Big Game (FunJungle)

Enjoyable story keeps you interested thru the whole book.

This is another gem in the Funjungle series.Someone is after Rhonda the Rhino! She has been shot at from a distance and everyone at Funjungle wants to find the perpetrator and ensure the safety of the rhinos (who are very endangered due to some mumbo jumbo about their horns being medicinal, which is blatantly false). Teddy Fitzroy, the hero of our Funjungle series is put on the case by the owner, JJ McCracken, to help find this terrible person and bring them to justice. Meanwhile, someone is throwing garbage cans through shop windows after hours and making off with baked goods, ice cream and 25 pounds of candy. Teddy is now also investigating this crime to clear his name for Large Marge, who work's security in the park and is determined to get Teddy for his vagrant behavior because he is such a bad apple (also bogus). Teddy and his friend Summer, JJ's daughter, find evidence that the shooter is someone inside Funjungle and they must find out who it is before the rhino's horns are removed in an attempt to "save them" from this nefarious person.I do enjoy a good mystery and one set inside a zoo is even better. What made this book such fun is the interactions Teddy and his parents (a primatologist and wildlife photographer both employed by the zoo) have with all the creatures. The included information the author has at the end of the novel about the devastation of the rhino population is also interesting and very sad at the same time. This is another great book from the Funjungle series and I eagerly await new releases. I must also mention this is great as a stand alone (you don't have to read the other two to enjoy this book) but I am sure you will want to seek the other two, Poached and Belly Up, if you read this one. While there is implied violence with the shooting, there is nothing here that would scare younger readers and is definitely a suitable chapter book for bedtime reading.

I began the FunJungle series when I was in middle school, and loved the first two novels. I read this one a bit later in my school career, but I just had to buy it once I had seen it in the bookstore. For me, I have read every book in this series so far extremely quickly, not because it is short, but rather because of how interesting and exciting it is. Within just the first few pages, the author draws you in and you simply do not want to put the book down. In this book, Teddy is given a bigger role, and readers are finally satisfied knowing that the administrators of the park are no longer undermining his skills. His usage of this in the storyline gives many young readers something to reflect on and relate to, as they are often underestimated even when capable of doing great things. The author even puts a highlight on a modern-day problem, rhinoceros ivory poaching, throughout the story and in a message at the end. This helps bring awareness to the younger generation in a fun and entertaining way. I would recommend this book to young adult readers in the middle school to underclassman high school range. I would advise parents to know their kids and what they can be exposed to, as there are elements of profanity used in the novel. Overall, the novel was a great mystery to unpack, and the author hooks you in right off the get-go.

Thoughts: I have been reading Stuart Gibbs' Spy School series for quite a while now, but only recently heard of the FunJungle series. Since Stuart Gibbs is one of my favorite authors, I decided it would be a crime to not read his other books. I picked up this book, firstly because it was a FunJungle book, and secondly because it's Stuart Gibbs' latest book (Oscar and I always read and review our interviewed authors' latest books). I immediately was thrust into Teddy's world, and I couldn't turn my eyes away. I always love mysteries, as long as they're the type that are action-packed, mind-boggling, and suspenseful. Big Game is definitely those three things, and so much more.I loved every one of the characters in this book. They were all developed, and at times so ridiculously silly that I honestly couldn't take them seriously (Marge.) But that's what I love about this book - it's like a weird mix of some wacky Roald Dahl characters, Percy Jackson, and mystery. The writing was enjoyable, suspenseful, and (of course) hilarious. There was an amazing twist at the end, and the story kept the reader on their toes the whole times. Overall, probably one of my favorite mysteries I've ever read.

The third in the FunJungle series. Some of the comedy that was been present in the first two book, and that has been present in the fourth book (the one we are currently reading) seems to be missing from this one, but it is still a great read. We are reading these as a family, with kids ranging from 9 (the one who needs to read more in our house and who is the intended audience) to 17, along with two adults, and we all love the books. They do a great job of mixing comedy, suspense and education about zoos and the animals they work with. I think we will all continue to read them, even once my son has outgrown them because I am so invested in the story now.

Great book for my ten yr old girl she loved it !

The actual story is great. My 10 year old loves everything written by Stuart Gibbs. However, the paperback was supposed to be new, yet came with rips through the front and back covers.If I were buying this as a gift, it would have to be returned.They need to state that it is used, not new.

This is such a fun series! Like usual in this series, I had no idea who the bad guy was, and I was really surprised by the ending! The mystery and adventure elements are so well done, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

This is a really great book for 8-12 yrs old. This a book in a great series. I loved this book and it made me lugh at different parts of the story

My son highly rates the author. Enjoys the rich and humourous descriptions and depiction of the characters. He shared this with another age mate who loved the books too.

Good

Kids loved this whole series

Brill!