Things are about to get real Cretaceous for Teddy Fitzroy.
Simon & Schuster / Lucy Ruth Cummins
A resident at FunJungle, America's largest zoo, Teddy has had his fair share of animal-centric adventures and shenanigans. It might be a stretch to call him a younger, more grounded Ace Ventura, but the teen detective has found himself at the center of animal mysteries at the zoo time and time again, whether it's tracking down a kidnapped koala or solving a hippo murder. All the while, he must navigate run-ins with dubious characters like "Large Marge" O'Malley, or FunJungle's mysterious billionaire owner, J.J. McCracken.
Former screenwriter Stuart Gibbs certainly seems to have the art of middle-grade mystery thrillers down to a tee, having made his name with five successful series, including Spy School, Charlie Thorn, Last Musketeer, Moon Base Alpha, and FunJungle. But in his latest FunJungle tale, Gibbs takes the action away from the titular zoo.
As a campout at his friend Sage's ranch draws closer, a sudden phone call throws everything into chaos. A 500-pound T-Rex skull being excavated on Sage's property has vanished into thin air! After some reluctance, Teddy's on the case once again, this time to puzzle out who exactly has been able to make off with a giant tyrannosaurus skull.
But the animal troubles don't stop there. Teddy's rivals, the Barksdale twins, have found themselves swept up in a scandal involving an illegal anaconda, while his girlfriend (and McCracken's daughter) Summer investigates the black market reptile trade.
Gibbs manages to keep both the central and side plots in focus, progressing through the mysteries at a decent clip without leaving any of the characters out in the cold. And the zoo setting isn't just for show; Teddy and his friends and colleagues are knowledgable about the animals they serve, frequently chiming in with fun facts and other anecdotes about tendencies and characteristics. One early escapade, in which Teddy tracks down the mischievous "zebra spanker," sees a dive into zebra behavior and why such antics are bad for both zebras and people.
So in a year in which public spaces, like the zoo, might still be too dangerous, Gibbs' latest work may be the best bet for kids looking for some fun in the animal kingdom. And with a little bit of dinosaur magic sprinkled in, too.