The Great Panda Rescue

Twelve-year-old Claire wants to be a large animal vet when she grows up, but not the typical horse and cow variety. Claire wants to doctor endangered and vulnerable animals - especially giant pandas. Claire gets the thrill of her life when her class takes a field trip to the Randolph Reserve. Not only does she get to see the giant pandas - she and Julia and their group receive the special honor of viewing a set of panda cub twins - only weeks old. Just when she thinks the day can't get better, Claire is asked to volunteer at the center for a month that summer. With summer only four weeks away, Claire acts fast. She loves her job; however, she soon discovers that Chenguang, the mother of the cubs, is being sent home to China. A great victory for the Randolph Reserve - as one of their pandas is going back to her natural habitat Claire is shocked to learn that the cubs, not only are being kept from bonding with their mother, but that they will not be going home with her. Claire knows a lot about pandas and she knows that the cubs need their Chenguang for at least eighteen months With this in mind, Claire solicits friends of all ages and starts a campaign to keep the panda family together. "The Great Panda Rescue" is one adventure after another as Claire battles for the pandas, faces a fire at the reserve and realizes that there are no easy answers when it comes to animal rescue, preservation and endangered and vulnerable wildlife. STEM Fiction featuring strong female characters