Stuart Gibbs – Page 2

Marshmallow reviews All Ears by Stuart Gibbs

It must be obvious to the book bunnies blog readers that the book bunnies are huge fans of Stuart Gibbs and his books. While Caramel has read and reviewed all his Spy School books, Marshmallow has mostly read and reviewed his FunJungle books. Gibbs is a prolific author, and the most recent FunJungle book, All Ears, just came out a couple weeks ago on May 13. This week, Marshmallow was finally able to read this ninth book in the series and is ready to share her thoughts with our readers today.

Before starting reading this review, you might like to check out Marshmallow’s reviews of the first eight books of FunJungle: Belly Up, Poached, Big Game, Panda-monium, Lion Down, Tyrannosaurus Wrecks, Bear Bottom, and Whale Done.

Marshmallow reviews All Ears by Stuart Gibbs. — Marshmallow reviews *All Ears* by Stuart Gibbs.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you liked the previous FunJungle books, like animals, reading about mysteries, or want to read a really entertaining novel, then this is the book for you!

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Teddy Fitzroy has proven himself as a remarkable detective. His parents both work at FunJungle, the largest zoo in America (if not the world). During his time living next to it, he has solved several high-profile and low-profile cases regarding the zoo or related to the surrounding Texan area. Since the first book in the series, Teddy has been good friends with Summer McCracken—the daughter of billionaire J.J. McCracken who owns FunJungle—and the two recently started dating . Teddy is also good friends with Xavier Gonzalez, a fellow animal-lover and student at his high school.

Sadly, Xavier gets arrested! He normally likes to look around for reptiles he can capture and examine (ethically and caringly, of course) but is found at a crime scene under suspicious circumstances. Being an ardent advocate for the environment, him being in an area that seemingly was vandalized by “eco-warriors” makes him look pretty guilty. So Xavier’s best course of action is to call in Teddy to prove him innocent.

Unfortunately, the call comes at a very inconvenient time. Teddy has been hired to solve another crime regarding a lost elephant. In Texas (and many other places), some ranch owners have taken to raising exotic animals either with the purpose of sheltering them or creating an area in which hunters can kill unusual creatures for an extravagant price. The Sinclairs have created a sanctuary for elephants that they aptly named The Sanctuary. But during a massive power outage in Texas, their herd escapes or is led out of their ranch. This causes some mayhem on a football field later, but eventually Tanzy, the sole African elephant (the rest are Asian), is discovered to be missing. Aside from the fact that rural Texas is not the native habitat of an African elephant, Tanzy could also be under threat from whomever took her.

Teddy now faces two mysteries to solve: where is Tanzy and who took her, and who really committed the crime Xavier’s accused of? Can he find the answer before time runs out … for Tanzy and Xavier?

Marshmallow is reading All Ears by Stuart Gibbs. — Marshmallow is reading *All Ears* by Stuart Gibbs.

Marshmallow’s Review: All Ears is a really good book! I’ve been waiting for the new FunJungle book to come out and for Stuart Gibbs to continue this series! I really, really, really love this series! All of the books have fascinating, interesting, and most importantly confounding mysteries that are perfect for readers of all ages. The characters are lively, intelligent, funny, and lovable—and the lack of cursing (except possibly in Tyrannosaurus Wrecks) makes them appropriate for everyone. And this book is no exception!

I really like how the FunJungle books tackle environmental issues and address the nuance of every topic. Even though he clearly finds these issues very important and harshly critiques greedy corporations, Gibbs never portrays them as completely evil. In particular, we often learn about a CEO’s perspective through a more human lens via J.J.’s character. Gibbs also doesn’t make the activists seem like saints. He explains how many hunters are good people too and really humanizes everyone. However, he does show the facts, many of which are truly disturbing. Gibbs doesn’t omit nuance; rather, he conveys a wide range of conflicting perspectives in a way that is palatable, comprehensive, and comprehensible to a wide audience, while still sending the message that action must be taken to protect the environment. All this makes All Ears worth reading: its message and its explanation and dialogue about the environment and the battle about how we should treat it.

But you should also read this book for fun! It is really funny and entertaining; there are so many twists and turns! Once I picked up this book, I could not put it down—literally. The emotional tension is also really well done throughout, and one can really feel the realness in Teddy’s situation, in which he is caught between a rock and a hard place as he tries to solve two mysteries at the same time.

I love the FunJungle series, the characters and the plot and the writing and everything about these books! They are really special to me! But I think they can be great for many new readers too! I would recommend reading the first couple of books in the series first, but honestly, one could just start here with All Ears, too. Whatever your age or background knowledge though, this book is definitely an amazing one to read for its message, style, and content! I can’t recommend it enough!

Marshmallow’s Rating: 101%.

Marshmallow rates All Ears by Stuart Gibbs 101%. — Marshmallow rates *All Ears* by Stuart Gibbs 101%.

Caramel reviews Spy School Goes Wild by Stuart Gibbs

The book bunnies are fans of Stuart Gibbs and his books. While Marshmallow has been an avid fan of Gibbs’ FunJungle books, Caramel has read and reviewed all his Spy School books. So last week, he was delighted to finally get his paws on Spy School Goes Wild, the new Spy School novel that just came out on September 24. In the post below, he shares his thoughts about this book. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, we are at book twelve now. Tell me what is going on with Ben Ripley this time.

Caramel: He is still a spy at the training facility in Alaska like in Spy School Goes North, the previous book. And he is supposed to be sent for a secret mission. The principal of his school takes him on a plane for this mission but betrays him and turns him over to Murray Hill, his arch-nemesis.

S: Well, that sounds awful.

C: It is but it gets much worse. The principal double-crosses Murray as well, and Ben and Murray are stuck in the African wilderness together. And that is not all of it, either. There is an unexpected enemy who is trying to take revenge on both of them, so they are in serious danger.

S: That sounds dangerous!

C: And it is dangerous!

S: But I am assuming our hero Ben will figure things out in the end, as he always does.

C: Yes, of course, but the way he gets there is all around awesome! This was again a lot of fun to read.

Caramel is reading *Spy School Goes Wild* by Stuart Gibbs.

S: You have been waiting for this twelfth book for some time now.

C: Yes, it has been more than eight months since I read and reviewed the eleventh book. Then I tried to wait around and read the graphic novels while waiting, but there are only three of those: Spy School: The Graphic Novel, Spy Camp: The Graphic Novel, and Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel. It is so hard to wait!

S: I know! Especially for a little bunny like you! But the wait is over! You got a twelfth book!

C: Yay! I am excited to have the twelfth book. But-

S: What?

C: You know what I am going to say.

S: Hmm, I think I do. Go ahead; say it then.

C: I am excited to have the twelfth book. But now I read it. So I need the thirteenth book now!

S: Well, you might have to wait a bit. You know it takes some time to write a book. Even a prolific author like Stuart Gibbs will need some time to get a new book out.

C: I know, I know. But you know me, I like to always keep reading my favorite series. I guess I will simply go back and reread some of the earlier books.

S: Sounds like a good compromise to me. And there are other books out there, too. Maybe we will find a new series.

C: Maybe.

S: Okay, Caramel; this is probably a good time to wrap up this review. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Spy School Goes Wild by Stuart Gibbs: he had missed Spy School! — Caramel loved reading *Spy School Goes Wild* by Stuart Gibbs: he had missed Spy School!

Caramel reviews Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Anjan Sarkar

Over the course of the last few months, Caramel has read and reviewed all the extant books of the Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs. He has also reviewed the graphic book versions of the first two books in the series. Spy School: The Graphic Novel and Spy Camp: The Graphic Novel, both illustrated by Anjan Sarkar. Today he finally got his paws on the third and latest graphic novel version for the series, Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel, and read it in one sitting so that he could review it right away. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar. — Caramel reviews *Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel*, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, you have already read and reviewed Evil Spy School, the original version of this book. Why were you so excited to get this one?

Caramel: Because it is a graphic novel and I like graphic novels. A lot.

S: I can see that! Usually graphic novels are a bit shorter than the original version, but this book feels really heavy.

C: Yes, it is heavy. It is still smaller than the original, I mean it has less content, and fewer words and pages, but the pages are really thick. I mean, it is a graphic novel on a really nice, shiny paper. And it smells really nice.

S: I see. I like that smell too. The pages being thick and high quality paper would of course make the book heavy. Do you like the illustrations?

C: Yes. The illustrator is the same person as the one for the other two graphic novel versions, so it fits. The characters look the same as they did in the other books.

S: That is good. So can you remind our readers what the main plot is in this book?

C: So Ben Ripley is the kid spy from the other books. He is now thrown out of the spy school and Joshua Halal shows up in his middle school and asks him to join the evil spy school, the spy school that is owned by the SPYDER folks. Remember SPYDER is an evil spy organization.

S: Oh yes I remember that. And does Ben end up joining?

C: Yes, because he is hoping to bring down evil spy school and even SPYDER so the original spy school will take him back.

S: Oh, I remember it now!

C: It turns out that –

S: Wait, I think you are about the give away some plot twist!

C: Oops. Okay I won’t.

Caramel is reading Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar. — Caramel is reading *Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel*, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar.

S: Let us talk about something else instead. So you have already read all eleven books in the series.

C: And so far only three graphic novels!

S: Yes. Are you hoping that the other books will also come out as graphic novels?

C: Yes!

S: But you also want Stuart Gibbs to write a twelfth book.

C: Yes. Of course. And I am hopeful that maybe there will be a twelfth year by next year.

S: Possible. The first eleven did come out more or less at a pace of one a year.

C: Yes. Exactly.

S: Okay, so let us wrap up this review then. Can you describe the book in three to five words?

C: Hilarious, action packed, and spy-full.

S: Again, I think you are making up a word there, but I guess that is alright.

C: Well, I think it is a word now.

S: Alright. Works for me too. What do you want to tell our readers as we close?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar, and recommends it strongly to any bunnies who enjoyed the original Spy School books. — Caramel loved reading *Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel*, written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar, and recommends it strongly to any bunnies who enjoyed the original Spy School books.

Caramel reviews Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs

Today, Caramel is finally ready to talk about the eleventh and currently last book in Stuart Gibbs’ Spy School series: Spy School Goes North, first published in 2023. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

[Before diving into this review, readers might like to check out Caramel’s reviews of the earlier books in the series: Spy School, Spy Camp, Evil Spy School, Spy Ski School, Spy School: Secret Service, Spy School Goes South, Spy School: British Invasion, Spy School Revolution, Spy School At Sea, Spy School: Project X.]

Caramel reviews Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs.

Sprinkles: So, Caramel, we are finally at the last book of the series, right?

Caramel: Hopefully not for long.

S: I know you want the author to write more books in this series, but for now, this is the eleventh and last book.

C: Yes, unfortunately.

S: But do not sound so glum. The book is good, no?

C: Yes, of course. But I wish it never ended. I wish there was another one.

S: I can see that. And maybe there will be a twelfth book soon. But let us focus on this book right now. So what is this book about?

C: Ben and his friends including Cyrus Hale, who is Erica’s grandpa and a very good spy, are all training up north in Alaska.

S: Oh, so that is the going north part. I was wondering if it would be Canada.

C: Nope. It is not Canada. It starts in Alaska and then it goes over to Russia.

S: I see.

C: So a Russian spy kidnaps Cyrus, and Ben and his friends have to save him. And along the way there is a lot of spy stuff about U.S. and Russia.

S: I see. I wonder if it is historically accurate at all.

C: Well, Alaska was owned by the Russians, and the United States bought it from them, so that part is accurate. I don’t know about the spy stuff of course. They do mention KGB, the Soviet secret service.

Caramel is reading Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs.

S: So is Ben finally dating Erica in this book?

C: Yep. I think they are boyfriend and girlfriend at this point.

S: I see. Does that make the book too mushy?

C: No. It is just as funny as before. For example, Ben does not speak Russian well and there is a lot of funny misunderstanding and miscommunication with the Russian spy. Obfuscate the jitterbug, for example.

S: I am not sure what that means.

C: Neither is Ben. And I am quite sure that was not what the Russian guy was trying to say.

S: I can see how that can be hilarious in some contents, but aren’t they all in mortal danger?

C: Yes, but I read enough Spy School books to know that Ben and friends will get out of this alive. So I can just enjoy the book.

S: Makes sense to me. Do you think these books are getting somewhat too similar or formulaic?

C: No. I mean yes, in each book Ben is facing mortal danger and in each book he figures out some way out of it. But other than that, I think Stuart Gibbs keeps us on our toes, he always comes up with new ways to make things exciting and fun.

S: That is good. So you still like this series?

C: Yes!

S: Okay, so if you were to describe this book using three to five words, what would they be?

C: Funny page turner, as always. That’s five words.

S: Yes, that will do nicely.

C: So can we wrap this up so I can begin to reread the book?

S: Sure Caramel. Let us do that. What do you want to tell our readers as we end this review?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs and now does not know what to do with himself as there is as of yet not a twelfth book in the series.