The narrator, Tina, recounts her childhood growing up inside a zoo where her parents worked as zookeepers. She spent most of her time playing with the animals and developed a deep connection with them. However, her life took a dramatic turn when she nearly got her friend Eric killed by taking him to the crocodile enclosure. The incident led to her being forbidden from having friends over, and Eric stopped talking to her.
Tina tried to win Eric back by using tips from the internet on how to attract a bad boy. She eventually convinced him to come to her 16th birthday party at the zoo, but things didn't go as planned. Tracy, Eric's girlfriend, caused trouble by trying to take pictures with a wolf pup, and a goat escaped from its enclosure, causing chaos.
The party ended in disaster, and Tina's parents were forced to move out of the zoo. Tina was banned from the zoo for life and spent the summer at a camp, where she met a mysterious boy named Mason who saved her from a goat. Mason became her friend, and together they exposed Tracy's lies and got her kicked out of the camp.
Tina decided to become a vet and changed schools to pursue her dream. She was excited and nervous on her first day but was relieved to find Mason in her class. The story ends with Tina and Mason reuniting and starting a new chapter in their lives.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator, Tina, grew up in a cottage inside a zoo.
2. Tina's parents were the zookeepers.
3. Tina was surrounded by wild animals as a child and considered them her playmates.
4. Tina could mimic animal sounds, including howling like a wolf.
5. Tina got into trouble at school for making animal sounds during class.
6. Tina was sent to detention for pulling a prank on her teacher using a tarantula.
7. Tina met a boy named Eric in detention, who became her friend.
8. Tina took Eric to the zoo and showed him the crocodile enclosure.
9. Tina and Eric got into trouble for sneaking into the crocodile enclosure.
10. Tina's parents grounded her and forbade her from having friends over.
11. Tina started a business selling exclusive photos and items from the zoo.
12. Tina was forced to stop her business by the principal, who also happened to be Eric's mom.
13. Tina's parents agreed to let her have a 16th birthday party at the zoo.
14. Tina invited Eric and the rest of her class to the party.
15. Tracy, a classmate who was dating Eric, tried to get Tina to let her take a picture with a wolf pup.
16. Tina gave Tracy a fake key to the mountain goats enclosure instead.
17. Tracy got into trouble with the goats and blamed Tina.
18. Tina's parents were furious, and the zoo authorities were called.
19. Tina's parents were not fired, but they were told to move out of the zoo.
20. Tina was banned from the zoo for life.
21. Tina's parents sent her to a summer camp to learn discipline.
22. Tracy was also at the camp and continued to bully Tina.
23. A boy named Mason saved Tina from a goat and became her friend.
24. Mason helped Tina expose Tracy's lies and get her kicked out of camp.
25. Tina developed a crush on Mason.
26. Tina's parents apologized for not believing her and reinstated her zoo privileges.
27. Tina decided to become a vet and started attending a new school that offered vet courses.
28. Mason transferred to Tina's new school, and they were reunited.