mystery – Page 10 – BookBunnies

Caramel reviews Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

The book bunnies have read all the FunJungle books by Stuart Gibbs. (You can find Marshmallow’s reviews of all eight here.) But it was only this past week when Gibbs visited Caramel’s school that Caramel got his paws on an (autographed!) copy of his Spy School, first published in 2012. Below he shares his thoughts about the book with Sprinkles.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, that did not take you very long.

Caramel: No, I read it in one day.

S: I think that means you found the book exciting.

C: Yep.

S: So tell us a bit about it. What is it about?

C: Spy School. So there is this kid named Ben Ripley, who gets invited to attend a science school, but it is actually a school to train spies. His parents think it is just a science school, but it is apparently a way for the CIA to recruit new agents.

S: So Ben is going to Spy School to become an agent.

C: Yes.

S: So this is kind of like Harry Potter then. At the age of eleven or twelve, you get recruited to attend a special school for special people.

C: Yes, I guess I can see that. But Spy School is a lot more realistic than Hogwarts, there is no magic for example.

S: I see. But there is a lot of science at least?

C: Not as much as you would expect in a real science school. There is math but not too much more than that.

S: I see. So is the book basically about Ben going to this school and making friends and attending classes? Or is there some real spying that happens?

C: Yes, there is some spying. There is an assassin sent after him.

S: That sounds serious.

C: Deadly serious.

S: So there must be some tense moments in the book, then. Right?

C: Yep, there are many pages that you have to read really fast to move forward because you want to know what happens next, now now now!

S: I see. No wonder you read the book so fast!

Caramel is looking happily at the autographed title page of Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. — Caramel is looking happily at the autographed title page of *Spy School* by Stuart Gibbs.

S: So is the book funny?

C: Yes. I can even say it is hilarious at times.

S: That is great! So i can see you liked the book. You know this is the first book of a series right?

C: Yep. And I want to read the rest of the books in the series.

S: Well, the Spy School series is made up of eleven books at the moment. So knowing this, that there are ten more books in the series, are you still interested in reading more?

C: Yes. I definitely want to read at least the next one.

S: Okay, we will see what we can do about that. Does the book end in a cliffhanger?

C: Kind of. The mystery of the book is resolved but there are hints of what is coming next. So I definitely want to read that next book.

S: That makes sense to me Caramel. So tell me, if you were to describe the book in three words, what would you say?

C: Let me think. Funny kid spy adventure! For the young and the young at heart.

S: That works for me! Okay, let us wrap this up then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Spy School by Stuart Gibbs and is itching to move to the next book in the series. Stay tuned! — Caramel loved reading *Spy School* by Stuart Gibbs and is itching to move to the next book in the series. Stay tuned!

Marshmallow reviews Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs

This past week, author Stuart Gibbs visited Caramel’s school, and the book bunnies were able to receive two autographed books. One of these was Whale Done, the eighth book in the FunJungle series, published earlier this year. Marshmallow is a big fan of the FunJungle books, and she has already read and reviewed all of the previous seven for the book bunnies blog. So it was natural that she would be the one to jump on this book when it first arrived at the book bunnies’ home and dive right in. Below she shares some of her thoughts about the book.

Before moving on, you might want to check out Marshmallow’s reviews of the first seven books of FunJungle: Belly Up, Poached, Big Game, Panda-monium, Lion Down, Tyrannosaurus Wrecks, and Bear Bottom.

Marshmallow reviews Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs. — Marshmallow reviews *Whale Done* by Stuart Gibbs.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like books about animals and mysteries, or if you have enjoyed other books by Stuart Gibbs, then this might be the book for you. Of course, it would be best if you have also read some of the other FunJungle books before reading this one.

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Teddy Fitzroy, who is now fourteen years old, lives with his parents at FunJungle (a huge zoo, similar to a hybrid of Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo) until a kangaroo burns down their home. This leads to Teddy eventually accepting an invitation to go to Malibu Beach in California with his girlfriend, her mother, and Doc, FunJungle’s vet. (Meanwhile, his mom is staying in her office and his father is traveling for work).

Teddy’s girlfriend, Summer McCracken, is the daughter of J.J. McCracken, the billionaire who owns FunJungle, and Kandace McCracken, a famous model. While in Malibu, they learn about a beached whale in front of a neighborhood of mansions owned by rich aristocrats, celebrities, and athletes. Teddy, Summer, and Doc are staying in this area in a house with a friend of Kandace, who also happens to be a model.

While on the beach, they meet Cass, who works for the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Cass is preparing to perform an autopsy on the beached whale to find the cause of its death, when all of a sudden, the whale is blown up with dynamite. Two delinquents (who have extremely rich parents) are found to be guilty. But Teddy, Summer, and Doc think there is more to the story. Sand appears to be stolen from the beaches, but officials don’t believe the concerned surfers who report this, leaving Teddy and Summer to play detectives once more and try to unravel the complicated mystery about the whale’s death as well as the missing sand.

On top of all this, Teddy and Summer’s relationship becomes strained as events unfold.

Marshmallow is looking happily at the autographed title page of Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs. — Marshmallow is looking happily at the autographed title page of *Whale Done* by Stuart Gibbs.

Marshmallow’s Review: I have really liked all of the other FunJungle books and find Whale Done to be a meaningful and thoughtful addition to the series. I liked how the author brings up serious issues like plastic pollution and manages to keep the mystery, suspense, and humor (his trademarks in the other books of this series) sharp and on point. The characters go through some interesting changes and moments, but I can’t go into too much detail without spoiling all of it.

This book is appropriate for all ages, but I would recommend reading the previous books in the FunJungle series before reading this one because otherwise the characters and some of the references to past events will not be as meaningful. But in summary, I really enjoyed Whale Done, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, and I hope Stuart Gibbs will write another FunJungle book some day!

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs 100%. — Marshmallow rates *Whale Done* by Stuart Gibbs 100%.

Caramel reviews The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau

Marshmallow reviewed The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau a few weeks ago. Soon after, Caramel reviewed the second book in the series, The People of Sparks. Today, he talks to Sprinkles about The Diamond of Darkhold, the 2008 sequel to The People of Sparks.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, you began reading this book recently, right?

Caramel: Right. I finished The People of Sparks and moved onto this one.

S: Does the story simply continue on from where that book left off?

C: Yes. It is now winter and the people of Sparks and the people of Ember are all people of Sparks now. It is actually quite cool.

S: I agree. I really liked the end of that book. So what happens in this book?

C: Lina and Doon meet a roamer who comes to Sparks and they get a few pages of a book from him that is dedicated to the people of Em. The rest of the word is gone but Lina and Doon are sure it means Ember. So they try to figure out what was in the book. And they start traveling because they think that there is something valuable in Ember that they should bring to the surface.

S: I see. So there is a puzzle that they need to solve like there was in the first book, right?

C: Yes. And I like puzzles. So that was cool.

S: Do we learn what the valuable thing is?

C: Not immediately. It takes more or less the whole book. So I won’t tell.

S: Okay. We don’t want too many spoilers.

Caramel is reading The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau. — Caramel is reading *The Diamond of Darkhold* by Jeanne DuPrau.

S: So how did you like the book?

C: I think it was fun to read. It reads like an adventure book. The second book was more about how it is difficult for different people to live together and such big things. but this is more like the first book and there is a lot of adventure and excitement and I liked it.

S: That sounds like fun. I liked both of the first two books and I agree with you that the second was a bit more philosophical, in a way, and the first one felt more like an adventure. So you are saying this feels more like the first than the second.

C: Yes. And Lina and Doon are trying to figure things out together again, which is also good. They were always separated in the second book. I didn’t really like that too much.

S: They do make a good team.

C: Well, it seems they will make more than that but I won’t say more.

S: Hmm, I’m intrigued. Maybe I should read this book, too.

C: Yes, Sprinkles, you definitely should.

S: Alright. Let us wrap up this review this book then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau and recommends it to all the bunnies who enjoyed the first two books in the series. — Caramel enjoyed reading *The Diamond of Darkhold* by Jeanne DuPrau and recommends it to all the bunnies who enjoyed the first two books in the series.

Caramel reviews The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

Today Caramel reviews The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau, the second book in the author’s City of Ember series, published in 2004. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Readers may recall that Marshmallow has already reviewed the first book, City of Ember.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, can you tell us a bit about what this book is about?

Caramel: The people of Ember come up to the surface and settle down in a town named Sparks.

S: Wait. Tell us a bit more about Ember. It is the city from the first book, City of Ember, right?

C: Yes. But at the end of that book, most of the people from that city ran away because their generator was failing and the city would soon be uninhabitable.

S: That is a big word, Caramel!

C: Yes, but it is the right word. It would be too dark without the generator, and it would be unlivable for people. And for bunnies of course. Because we like light too.

S: Sure we do. So okay, I remember that the first book had two main heroes, named Lina and Doon. Are they also in this book?

C: Yes, in fact they are again the heroes.

S: Okay, so what is the conflict of this book then? They are out and found a place to live.

C: Yes but the new place Sparks is not big enough or rich enough for all the people living there plus the new people from Ember.

S: I see. So there is some conflict between the two groups?

C: Yep.

S: Hmm, so in some sense it is a bit about immigration and refugees finding a new home but not feeling terribly welcome.

C: Kind of. But also Sparks people do not even have electricity. They do not know about it.

S: Hmm, that is interesting. I remember that in Ember, they had electricity even though they did not understand fully how it worked. So you are saying that they do not even have that much here in Sparks?

C: Yes.

S: So do the Ember folks try to teach them about electricity?

C: Well, only in the end. Doon finally figures it out.

S: Hmm, is that getting too close to spoiler territory?

C: Perhaps.

S: Okay so let us stop here with the plot then.

Caramel is reading The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau. — Caramel is reading *The People of Sparks* by Jeanne DuPrau.

S: Tell me about Doon and Lina next. Are they any different in this book?

C: They are about the same. This book starts quite soon after the other book ends. So they are more or less the same people. They are curious and sometimes make mistakes, but they are trying to help their people.

S: I see. That sounds good. Are there any new characters that appear in this book that you liked?

C: Well, there is a whole new town of people, but I liked only Maddy. She is nice.

S: Who is she?

C: She is the traveling partner of Casper.

S: Who is Casper?

C: He is a person looking around in old ruins and finds things and brings them back to Sparks to trade them for other stuff.

S: So they are not quite from Sparks.

C: No. There seem to be a lot of small settlements all around, and some are abandoned.

S: I see. So this is some sort of a post-apocalyptic world.

C: Yes. It seems like this is a world after a World War Three.

S: Hmm, this reminds me of a quote by Albert Einstein: “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

C: Yes, that is essentially what is happening in this world. I mean, they are not going to start another big war, but they lost almost all of the modern technology of today and the knowledge behind it.

S: That is interesting. And sobering at the same time. Alright, let us get back to the book. Did you enjoy reading it? Do you think you will read the next book in the series?

C: Yes. And yes.

S: I wonder if Marshmallow will read the third book before you so she can review it.

C: We can wait and see.

S: Alright. Let us do that. So before we wrap up this review, can you describe the book in three words?

C: Happy ending page-turner.

S: Hmm, that is a good description. I might need to read it before Marshmallow gets her paws on it.

C: You probably will.

S: Alright. What do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau and is keen to read the next book in the series to learn about what happens next to the people of Ember and Sparks. — Caramel enjoyed reading *The People of Sparks* by Jeanne DuPrau and is keen to read the next book in the series to learn about what happens next to the people of Ember and Sparks.