Belly Up (FunJungle)

Not sure what the fuss is about. This broken, incomplete and peculiar story might be mindless enough to entertain some kids but it did not hold up for the simple analysis of my 5th grader's class project.

I am an elementary school administrator and parent of two children (ages 7 and 10). I ordered this book along with the other recipients of the SC Children's Book Awards for my oldest to read. I am dismayed at the language used in this book, and our school has elected to choose another book in its place to recommend for our students who wish to read the list of 20 books. I do not believe in censorship, so the book is available in our school library and students may choose to read it on their own, but we are not sponsoring any book chats for this book nor promoting it in any way. The language serves no purpose to the plot, and any student using these words at our school would receive disciplinary action.

I am mentally kicking myself for not reading this book sooner. I admit disgracefully that I was not drawn in by the cover art, nor the synopsis, so I didn't even give this book a chance when it was originally released. Fast forward years later when this book was suggested to me based on my like of another book. And from the moment I stared reading I was hooked.

Gibbs doesn't dumb down the mystery for a younger audience and he does not insult young readers' intelligence like some children's mysteries tend to do. He presents a solid, well-planned mystery and outlines, in detail, the clues that lead the main character through his investigation to the solution. I firmly believe that both middle grade readers and adults alike will thoroughly enjoy this entire series.

I simply adore the setting of the FunJungle zoo! I honestly expected an over-the-top, unrealistic amusement park setting (maybe where the animals talk?). However, Gibbs made FunJungle a very believable place. His characters are quirky and all charming in their own individuality. This series is one of those that paints a picture as you read - you can follow along with the main character and experience FunJungle through his eyes. I can easily imagine what the animal enclosures look like and envision what the park layout is. Gibbs engages his readers' senses because not only can you see the sights, but you can smell the smells! For example - I appreciated Gibbs' detailed explanation of Henry the Hippo's autopsy, right down to the rotten stench and the unhygienic, disgusting condition of the hippo habitat when the characters have to literally swim in the hippo pool for clues. I know some readers will find this morbid and gruesome, but I truly appreciate the realistic approach and that the truth was presented in its entirety.

This mystery will leave you turning pages so fast and leave you guessing until the end. The humor in this book is funny without trying too hard. This was one book I was sad to see end. More FunJungle please!

I know some people have been offended from a few expletive words used in the book. I admit I was a bit shocked to see them in a children's story, but they are not strong enough to be taken with offence. They are not used just for the shock factor, but at times when a character's conversation is angry or heated enough that it warrants the use of a curse word. There is much more foul language and expletives used on everyday television that kids are exposed to, than in this book.

I was reading the monthly e-mail newsletter from one of my local mystery bookstores in 2010, and they highlighted Belly Up, a new novel aimed at kids in later elementary school and jr. high. It sounded like fun, so when I was in that night, I bought it for myself. I'm glad I did because it was an absolute delight.

Twelve-year-old Teddy Fitzroy would be the envy of many kids his age. His parents are working at FunJungle, the newest zoo/amusement park in the country (think a cross between the San Diego Wild Animal Park and Disneyland). Since it is located so far away from everything else in Texas, FunJungle provides housing for employees on site. That means Teddy has the run of the park all day every day.

FunJungle has only been opened for two weeks when Henry Hippo dies. Thanks to an animated TV show, Henry was the park mascot and one of the big reasons that people were flocking to the park so soon. Teddy sneaks into the autopsy and finds out that Henry was murdered, however, the doctor was told to cover that part of things up. Can Teddy get any adult to believe him? Will he figure out who killed the hippo?

Writing a mystery for kids can be very tricky. How do you get a kid involved in the case without making the adults look like idiots or, worse, unconcerned with his safety? The author does a perfect job of that here. In fact, he makes Teddy's parents into some of the best adults I have read in a kid's book in a long time.

But the Fitzroy family is just the start of the great cast of characters. Most of the rest of the adults only get painted with broad brush strokes, but I loved Teddy's partner in detecting, Summer McCracken. Summer is the daughter of FunJungle's owner, and the author does a great job of making her seem real and building a fledgling friendship between the two.

The plot was very enjoyable as well. It kept me entertained and guessing from the first page to the climax, and I had no clue who had done it until the end, although the ending made perfect sense. Even with all the background on zoos, animals, and the main characters scattered throughout the book, I never felt like I was getting a data dump that slowed down the action. That was even true in the first few chapters, which gave us the most background. And there are several action scenes that made my pulse rate jump.

Obviously, credit for that goes to the writing. The story is told first person from Teddy's point of view, and that gives it the needed push to wrap us completely in the story. I'd start reading and completely lose track of time. I never wanted to put the book down.

The book has several scenes that dapple in bathroom humor. I suspect that boys especially will get a kick out of those scenes. While I normally find bathroom humor disgusting, I've got to admit even I found these scenes pretty funny.

Author Stuart Gibbs has a definite winner on his hands with Belly Up. I may be older than his target audience, but you can bet I will be watching for his next book.

After winning this book in a raffle, my son asked me if I wanted to read it too. I agreed, not knowing what to expect. I will agree that early on in the book when he uses "p**sed" in his verbage I was a little taken aback. It was disappointing, however, despite a few bleeps, which I hope he will take out of his futher books, I loved this little book. Really loved it. It was a page turner, Gibbs develops his characters very well, and it is a very easy read, with excitment and intrigue. It is unfortunate that authors forget that not everyone allow their children to use this language even though it is part of our dwindling society. I don't know what to say except that maybe our schools could black out the few offensive words so that it can be in the schools. OR, maybe just maybe Stuart Gibbs will read some of the "constructive" comments and make some changes in the future, I certainly hope so because I think it would be a shame for kids not to enjoy his creative writing. I will buy his next book with fingers crossed!

I love the Spy School series, and deciding to try another Stuart Gibbs book I downloaded Belly Up. I wasn't so convinced by the cover, but it involved a mystery and I thought to give it a chance.

Teddy Fitzroy is a nice character, with a smart mind and quick wits, but I don't think it was necessary to point out his original provenience from Congo. His family is pretty interesting too, but that is the one fact that seems off for the story.
I also find Large Marge to be extremely annoying.
As for the mystery itself, about Henry Hippo's murder, it was very well planned out, enlightening small clues one at a time as Teddy and Summer investigated. I too had my own suspects while following their adventures, and enjoyed the suspense as more hints came out. There seem to be less action compared to the Spy School books, which is understandable, and leaves space for some unique animal facts.

I wouldn't exactly suggest to make a movie, though. There were several bad words scattered around for no reason, and I find all that hippo dung and manure a bit too much. The part about the autopsy was definitely disgusting.
I also couldn't help spotting a few cliches; there's the usual "geeky, not so lucky protagonist" and his "superstar girl with her clueless father" cliche, which is extremely similar to Spy School, as well as the whole "incompetent grown-ups" thing.

Still, I enjoyed the book and will continue reading the rest of the FunJungle series.

Belly Up is a smart, funny middle grade mystery that should appeal to both boys and girls. Stuart Gibbs’ employment history includes working at the Philadelphia Zoo so the novel is informed by life experience, and readers will learn much about the workings of a zoo. There are times — mostly when facts are imparted about zoos, business, or economics – that the narrative voice is not quite representative of a twelve-year-old boy. When it comes to dialogue though, Teddy’s personality emerges bright and clear, revealing a funny, clever kid with whom any other kid would like to hang. And just in case readers should find Teddy lacking in spunk, his new friend and sidekick Summer McCracken is feisty enough for the two of them!

In my eyes, the novel’s grounding in facts gives a good balance that keeps it from tipping into silly or ridiculous. That said, however, while curious and astute readers will be fascinated by and learn from the preponderance of zoological facts and discourse on animal welfare, the more reluctant crowd may feel bogged down waiting for the action. Still, with adventure and mystery in abundance and a puzzle that’s difficult to crack, patient readers who keep at it will be rewarded with an enjoyable tale that is just the beginning of what promises to be an engaging series. Book Two, Poached (released in April) is in stores now!

Verdict: 4 of 5 hearts.

Smart and Funny Middle Grade Mystery. Belly Up is a worthy addition to the middle grade mystery circle, equally appealing to boys and girls. Give this to kids who like Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot or Wendelin Van Draanen’s Sammy Keyes series.

Teddy Fitzroy is the precocious narrator of Stuart Gibbs' BELLY UP, a novel about a 12-year-old boy's attempts to determine the killer of FunJungle's star mascot, Henry the Hippo. Having spent the majority of his young life in the African wilds with his field biologist mother and nature photographer father, Teddy's knowledge of animal behavior and matter-of-fact delivery of nature facts, skepticism of corporate and consumer life, and naivete regarding human behavior make an inviting mix for his narrative voice. Basically, his family has been hired to help with the development of FunJungle, which Teddy describes as a mash-up of the San Diego Zoo and Disneyland, with all the attendant merchandising and corporate concerns. While his parents have been lured there to help secure the welfare of the animals, as have many of the other professionals, these interests conflict with the management of the facility, including the need to preserve good press. This situation provides Gibbs a platform to mention a wide range of social issues without turning his novel into a soapbox.

While the book contains a number of technical terms, this book should be easily accessible to kids who have read the Harry Potter books and enjoy watching JIMMY NEUTRON. Teddy's experiences have given him a broad vocabulary.

My eleven year old laughed so hard at passages of this book that he rolled off the couch. BELLY UP can be earthy and gross in places, and there are some mild oaths in a couple of places, and there are a couple of convenient coincidences, and there are a couple of two-dimensional characters, but as a whole the novel offers a fun, engaging read and will give readers a new perspective the next time they visit a zoo. I highly recommend this book, and I encourage all to read it before a film version appears, because, believe me, Hollywood will tone down a number of elements.

If Teddy Fitzroy has further adventures, I will want to check them out.

This book is a hilarious but somewhat sinister murder mystery of a hippo. A Texas theme park and zoo, FunJungle, where the title character - Henry the Hippo lives - is the primary location. Teddy, a mischievous 12 year old and son of the primate caretaker, discovers that Henry's death was not accidental and decides to figure out who killed him and why. Along the way, he is helped by the park owner's daughter, Summer. The two run into different escapades trying to figure out the killer's identity.

There are some rude/dirty situations that give kids plenty to laugh at. For example, Henry has an ability to shoot dung at people, especially those who are wearing expensive clothes. Teddy, tired of seeing how the chimps are treated by park guests, arms them with water balloons so they can fight back. The book begins with this antic and hooked me right away; I wanted to read more. Other oddities include Henry himself. He has become super-popular with the guests yet he is not well liked by the staff. He can be vicious and cause trouble, resulting in problems that cost money and time, as well as possible injury.

With a strong cast of supporting characters and unusual situations, Belly Up offers a fun read that will keep kids laughing and guessing at the same time. People are not always as they seem and telling the good from the bad is not always simple to do. There are plays on words, resulting in more complexity then initially suggested. Kids are represented as pretty smart and tricky, outmaneuvering adults assigned to watch them or handle larger issues. What makes it a good story is that is has a decent plot separate from the fact that it is a comedy. It is appropriate for older elementary and middle school kids.

My son read it (12 years) and liked it; he is waiting for a sequel, which I take as a good sign. A good read for the summer or when someone wants something different and fun, to take a break from some other genres.

Thank you for a delightful adventure back into the Tween section! This book was fun and well-written, and has sealed my fate as a lifelong Juvenile reader. I learned more about zoos and animals in the first 40 pages of this book than on any of my in-person zoo visits. The characters were varied and full of depth. The mystery had me guessing all the way through!

I do not recall any bad language, but I am sure glad that somebody out there is paying more attention to what kids are READING than watching on TV or hearing on the playground. (-;

This would be a fantastic book to read in school (4th grade) to get kids excited about studying animals and ideal habitats, as well as conscious capitalism and marketing/perception. As an entrepreneur I loved all the business talk in this book.

Thank you for an amazing read!!

I think that Belly Up is an amazing and mysterious book. The book starts out very silly with water balloon armed chimps attacking tourists at FunJungle, but then something goes wrong at Hippo River and Henry goes, belly up.
After Henry goes belly up Theodore whose parents work at FunJungle decides to do some investigating. But as soon as he starts investigating things start to go wrong. First, a black mamba snake attacks Theodore. Then someone releases a baby tiger on him and his mother, but Theo’s dad luckily saves them.
At the end of the book they find out who murdered Henry the Hippo and settle some unfinished business. If I could change something I would add more suspects to the mystery of Henry’s death because it would make it harder to predict who killed Henry. It has a very unique way of developing the characters. It puts them through challenging situations so you get to see how they think. I think YOU should try Belly Up if you like mysteries and tense stories.

At first glance, this looks like a silly kids' book about a hippo...until you notice that the hippo is dead and floating upside down in a pool of water. "Belly Up" is aimed at 8-12 year olds, but I wouldn't put an upper age limit on it. As a grown man, I was hooked from paragraph one.

Main character Teddy lives in the trailer park behind FunJungle, a zoo / theme park. His mom works there, resulting in him having frequent access to the park, so he is one of the first ones on the scene when the park's mascot, Henry the Hippo, is found dead. He overhears the zoo vet find something strange during the autopsy. Murder is suspected but covered up, so Teddy takes it upon himself to try to solve the crime.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. There are many engaging and humorous characters. I don't know if this is meant to be the first in a series of books, but I certainly hope so. Not to wish death on fictitious animals, but I hope there are many future zoo mysteries for Teddy to solve.

Teddy Fitzroy, the precocious 12-year old son of a zoologist and a wildlife photographer, has grown up in the wilds of Africa but is now the only kid who lives at FunJungle, the world's newest and most thrilling zoo -- and he's BORED! Then, just as he's getting into trouble yet again for trying to liven things up, Henry the Hippo, FunJungle's mascot, is found dead! Even more intriguing, Teddy has reason to believe that Henry was murdered! Who would kill a hippo -- and why? Since none of the adults seem willing to look any further into the mystery, Teddy must investigate himself, along with the zoo's billionaire owner's daughter.

While I was surprised and unhappy with some of the vocabulary and situations -- damns, a bastard, asses, a somewhat graphic autopsy, etc. -- the book is well written, fast-paced and funny. But the author is a bit of a potty mouth.

This would make a great read-aloud book or a chapter book for middle schoolers.

When Teddy Fitzroy realizes Funjungle(the zoo)'s main mascot is murdered, he sets off to find the culprit. Unfortunately, the culprit will do anything he can to stop him, even if it means killing him. Can Teddy find the murderer before he gets murdured himself? This is a great book if you like mysteries, adventures, or kids trying to save the day. It has a few bad words in it, but that is it, unless you can't deal with knowing how people murder hippos(Don't be ashamed, it made me scared). Thank you for such a great treat, Stuart Gibbs, and you have a wild imagination!

#yes #awesome #pleasewritemore
#9-whateverage #spyschoolisgood2
#readkeeperofthelostcities #wait,what?
#notanpaidad #illstopnow
#hahaJK #seriouslythistime

i have to write at least 20 words. There is literally no purpose whatsoever to this.

FunJungle's mascot Henry the hippo is dead. All 4,000 pounds of him is found belly up in his enclouser in what is called "America's Most Exciting Family Vacation Destination". Twelve-year-old live-in resident Teddy Fitzroy believes Henry might have been rubbed out by a park employee nursing a grudge against the hippo for his unpleasant behavior at the zoo. Joining him is Summer, daughter of the owner of FunJungle, and together they work their way through the list of suspects. But sticking his nose in other people's buisness, attracts the attention of the killer and Teddy soon finds his own life in danger.

The story flows smoothly and the wildlife facts provided educational help to those ignorant of the inner operations of a zoo. Although I loved the plot and characters, it is better handled by more mature readers due to its themes of animal reproduction and occassional foul language. Definitely, recommended for 5th and 6th graders.

The vocabulary is outstanding as usual when it comes to this Stuart Gibbs's books. Although there are some swear words occasionally. The book includes an incredibly mixture of fun and suspense.
 I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a mystery or a comedy book. I really enjoyed reading and rereading this book. This was an incredibly funny and witty book. In short, I loved it.
For a full review visit my website,
www.kidstokids-bookreviews.com

Our daughter got this book as an 11th Birthday present last year & it has been her all time favorite book. Now her 8 yr old sister is reading it & enjoying "Belly Up" just as much ! In fact her older sister is having her read it again "out loud" to her. Looks like I'll be buying another book by this author!

Belly up by Stuart Gibbs is a mysterious book. Something has gone wrong at Hippo River in Funjungle zoo. The one and only famous Henry the hippopotamus has died and it is up to teddy, who lives there while his family works at the zoo is trying to figure out who killed Henry or how he died. Meanwhile Martin del Gato the boss of Funjungle tries to replace Henry with another hippopotamus. The greatest doctor of the country wants to cut Henry open. So what should Teddy do now? Read the book to see what happens.

Twelve year old Teddy lives on the property of the most popular zoo in the world, "Fun Jungle." Both his mom and dad work there but one day Fun Jungle's mascot is killed, Henry the Hippo. Many people go to Fun Jungle because of him. Teddy and his friend Summer (daughter of Fun Jungle owner) try and find out who killed Henry the hippo. Turns out Henry wasn't terribly well-liked and the list of suspects who might have wanted him dead is long. Teddy risks his life trying to figure out who killed and made Henry go belly up.

exquisitely plotted would never have known buck and martin were the people that caused Henry's death
it's just that teddy is way to sensative he kept feeling betrayed by summer when all he had to do was give her a chance

Twelve year old Teddy lives on the property of the most popular zoo in the world, "Fun Jungle." Both his mom and dad work there but one day Fun Jungle's mascot is killed, Henry the Hippo. Many people go to Fun Jungle because of him. Teddy and his friend Summer (daughter of Fun Jungle owner) try and find out who killed Henry the hippo. Turns out Henry wasn't terribly well-liked and the list of suspects who might have wanted him dead is long. Teddy risks his life trying to figure out who killed and made Henry go belly up.

exquisitely plotted would never have known buck and martin were the people that caused Henry's death
it's just that teddy is way to sensative he kept feeling betrayed by summer when all he had to do was give her a chance

This book had a blend of suspense and satirical humor that reminded me of Carl Hiaasen's young adult books. I read this to my seven- and five- year-old every night before bed, and they couldn't wait for the next chapter (neither could I). The idea of a resourceful boy living in an animal theme park totally captivated them. Fun Jungle and the its inhabitants, both animal and human, are vividly imagined. The mystery plot is filled with plenty of action and cliffhangers, but never too scary. There's a sweet romance, and lots of interesting information about animals is included in an engaging way. A great book for kids and that grown ups will love too.

The premise of the book is intriguing and sounds as if it would be a good read, but once you crack the pages one quickly discovers otherwise.

My daughter, 11, came home from school yesterday completely distraught and asked if she was going to die. This book contains such foul language, descriptive autopsy scenes and "fat people" jokes my daughter was in fear not only for herself but her mother and caregiver who are also overweight.

This book should have language and graphic scene alerts so readers can choose it as appropriate for them. Without them, the reader is exposed to things many parents would prefer them not to be.

This was an entertaining and informative book. The mystery was intriguing with several suspects and interesting clues. The young detectives were fun and engaging as well. I especially enjoyed finding out more of the inner workings of theme parks, zoos and the marketing involved with them - especially since it was included in such a way that it didn't slow down the action in the story at all. I bought a set to share with students as well as having my mom read it. So far everyone I've shared it with has really enjoyed it.

this book has a great climax, setting,plot, characters, and basicaly everything else a good book has. The author had me hooked from the very beginning, with so much detail, I was basically in the book!!! The end is great with justice to the plot!!! I highly recommend this to readers of all kinds!!! Exciting and excellent

Henry the hippo was murdered and Teddy and Summer must figure out who's responsible the story kept me on the very edge and mom had to practically pull the kindle from my hands to get me to eat story puts you in a place where you know who the killer is when another clue eliminates them. Perfect for people who need a gripping hilariously ridiculously awesome story to read

I bought this book for myself and I absolutely loved it! I admit some parts were confusing and throughout the book I could barely remember the main character's name..., but overall it was an amazing book. It made me long for Stuart Gibbs's next book. (Hope it's hippo related!)