Simon Thorn and the Viper's Pit

Simon Thorn and the Viper's Pit by Carter, Aimée. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781619637153.

Simon Thorn only recently discovered that hes an Animalgam--one of a secret race who can shift into animals. Now, for the first time in his life Simon has real friends to train and study with at the secret Animalgam Academy. The only missing part is his mother, held captive by his evil grandfather, Orion, whos bent on taking over the animal world. To rescue his mom, Simon must head cross-country with his friends, battling rogue Animalgams and their own doubts and torn loyalties along the way. But if Simons going to succeed, he will need to keep Orion from gathering together the fragments of a terrible weapon, or the lives of everyone Simon loves will be at risk. With plenty of action and adventure and characters full of heart, this story is perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Brandon Mull.