12 year old Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt Fitzroy has got a murder on his hands and trouble on his tail. Henry, the hippopatamus at the brand-new nati...
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reviews
Jul 23, 2010
karen
rated it: 
first, look at the cover. now, look at the endpapers:
how are you going to say "no" to that?? you're not. because not only is it a beautifully designed book, the story itself is great, and if i could stand to be around children, i would give them this book, because it is both fun and good for them, like flintstones vitamins.
i saw this on a cart in the basement at work while i was waiting for the elevator, and the colors attracted me. me being me, i y More...
how are you going to say "no" to that?? you're not. because not only is it a beautifully designed book, the story itself is great, and if i could stand to be around children, i would give them this book, because it is both fun and good for them, like flintstones vitamins.
i saw this on a cart in the basement at work while i was waiting for the elevator, and the colors attracted me. me being me, i y More...
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(45 people liked it)
Feb 13, 2012
Barb
rated it: 
Teddy Fitzroy is a prankster who finds entertainment at the zoo his parents work at by giving monkeys water balloons or getting the security guards to chase after him for being places he’s not supposed to be. But when the Mascot, Henry the Hippo, turns up dead Teddy decides to sneak into the auditorium where the autopsy is being done. He overhears that Henry was murdered and begins an investigation of his own. There are plenty of suspects and with the help of a girl, Summer, the two smart kids w
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Jan 22, 2012
I chose this book because when I first saw the cover I thought it looked interesting so I thought I should read it and see what the reason there was a dead hippo on the cover. Someone has murdered Henry the Hippo who is the mascot of the zoo Fun Jungle. Teddy feels that something’s up, so he decides to investigate the situation. My favorite quote would have to be: “Everyday, dozens of animals got sick; maybe even one or two would die. But for Henry to go belly-up…… that was pretty much a worst c
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Jul 13, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Imagine Mickey Mouse isn’t just a cartoon and people in costumes, but a real animal who people flock to see at Disney World as its central attraction. Then imagine Mickey turns up dead one day in front of all the customers at his exhibit.
That’s the scenario in Belly Up. FunJungle is a recent zoo and theme park extravaganza, and main mascot Henry the Hippo is dead. Twelve-year-old Teddy lives at FunJungle with his mom, a famous gorilla researcher, and dad, a wildlife photographer, More...
That’s the scenario in Belly Up. FunJungle is a recent zoo and theme park extravaganza, and main mascot Henry the Hippo is dead. Twelve-year-old Teddy lives at FunJungle with his mom, a famous gorilla researcher, and dad, a wildlife photographer, More...
Feb 24, 2011
Lauren
rated it: 
I admit it, I totally judge a book by its cover. In this case, I was not disappointed- it is as fun and intriguing and the cover promises. 12 year old Teddy lives with his photographer dad and monkey scientist mom on the property of Funjungle, the world's biggest amusement park and zoo in Texas. The book starts right off with Teddy's grand adventure- Henry the Hippo is found floating belly up in his pond. Henry is a key player here, because he was essentially the zoo's mascot, like Shamu is for
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Jan 07, 2011
Alison
rated it:
The first few pages of this book led me to believe that it would be a terrific pick for reluctant readers and a solid kid-pleaser. Stuart Gibbs is a screenwriter, and that comes through in the easy way this story unfolds and the amount of action that's to be found here. As the novel progressed, though, my initial spark of enthusiasm faded a bit. The premise is great, the story is clean, the writing is straightforward, and the characters (for the most part) are fun. But the pacing is uneven. Want
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Dec 29, 2010
Karissa
rated it:
I got a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. I couldn't resist the humorous description and the fun cover. Overall it was an enjoyable read and lots of fun!
Teddy lives in FunJungle Park with his mom, who researches apes, and his dad, who is a wildlife photographer. It's kind of crazy living in a zoo/theme park but things get even crazier when the unpleasant park mascot Henry the Hippo is found belly up in his habitat. Teddy sneaks into Henry's autopsy and overhears th More...
Teddy lives in FunJungle Park with his mom, who researches apes, and his dad, who is a wildlife photographer. It's kind of crazy living in a zoo/theme park but things get even crazier when the unpleasant park mascot Henry the Hippo is found belly up in his habitat. Teddy sneaks into Henry's autopsy and overhears th More...
Nov 30, 2010
BAYA
rated it:
Fans of Carl Hiaasen’s books Hoot and Flush will enjoy this middle grade mystery set at FunJungle, an exotic animal amusement park. When Henry the Hippo, the mascot of the newly-opened park, goes belly up, 12-year old Teddy thinks it would be fun to sneak into the autopsy. He’s been around animals his whole life, since his mom is a gorilla researcher and his dad a wildlife photographer, and he’s intrigued by Henry’s seemingly untimely demise.
When he overhears that the hippo’s death mi More...
When he overhears that the hippo’s death mi More...
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Nov 19, 2010
Christina
rated it:
The lucky 12-year-old narrator, Teddy, gets to live in a zoo since his parents work for an animal theme park in Texas built and owned by one of the richest men in the world, J.J. McCracken. The zoo's famous mascot turns up dead and the boy is convinced the hippo was murdered. However it seems almost everyone at the zoo had a motive for murder and it's up to Teddy to find out who the real killer is, even when the killer is making attempts at Teddy's own life! The book's plot is entertaining an
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Oct 25, 2010
Victoria
rated it:
Why would someone murder a hippo? Especially if that hippo was the face of the big zoo Jungleworld, it's main attraction? That's what Teddy wonders. He teams up with the daughter of the filthy rich zoo owner's daughter to try to solve the mystery...but can he trust her? What about the ex-con who dresses up as one of the zoo characters? Whoever it is, they are serious about keeping Teddy away from his investigation. Teddy is the tween son of a photographer and a gorilla researcher who has l
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Feb 09, 2011
June
rated it:
BELLY UP is Stuart Gibbs debut as an author although he has written screenplays for Nickelodeon, Disney, ABC, and Fox. Before that he studied capabaras (the world's largest rodents) and worked at the Philadelphia Zoo.
BELLY UP is refreshing, adventurous, entertaining,and much more. Teddy Fitzroy is a typical boy who has grown up around exotic animals when he lived in Africa. His mother, a noted scientist who studied the behavior of monkeys and his father, a famous photographer have ta More...
BELLY UP is refreshing, adventurous, entertaining,and much more. Teddy Fitzroy is a typical boy who has grown up around exotic animals when he lived in Africa. His mother, a noted scientist who studied the behavior of monkeys and his father, a famous photographer have ta More...
Aug 25, 2010
Liza
rated it:
This is a solid mystery about a boy named Teddy who lives at the world's largest zoo because his parents work there. He spends his time tormenting the security staff with pranks until one day the zoo's beloved mascot, Henry the Hippo, dies.
Teddy is the only one who believes it's murder, and he's determined to find the culprit. However, other animals start dying or getting out of their enclosures, and Teddy has to solve the crime quickly before he or his family are mauled and eate More...
Teddy is the only one who believes it's murder, and he's determined to find the culprit. However, other animals start dying or getting out of their enclosures, and Teddy has to solve the crime quickly before he or his family are mauled and eate More...
Feb 15, 2012
Carolyn
rated it:
I read this book 3erd quarter:
I like the book. I liked it because it was funny and had animals. Also because the main character, Teddy, lives in the zoo. You could tell it was funny by the first line in the book: I was caught giving the monkeys water ballons...You could also tell this is a funny book by the cover, a cartoon dead hippo.
In the first part of the book Teddy is telling you how he got to the zoo(only in the first few chapters). He use to live in the congo, but his pa More...
I like the book. I liked it because it was funny and had animals. Also because the main character, Teddy, lives in the zoo. You could tell it was funny by the first line in the book: I was caught giving the monkeys water ballons...You could also tell this is a funny book by the cover, a cartoon dead hippo.
In the first part of the book Teddy is telling you how he got to the zoo(only in the first few chapters). He use to live in the congo, but his pa More...
Nov 19, 2011
Diana
rated it:
This was a fun, light-hearted, entertaining read with a humorous tone and a mystery to solve.
Teddy Fitzroy has been around animals more than people for most of his life. His mom works as a gorilla researcher, and his dad is a wildlife photographer. He spent his childhood in the Congo in Africa. Now he and his parents live and work at FunJungle, a cross between Disney World and the San Diego Zoo - which is set to become the most famous and lucrative zoo in the world.
How More...
Teddy Fitzroy has been around animals more than people for most of his life. His mom works as a gorilla researcher, and his dad is a wildlife photographer. He spent his childhood in the Congo in Africa. Now he and his parents live and work at FunJungle, a cross between Disney World and the San Diego Zoo - which is set to become the most famous and lucrative zoo in the world.
How More...
Jan 08, 2011
H
rated it:
A good solid read for 5th-7th, this is the story of Teddy, the son of a primate researcher and photographer whose family has ended up at a new animal attraction called FunJungle. When the mean tempered, disgusting zoo mascot Henry the Hippo dies, Teddy discovers that the animal just might have been murdered. But why is nobody investigating? 12-year old Teddy is an appealing character, and the action is just silly enough to be funny. This book is particularly notable for including parents who
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Sep 15, 2011
Alex
rated it:
I really loved this book! I think kids will like it because it is funny and a good mystery at the same time! What I liked best about this book is the characters. I really connected with Teddy and Summer as a thirteen year old kid myself. I loved how their friendship grew as the book progressed, and I found myself wanting to join in with their adventures. If these kids were real kids I would totally want them to be in my circle of friends! The mystery element also added to the fun, it felt
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Oct 31, 2010
Sandra
rated it:
Twelve year old Teddy Fitzroy has grown up around animals all his life. His parents worked with animals in the Congo until the war got so bad they feared for their son's life. Now they work for the new internationally know zoo, FunJungle. Teddy is constantly having problems with security. It is no wonder he finds himself in trouble when the zoo's mascot, Henry the Hippo is found dead in his pool. He sneaks into the autopsy room and finds out that Henry was murdered. He doesn't know who to
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May 29, 2011
Andree
rated it:
Belly Up
Whenever I have read a mystery book (which is not often), I turn to the back of the book to learn whodunit. I then enjoy reading to see how the author crafted the mystery. But when I read Belly Up, I refused myself that pleasure. I wanted to see how the mystery unfolded and remain part of the audience, and not an observer. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I learned a lot about zoo management. Middle school children should find this very interesting. There is violence, humor, sadness More...
Whenever I have read a mystery book (which is not often), I turn to the back of the book to learn whodunit. I then enjoy reading to see how the author crafted the mystery. But when I read Belly Up, I refused myself that pleasure. I wanted to see how the mystery unfolded and remain part of the audience, and not an observer. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I learned a lot about zoo management. Middle school children should find this very interesting. There is violence, humor, sadness More...
Aug 30, 2011
Marianne
rated it:
Something for everyone, but especially middle school boys.
Teddy leads a charmed life. He lives in a Zoo...no, really. A real one. Junjungle is a combination resort/zoo/safari/amusement park and Henry the Hippo is the star attraction. Even before the park was built, Henry was the star of his very own cartoon program. The real Henry. Well, that's a different story. He is obnoxious. Everyone hates him and he hates everyone. His favorite way of expressing himself is through e More...
Teddy leads a charmed life. He lives in a Zoo...no, really. A real one. Junjungle is a combination resort/zoo/safari/amusement park and Henry the Hippo is the star attraction. Even before the park was built, Henry was the star of his very own cartoon program. The real Henry. Well, that's a different story. He is obnoxious. Everyone hates him and he hates everyone. His favorite way of expressing himself is through e More...
Jul 27, 2011
Miya
rated it:
I loved this book.
Teenage Teddy has had a life unlike any other kid around. When he was little, his family lived in the congo. His mom's a scientist, his dad, a photographer. Now, he's living the dream of TONS of little kids. He lives in an amusement park.
FunJungle is a combination of the San Diego Zoo and Disneyland. Sounds odd, but it's making LOTS of money. But when the FunJungle mascot is found dead, Teddy knows something no one else does: the mascot was murdered.
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Teenage Teddy has had a life unlike any other kid around. When he was little, his family lived in the congo. His mom's a scientist, his dad, a photographer. Now, he's living the dream of TONS of little kids. He lives in an amusement park.
FunJungle is a combination of the San Diego Zoo and Disneyland. Sounds odd, but it's making LOTS of money. But when the FunJungle mascot is found dead, Teddy knows something no one else does: the mascot was murdered.
More...
Jan 28, 2012
Kim
rated it:
"Belly Up" by Stuart Gibbs is not just a belly of laughs at times but a non stop action mystery. Young Teddy has grown up in the Congo with his animal researcher mom and nature journalist dad and understands the danger and the appeal of jungle animals. When his parents take on a new job for J.J. McCraken to work at a huge animal park that he has just built, they are all delighted. The park's mascot is a crusty hippo named Henry who turns up dead one morning and Teddy suspects foul p
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Jul 11, 2011
Peggy
rated it:
Teddy grew up in the wilds of Africa with his primatolgist mother and his photographer father. But when war tore up the Congo, his mom took a job at FunJungle, a new animal park/research center in Texas. Teddy has the run of the place, but everything changes the day Henry the Hippo, the mean, irritable, poop-shooting mascot of the park, turns up dead. Henry has been murdered, & it seems like everyone is trying to cover it up. So Teddy starts his own investigation, and now someone's trying to kil
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Dec 12, 2010
Teresa
rated it:
This reminded me of Hoot and Flush by Haissen--mysteries with a ecological responsible bent.
I finished this a few weeks ago, but I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at a nature park/tourist attraction. Teddy's parents are naturalists and photographers who have given up field work to avoid political unrest and danger, and because the owner of FunJungle has promised them exceptional control, facilities and pay. When "Henry the Hippo", the nasty "mascot" of t More...
I finished this a few weeks ago, but I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at a nature park/tourist attraction. Teddy's parents are naturalists and photographers who have given up field work to avoid political unrest and danger, and because the owner of FunJungle has promised them exceptional control, facilities and pay. When "Henry the Hippo", the nasty "mascot" of t More...
Jun 22, 2010
Christiane
rated it:
Twelve-year-old Teddy investigates when a popular Texas zoo’s star attraction—Henry the hippopotamus—is murdered. One of my most requested titles this summer. The cover art is great, and the premise is hard to beat. Teddy lives in a combination zoo/amusement park and is the only one who realizes that Henry’s murder is being covered up by park officials. Fun mystery with wild animals and a disgusting gross-out scene near the end (you’ll definitely know it when you read it!).
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Feb 04, 2012
Lindsey
rated it:
When a Henry the Hippo turns up dead at FunJungle, everyone seems devastated including Teddy. Teddy is a twelve year old boy who lives at FunJungle with his parents. He thinks that Henry was murdered and no one will believe him, so he starts investigating on his own. This was a quick read for me because it was very interesting, and I couldn't wait to find out who murdered Henry. I learned about a lot of different animals I had never heard of, and I thought it was very funny!
Dec 25, 2011
Heather
rated it:
Cute mystery
Teddy's in over his head...literally. He's been living at Fun Jungle, the largest attraction zoo. See, his mom studies apes and has been hired to live and work at the zoo. But when the main attraction, Henry the hippo, turns up dead, it's up to Teddy to find out why his mysterious death is being covered up. But when Teddy finds out that Henry was actually murdered, Teddy becomes a target as well. Will Teddy be able to solve the mystery before its too late?
Teddy's in over his head...literally. He's been living at Fun Jungle, the largest attraction zoo. See, his mom studies apes and has been hired to live and work at the zoo. But when the main attraction, Henry the hippo, turns up dead, it's up to Teddy to find out why his mysterious death is being covered up. But when Teddy finds out that Henry was actually murdered, Teddy becomes a target as well. Will Teddy be able to solve the mystery before its too late?
Feb 22, 2011
Elizabeth S
rated it:
What a fun book. A murder mystery for kids! (Not young kids. I think 3-4th grade and up.) And it works, because the murder victim is a hippopotamus. The characters are fun and entertaining. There is a lot of running around kid-style, meaning kids will enjoy it. And the mystery is actually worth puzzling through for an adult.
It was refreshing to have a book where the kid's parents are a happily married couple. So many books today feature kids with single parents or divorced pare More...
It was refreshing to have a book where the kid's parents are a happily married couple. So many books today feature kids with single parents or divorced pare More...
Oct 01, 2010
Elyse
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 28, 2010
ShortShanks
rated it:
I did enjoy this book, but it had some swearing in it. Considering the main character was twelve and the book seems aimed at a younger young adult group, that surprised me. I was really taken aback when someone in the book took the Lord's name in vain. I was not at all happy with it either.
The story was very good and the information about animals was written in a way that it was not at all boring. I liked the main character, and I thought the ending was very well done.
The story was very good and the information about animals was written in a way that it was not at all boring. I liked the main character, and I thought the ending was very well done.
Jan 18, 2012
Laura
rated it:
This book was fun. Starts with the premise of a possible hippo homicide. 12 year-old Teddy decides to investigate. He faces attempts on his life, Special Ops-style security guards, and exploding hippo corpses, among other things both funny and very slightly scary. Good character, funny and gutsy, and nice relationship w/ parents, hints at a bit of romantic attraction with the daughter of one of the suspects.
