Fuzzy's Great Escape

Class Pets #1

by Bruce Hale

Fuzzy is the ambitious and unfortunately named guinea pig of class 5B. He has big plans for this year -- namely, to be president of the Class Pets Club. Then the cutest, most charming new bunny shows up and spins Fuzzy's plan like a hamster wheel. There's only one way to topple the adorable new club president: Fuzzy is taking the pets on a field trip!

Genres: Childrens

192 pages, Hardcover

Published June 26, 2018

About the author

A serious book addict, Bruce wanted to be a children's book author since he was in 4th grade (right after he got over wanting to be a pirate, Tarzan, and Daniel Boone). Today he's the author-illustrator of over 70 seriously funny books for kids, so some dreams do come true.

The Malted Falcon, one of his Chet Gecko Mysteries series, was an Edgar Award finalist, and Murder, My Tweet won a Little D Award for Juvenile Humor Writing. Bruce has written everything from picture books and easy readers, to graphic novels and novels.

Bruce's recent Monstertown Mysteries series blends horror and humor, based on his childhood love of monster movies. His other series include Class Pets, about the secret lives of classroom pets, and the forthcoming Outerspace Mystery Pizza Club books, due in 2024.

A Fulbright Scholar (in Storytelling), Bruce is also a popular speaker, both in the U.S. and internationally. He lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and knuckleheaded dog Riley. When he's not writing or reading, you may find him hiking, kickboxing, or singing with a latin-jazz band called Mezcal Martini.

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review by Grace, age 8, 2/16/19

This book is about Fuzzy, a guinea pig. Fuzzy is a class pet. Fuzzy is in a group called "The Class Pets Club" where the pets escape from their cages every day after school except Saturdays and Sundays. It's just something for them to do. Their last president was Geronimo, a rat. Today was the day they would elect someone to take his place. Fuzzy thinks that he would be the perfect president. He takes his job very seriously - being class pet, protecting the students, and teaching. But when he gets there, there is a new class pet replacing Geronimo. It's a bunny! Everyone stares at the bunny and says "yes, I'm going to vote for her as class president." Except Fuzzy. Fuzzy is mad at Cinnabun the bunny. Cinnabun asks all the pets about what their ideas are. Fuzzy's idea is going out on a field trip. Yes, going out on a field trip. (Duhn-dun-da!) It did not go off very well on their first try, but on their second they went to a dinosaur museum and had adventures there. Then they came back and lived happily ever after. The end. Until the second book, of course.

I liked this book. But I only gave it two stars because it wasn't about dragons. I will read other books in this series - at least as long as I cannot get my hands on "Darkness of Dragons" or other Wings of Fire books.

[Christine Rains · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my eight-year-old son, and he thought it cute and funny. The class pets get together every week and have a meeting. Fuzzy wants to be president but is beat out by an overly cute bunny named Cinnabun. He then arranges a field trip for the pets and works out all the thrilling details. It's a great adventure for the pets. How will Fuzzy make sure it works out for everyone?

[AMY · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried but I was not into this one.

[American Mensa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fuzzy’s Great Escape by Bruce Hale is the first book in the Class Pets series. It is a fiction chapter book that is very good for both boys and girls age 8-10 years old. Fuzzy is a very exciting guinea pig who is part of the Class Pets Club, along with his friends: Iggy, an iguana; Cinnabun, a bunny; Mistletoe, a mouse; Luther, a snake; Marta, a tortoise; and Sassafras, a parakeet. In the book, it is the first day of school, and Fuzzy is very excited. Could he become the next Class Pets President? Join Fuzzy as he leads his friends as they go on the first of many exciting adventures—a field trip! I know you will love reading Fuzzy’s Great Escape as much as I did, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Review by Dominic D., age 8, Tampa Bay Mensa

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this book aloud because my 1st grade son was eager to get ahead of his class's collective reading of it. The writing isn't bad, and the characters are distinctly drawn. Apart from that, nothing about the plot or the characters made me want to keep reading. I did manage to entertain myself by creating distinct voices for each animal character, and was especially pleased with the faux-Southern accent I gave Cinnabun. :)

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this to my kids as a read-aloud. It wasn’t terrible, but I’m glad it’s over. I feel like this should’ve been a short picture book, not chapter book. Not a lot happens but it goes on FOREVER. My seven-year-old thought it was cute but my ten-year-old and I were bored.

[blueygurl2016 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute and fun book. A couple of questions though: how do the animals get out of their cages? And why doesn’t the snake try to eat the mouse? Cinnabun was a little annoying, but the trick that Fuzzy played on her at the museum was cruel.

[Mrs. Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fuzzy and his friends go on a fun adventure full of laughs, suspense, and action. Fun read!

[Abby Obert · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a crew of students who love Clark the Shark, Chet Gecko, and Snoring Beauty and are eagerly waiting for their turn to read this book! Can’t wait to hear their thoughts!