The Bug Bandits, Jenni L Walsh
The Bug Bandits, Jenni L Walsh
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The Bug Bandits
The Museum Is Her Home. Her Mission Is to Save It.

Author: Jenni L Walsh

Narrator: Gail Shalan

Unabridged: 4 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Zonderkidz

Published: 05/06/2025

Synopsis

Home Alone meets A Night in the Museum in this clever middle-grade heist story by USA Today bestselling author Jenni L. Walsh. When a science-loving girl and her friends overhear a plot to rob her dad’s insectarium, they embark on a mission to stop the burglary of the museum’s rarest insects. Inspired by true events, this STEM-based adventure is perfect for fans of hijinks and mysteries.Without a mom and with her dad busy running the museum, Liberty Jacobs was practically raised by the tarantulas, leopard geckos, and rare butterflies of the Walnut Street Insectarium. She loves being the resident “Bug Girl,” but unless Liberty and her dad can snag a big investor, they’ll lose the museum, their home, and the funding Liberty needs to launch her dream business: a butterfly release program called Life & Liberty.The investor meeting is a week away, but there’s a big problem: Liberty has reason to suspect there’s going to be a "buglary" of the museum’s rarest animals. But the police don’t believe her, and with Dad out of town for an insect convention, it’s up to Liberty and her friends (and her vast knowledge of bug defense mechanisms) to thwart the thieves and save the museum.The Bug Bandits is:perfect for readers ages 8 and up who love mystery and suspenseAn empowering story of adventure, friendship, and courageIdeal for fans of Blue Balliett, James Ponti, and Deron Hicks 

About Jenni L Walsh

Jenni L. Walsh worked for a decade enticing readers as an award-winning advertising copywriter before becoming an author. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. She is a proud graduate of Villanova University, and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, daughter, son, and various pets. Jenni is the USA TODAY bestselling author of historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting Woman, The Call of the Wrens, Unsinkable, and Ace, Marvel, Spy. She also writes books for children, including the nonfiction She Dared series and historical novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies, Over and Out, and Operation: Happy. To learn more about Jenni and her books, please visit jennilwalsh.com or @jennilwalsh on social media.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Meg on May 29, 2025

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advance copy. A heartwarming middle grade mystery inspired by TRUE events! This will be an immediate add to my 5th grade classroom library! Inspired by a 2018 insectarium robbery in Philadelphia, The Bug Bandit centers around Liberty, a bug enthusiast, who overh......more

Goodreads review by Heather on December 13, 2024

I love finding books that I can hand to my students and know that they are going to enjoy reading. This story is the perfect mix of struggle, friendship, and fun facts for my 5-6 class. Thank you, NetGallery for the ARC. This one will definitely be added to my shelves!......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on March 18, 2025

Jenni Walsh (author of MG historical fiction Operation: Happy, Over & Out, I am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies and more) branches out into a slightly different genre with this loosely based on fact, realistic fiction for grades 4-7. Liberty and her father live above the Insectarium, a Philadelph......more

Goodreads review by Mark on January 01, 2025

What worked: Liberty has a special love for animals with six or eight legs and she’ll do anything to save her father’s insect museum. She doesn’t mind being called Bug Girl although she’s learned not to advertise her unusual interest in school. She feels a bit alone this school year since her best fr......more

Goodreads review by Nannette on April 08, 2025

ARC provided by Zonderkidz Books via Netgalley for an honest review. This was a fun and exciting middle grade novel featuring a delightful young entomologist and her new friend foiling some burglars intent on stealing some expensive bugs. I really enjoyed this science centered story and I think kids......more

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