What is Beast Mode (1) about?
Three kids aged between 9 and 12 are on the run and in hiding trying to figure out who and what they are. A year before, they woke up in a clearing in the dark and soon discovered they can change into animals. Even when not in animal form, they have amazing abilities far beyond those of a normal human child.
Searching for their past, including their own names, they discover others like them. Together, they hunt down the truth.
Plot summary of Beast Mode (1) (No Spoilers)
Caine, Blue and Ember have been in hiding for a year on the streets of London. To survive, they have mastered tricks to steal items from others, working as a team. Little do unsuspecting targets know that these three kids are not just kids. They are animal shapeshifters.
Caine can turn into a large cat, Blue, a black husky, and Ember, a fox. Caine is their leader, adept at planning ways to survive and keep them together and safe. Blue is cocky, with a flair for looking good when he can, and the muscle of the team, and Ember is a very skilled tech hacker. None want to hurt anyone, but they are able to protect themselves – all while trying to learn about their pasts.
One night they run into a creature that has been dubbed The Night Terror by the authorities. This huge black animal seems to coral them towards a particular address. This is where they meet a girl named Salia. She too is looking for answers about her life and is soon on the run with the three.
Constantly fleeing from The Night Terror and the police is fraught with danger, but slowly they piece together clues to find out who and what they are. When they realise that there are others after them, even more dangerous than the police or the creature that stalks the streets at night, they have to be even more careful.
Finding a relative helps them to fill in even more blanks in their stories, but danger is never far away. They must determine who is friend and who is foe, before they can really fight back. More than one betrayal bites them hard, but there is no time to process it as they are attacked again and again.
Has staying alive together all been for nothing?
Review
The action in Beast Mode is non-stop. There is also humour, tons of hand to hand (or paw) combat, loyalties stretched and proven, secret after secret revealed and of course, the awesome shapeshifting into a clever cat, a wily fox and a burly husky, all bigger, stronger and faster than they should be.
The history and lore behind these young shapeshifters is intriguing. Do we really know who or what walks among us? This history is to be further explored in the next novel in this series (released April 2027), and I’m looking forward to learning more from these character’s pasts.
If you like action, animals and (almost) super powers, you’re going to love Beast Mode.
Book Style
305 Pages / 36 Chapters
2 Points of View to allow two stories to develop, cross over and separate again throughout novel
FAQ’s
What age is it for?
10+
Where & When is it set?
London, England / Present
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
2 Points of View alternating through novel
Third person / past tense
Is there Violence?
Yes
What genre is Beast Mode (1)?
Middle Grade Fantasy
Themes
Blended family / Fantasy / Science / Mystery / Series / Action / Animals
Is it part of a series?
Yes
- The Animal Awakens
- ?  April 2027
- ?
Author
J J Arcanjo
Publisher
Hachette / Starboard
(2026, Hachette, Starboard, Secrets, Blended Family, Fantasy, Series, Action, Animals, Crime, Hacker, Shapeshifting, On the run, Ancient race, Science, Betrayal, Identity, Courage, War, Trust)