ARC Review: Game of Pets #1

The Boy Who Knew Too Much by Aaron Blabey

Publication Date: September 29, 2026

Summary from Netgalley:

OK, here’s the situation:

Thanks to a diabolical intergalactic game show, we are all cooked.

Luckily, Griff, an 11-year-old kid with innumerable allergies, just got told by a talking axolotl named Bob that Griff is the only one who can save us.

I mean, that’s kind of good news, right?

Trouble is, Bob’s prophecy comes with a warning: “Watch your back, man…your PETS are not what they seem…”

Prepare to have your mind blown and your cats and dogs under heavy suspicion. It’s time to buckle up for an insane, laugh-out-loud new series, 260 million years in the making…

Confession:

Okay, I know that my cat is secretly trying to kill me, but I never thought about there being a pet wide conspiracy to destroy earth for the sake of a galactic game show! This was a fun and wild ride of a story that kids are really going to enjoy.

Griff is a character that many kids will be able to relate to. He feels lonely and invisible, not only to other kids, but his parents also don’t seem to have time for him. He is allergic to many things which precludes his ability to get a normal pet and he seems to have an irrational fear of fish. But when he meets Bob the axolotl, it is love at first sight.

I loved Bob, but he was a bit annoying at times. Not a fan of his overuse of ‘babe’. But kids are really into axolotls so I am sure he will be a hit with them. He is funny at times, and he seems to have some sort of ulterior motive for saving the earth, but it should all work out, I hope.

One character that I really didn’t particularly care for was the pet store owner, Carol, who is an ex-marine that ends up helping Griff and Bob. I found her to be a bit over the top and a bit of a caricature. Also she seems to take the whole situation at face value and not much disbelief, and just basically kidnaps Griff without much thought.

The story and illustrations are pretty bonkers, but kids will totally be into it the whole thing. This first book is pretty straightforward set up for the series and there isn’t a whole lot of plot, but for the type of book that it is that is ok. Kids will want the next book right away though, so it might be a tough sell until then. There is lots of humor and I loved the whole set up of the galactic game that is presented throughout the story.

Another winner from this popular middle grade author. Fans of his books will devour and enjoy this new series.