Name: Beetle Boy
ISBN: 9781910002988

M.G. Leonard

Darkus's dad has disappeared - but his new friend, a giant beetle called Baxter, is some consolation. Together, boy and beetle set out to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. But Lucretia Cutter - a fashion designer with a penchant for beetle jewellery - is dead set against their success ...

Beetle Boy

M. G. Leonard

Darkus Cuttle has taken care of his father ever since his mother died, but one day his father vanished from a locked vault at the Natural History Museum, and now he lives with his eccentric uncle--but one day he finds a large and unusually intelligent and self-aware beetle, and soon he and his two friends are caught up in a struggle to protect an intelligent super species of beetles.

Nadine 

A great book, guaranteed to induce beetle-mania amongst your students if they're not already obsessed (I remember my son going through an insect obsession stage), so get ready with plenty of nonfiction beetle books!
Good balance of suspense and hi-jinx, adults are kept at arms length except when necessary to further the plot. 
Can't wait for the next book.

Betty

A commentary on how important beetles are to the ecosystem while telling a fun story. 