex stories and characters, this series not only offers a good read but it also raises some important issues. The culturally diverse group of characters is also a nice touch.     web reviews   Bob Walch/2012 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)