
Belly Up is the thrilling first book in Stuart Gibbs's FunJungle series, perfect for middle-grade readers who love mysteries, animals, and adventure. Twelve-year-old Teddy Fitzroy, whose parents work at the sprawling FunJungle zoo, finds himself embroiled in a whodunit when the park's star attraction, Henry the hippo, is found dead. Despite adults dismissing his suspicions, Teddy, with the help of the billionaire owner's daughter, Summer, embarks on a dangerous investigation. The book combines humor, suspense, and fascinating facts about zoo life, while exploring themes of justice, friendship, and perseverance. Parents should be aware of mild peril and animal harm, but these are handled appropriately for the age group.
Twelve-year-old Teddy investigates when a popular Texas zoo's star attraction--Henry the hippopotamus--is murdered.