All Ears

FunJungle #9

by Stuart Gibbs

In the ninth novel in New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs’s FunJungle series, resident sleuth Teddy Fitzroy is on the case to find a missing elephant and clear his friend of vandalism.

When a herd of elephants interrupts the big Friday night football game, the police enlist Teddy and his father to assist them in getting the animals safely back home to the elephant sanctuary. Only when they arrive, their owners realize one of the elephants has gone missing! The lone African elephant, Tanzy, is still out there somewhere.

Then Teddy’s best friend, Xavier, is accused of vandalizing a bulldozer in protest of a builder ruining a beloved piece of land they call TurtleTown. Teddy is torn. His best friend needs him but so does Tanzy. Can Teddy crack both cases before someone gets hurt?

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction, Adventure, Audiobook, Childrens, Animals

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[the fifth annual farkle family fiesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

-now i love elephants even more i feel like im inserting them into everyday conversation

- petition to bring back funjungle books that actually take place at funjungle

-the teddy is a soccer player hard launch 9 books in made me laugh idk

[Jgramley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The FunJungle series has consistently kept me entertained while teaching me something about animals. All Ears is no different and man’s did I learn a lot about elephants and uses for animal urine. Thank you Stuart Gibbs for writing such a fun series for kids and adults!

[Liz W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books in the FunJungle series continue to be among my favorites for middle grade readers. And who doesn’t love elephants? Another one hit out of the park by Mr. Gibbs!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent Funjungle novel. I love how Stuart Gibbs brings all characters to life, as well and the setting as the animals. If I could only recommend one series to the majority of my students, this would be it! Teddy and his friends and his family are so relatable, and the focus this time on elephants living in a sanctuary in Texas is sure to be of interest to many. 5 stars!

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love elephants and was so happy to be given the opportunity to read Mr. Gibbs' new FunJungle book.

This book takes place outside the walls of the zoo-theme park but is still just as fun. Teddy takes a case where someone is stealing deer urine from a ranch near FunJungle. That in turn leads to another job searching for a missing African elephant after a herd disrupts a high school football game. Unfortunately, the elephant has been stolen and no good can come of the reasons why. It becomes a race against the clock for Teddy to find the missing pachyderm before there are heartbreaking consequences.

While some people may not agree with this book having an elephant sanctuary in the middle of Texas, these places exist. And since poachers and population explosions are responsible for decimating the elephant population, some of them may be necessary. It's astounding that people would want to harm such magnificent creatures, but it's happening.

I appreciated how much Mr. Gibbs himself says he loves these majestic animals, you could feel it in his writing and the multitude of elephant facts he offers the readers sprinkled throughout the book. These are delightful stories that teach you something and Teddy as our amateur sleuth is always endearing.

I really, really liked this book and hope he will continue the series. I am sure there are some megafauna he hasn't covered yet, and maybe some of the smaller critters too!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this ARC.

[Amy Wu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, nostalgic read from elementary school days. It was interesting to reemerge myself back in the FunJungle world but I can see why it's a children's book now. Learned a lot though.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stuart Gibbs continues his popular FunJungle series with book 9, All Ears. Teddy, Xavier and Summer are back and this time, elephants are the focus. Friday night starts with a small herd of escaped Asian elephants that storm into a high school football stadium, disrupting the game and one choosing to gorge herself on nacho cheese and ending with a stolen African elephant during a widespread power outage. Saturday has Teddy on the case of the missing elephant and trying to help Xavier prove that he was not part of the vandalism on a construction site.

As in the previous installments, Gibbs keeps the clues coming and investigative partners Summer and Teddy working to fit them together into a solution with readers doing the same. Also continuing the trend established for this series, there is a great deal of information included on the focus animal including behavior, habitat, and status on the IUCN List of Threatened Species. The friendship and something more than friendship between Teddy, Summer and Xavier is representative of most middle graders with a nice mix of misunderstandings, fun, and being supportive. The three families are very different in economic status, composition and closeness to one another and surely will provide additional ways for readers to connect to the characters.

Each FunJungle book can stand alone and it is highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4-7 to have them all. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and the violence is lowkey and often, in cases like the barrels of deer urine falling on the criminal and his car, humorous.

Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss.

[Brenda Kahn]

Another fun FunJungle installment that I should've read with my eyes instead of my ears. I didn't love the narrator and forgot that I didn't when I read the last one with my ears! Note to audio producers: when a kid is narrating a story, make sure you either get a kid to do it, or find a youthful sounding narrator.

[Sarah Ressler Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Stuart Gibbs! Great and hilarious action combined with thoughtful messages about environment, taking care of wild animals, habitats, environmental justice etc. Written for late elementary but Rozy and I enjoy them and have to listen when a new one comes out. Narrator equally awesome.

[Kaitlin Morrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a sixth grade ELA teacher, I started reading this series to see if it would be a good fit for my classroom library. Here I am, continuing with the series because it’s such a fun, educational, and entertaining series! The cast of characters and situations includes both outlandish yet entertaining antics while also including genuine middle- or high-school level social and family situations. In this journey centered around elephants, Teddy is back on the case(s) and continues to shed light on the beauty, wonder, and danger that wildlife faces.

I hope that Teddy follows suit with the likes of Nancy Drew and that the series has around 60 more titles to come 😉😂

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this 10 stars! The FunJungle series is one of my favorite series!
You are trying to figure out the mystery at the same time learning about animals!

[Keri T · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dynamic Duo is back for another Fun adventure. Stuart Gibbs immerses us yet again into the animal kingdom with another spotlight on an incredible species, with some exciting antics with Teddy and Summer along the way. Gibson Fraser elevates the experience with such lively and engaging narration. My son and I listened to the entire book on our road trip and loved it. I especially appreciate how much I am able to learn in a YA as an adult, and how apparent it is that Mr. Gibbs cares about animals and our planet (as we hopefully all do, too).

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story with Teddy!! Love all the informative facts. Happy Reading :)

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long loved the Fun Jungle Series so I was thrilled to receive an ARC to read this before publication. Stuart Gibbs knocks it out of the park again. I love the balance between mystery, factual fiction, and solid characters. Having met Asian Elephants in person, I know that this book comes from a place of love and respect. Elephants are truly a wonderful species. May this book continue to inspire young readers and shine a light on the dangers elephants face and global warming.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook

This is such a great series! As an adult, I find it so entertaining and humorous. I love how readers are educated on an environmental/animal issue with each book. The characters are so real and likable. Looking forward to the next book!

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NatGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for this ARC for review. I have read every FunJungle book and loved every single one and this new book in the series is no different. This book focuses on a missing elephant from an elephant sanctuary. I love how the author in each book focuses on the animal of the title story and gives accurate information about the animal, what it eats, normal habitat, it’s endangered status, all within the story. I adore elephants and this book was definitely one of my favorites in the series.

[Lorna · Rating 1 out of 5]

My kids love the Funjungle books, but I am so sick of them. The last several haven’t even taken place at Funjungle, and I am bummed that the funnier regular side characters have stopped making appearances anymore (Marge, Kevin). Combine all this with regular political commentary that I don’t want in my kids’ chapter books, and I would be fine just never reading another one of these again.

Also, the audiobook narration by Gibson Frazier was strangely robotic at first. It felt like he forgot how to read the Funjungle characters. Got better as the book went along though.

[Abby · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was the worst of all the fun jungle books. It was poorly written, was the same book as the last one and honestly I just felt like Stuart Gibbs is just complaining and using books as a cover up. He is constantly going on and on about energy and yelling at character and making them seem like the bad guy. To wrap it up, this is a children's novel. Why must you put political stuff in a BOOK THAT IS MADE FOR CHILDREN!!!?????? I will not be reading the next one. Half a star. If I could give less, I would.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

News has gotten around about Teddy’s skill in solving mysteries. He gets a call from Tessa, a former ranch owner turned deer urine farmer who has been having a problem with her product being stolen. Teddy and his dad go out to investigate and they are soon on the trail of the thief. The chase leads them to the local Friday night football game which is disrupted by a blackout and a herd of elephants crashing in. With the thief in police custody, Teddy and his dad go to help manage the elephants. In the process they meet the owners of a local elephant rescue, the Sanctuary. It turns out the elephants didn’t break out, someone cut the fence at the Sanctuary and the one African elephant they had is missing. They hire Teddy to see if he can find the missing pachyderm. At the same time, Teddy’s best friend Xavier calls him in a panic. He was out watching/collecting reptiles at one of his favorite spots and got arrested for vandalism/trespassing and he needs Teddy to clear his name. Can Teddy balance helping his best friend and find a missing elephant in the midst of a heatwave with rolling black outs before time runs out for either of them?

It was nice to have Teddy back in Texas. It is believable that he’s now getting people calling him to help solve their cases, especially with the poor policing in their area. The deer urine case provides some comic relief with some slapstick humor justice multiple times. Gibbs weaves in a lot of environmental issues into the cases, and has Teddy, Summer, and others wrestling with wanting to conserve nature but also help people and allow them to live. (Xavier’s case involves a long-neglected property that had a little pond and is now being bulldozed to put up wind turbines.) It’s some tricky stuff, and will likely get readers thinking too. I feel like Gibbs presents a balanced view of the issues for readers. The FunJungle series is perpetually popular with the readers at my school and there will be a mad dash to get their hands on this title.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: Summer gives Teddy 1 peck on the cheek. That’s it.
Violence: Some Texans shoot guns in the air to try to scare the elephants off the football field. The football teams playing are rivals and accuse each other of causing mayhem and start a big brawl. Big game hunting is involved in the story. A bully security guard pushes down a guy who isn’t doing anything wrong.
Ethnic diversity: Most of the characters are white Americans, some Hispanic Americans.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: Someone is doing some fearmongering. Someone bitter for silly reasons is plotting mean things. Environmental issues like loss of habitat and heat waves. Some gross factor in the deer urine scenes.

[Remi 226 · Rating 1 out of 5]

The earliest Fun Jungle Books are my favorite, and not because of nostalgia.

#1 Teddy used to be the underdog. Harassed by bullies and park workers alike. No one wanted him solving crimes but he did it anyway, to satiate his curiosity and because of his sense of justice.
#2 Fun Jungle WAS the setting, and it was a bizarre, but believable world where, due to questionable decisions and occasional sabotage, things went wrong and Teddy was the only one willing or in a position to solve the case. Now it's just the world revolves around Teddy. People are hiring literal children to solve crimes? For MOENY? Yeah, right. Suspension of disbelief immediately murdered.

#3 the politics used to be well integrated. The characters weren't just mouth pieces for causes rather than fully fleshed out characters.

#4, there used to be an intriguing build up. We didn't start with the crime and Teddy solving it, we started with a normal day in Teddy's life and escalated to the crime. This allowed time for suspense to build as well as intrigue.

#5 I feel like the relationships are at a stall. Like, there's no real progression, y'know?

Like, tell me you're sick of your story without telling me. This writing kinda says it all.

Y'know that saying, go out on a high note? I think it's too late for that so might as well pump this series for every cent you can get.

Anyway, sorry. I know I can be a little mean sometimes. It's hard work writing books and I hope you don't take the criticism as holy gospel. Clearly, people still like your stuff. and while that says nothing about the quality of your work (because come ON people like EVERYTHING ever heard of reality TV?) you've got a good thing going. Has anyone else noticed the trend of writers getting more and more political and losing their ability to tell compelling stories? Yeah, Gibbs, but also Rick Rordian.

And for the record, (before you write me off as bigoted and therefore what I'm saying is just politics) I'm 100% pro environmentalism and the issues in Gibb's stories ARE important. As for Rordian, I am pro LGBT and shit. I don't have an issue with characters being gay. I'm talking about the correlation I've seen over and over again where an author progressively gets both more woke and less talented. I know correlation is not causation, but still.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ninth installment in Stuart Gibbs’ beloved FunJungle series, All Ears, delivers another action-packed mystery filled with animal rescues, humor, and high-stakes sleuthing. This time, Teddy Fitzroy, along with his best friend Xavier and girlfriend Sunny, finds himself unraveling two interconnected cases: the disappearance of Tanzy, an Asian elephant from a sanctuary, and the accusation of vandalism against Xavier near the site of the elephant’s escape.

As a dedicated FunJungle fan, I was eager to dive into the latest adventure, and Gibbs did not disappoint. The mystery is well-paced, with plenty of twists and turns that keep readers engaged. However, one noticeable shift in this book is Teddy’s characterization—he feels significantly older compared to the previous installment. The novel leans more toward YA territory, not just in Teddy’s behavior but also in the inclusion of mild language and more detailed depictions of corrupt adult figures. Additionally, the theme of big game hunting is addressed more directly than previous books’ animal conservation topics, adding a heavier and more thought-provoking element to the story.

Despite these tonal shifts, All Ears retains the essence of what makes the FunJungle series so enjoyable: engaging mysteries, humor, and a strong underlying message about wildlife conservation. As always, Gibbs provides informative resources at the end for readers who want to learn more about protecting elephants, reinforcing the educational aspect of the series.

Overall, this is another solid addition to the FunJungle series, though it marks a transition in maturity and themes. Longtime fans will still enjoy the adventure, but younger readers (and their parents) may notice the shift. I look forward to seeing how Teddy’s character continues to develop in future books!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Teddy is back, and this time he is trying to help neighbors who have a deer urine production facility, and are having thousands of dollars worth of product stolen! His skills wrap up that mystery fairly quickly (teaching us a lot about deer urine in the process!), and he is soon looking for a lost elephant. A big game facility has elephants that get loose and end up at a high school football game, and one of them, Tanzy, goes missing. How do you loose an animal that big? Teddy really wants to help out, but there's also a mystery closer to home that demands his attention. His friend Xavier is accused of vandalizing a bulldozer that has recently destroyed a natural habitat where he hunks for reptiles. J.J. McCracken is behind some of the building, but Summer doesn't want to think her father is building mindlessly. Teddy is worried that harm will come to Tanzy, and figures that Xavier's case will wait. It's a hot summer in Texas, and Teddy is very busy. Will he be able to save the day multiple times?

As always, Gibbs includes information about climate change, and how it affects animals. It's always good when we get a look at the area outside Fun Jungle and get to meet some interesting new characters. I wouldn't be averse to having the next mystery back in the theme park.

[CONSTANCE · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2011 I read “Belly Up” which would be the first in this, now 9 book series set in FunJungle – an amusement/wild animal attraction in Texas. Teddy Fitzroy lives on site as his parents work for the park and he always manages to solve mysteries that occur there.
When a herd of elephants escape a nearby elephant sanctuary and one of them goes missing, Teddy and his friend Summer are called in to locate him. But at the same time, his good friend Xavier is wrongfully arrested for vandalizing a construction site where he goes to look for pond critters and asks for Teddy’s help clearing him. Can Teddy put either crime aside to solve the other?
I liked the first book – even if the cranky hippo dies - and I have to honestly say I have not read the following stories. While the clue following keeps the pages turning in this book, I found the frequent referencing to shooting of wild animals for sport to be very disconcerting even if clearly written that it’s a despicable thing to do. I wish I could state if the other books deal with that topic, but I just don’t know. Know your reader and the age of your reader to determine if it’s a good match. Of course, on the other hand it’s an engrossing mystery while a good teaching message.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

The moment I opened my @SimonKids box and found this book I was charmed -- look at that cover!

All Ears by @StuartGibbs1 is a fun adventuresome book about a young teen named Teddy who solves mysteries with the help of his girlfriend. Book #9 from the FunJungle series, but my first time visiting with the characters -- it can easily be read as a standalone.

Teddy starts off investigating a case where someone is stealing deer urine from a ranch --yep, urine, which apparently has a high value. That case leads quickly to a new one, where he is brought in to helpf ind a missing African elephant, after a herd escapes from their home and interrupts a high school foot ball game. And, at the same time, Teddy's best friend finds himself accused of vandalism and needs Teddy's help. This is one busy 8th grader!

There are so many funny scenes in this book, making me giggle. I appreciated the fact that Mr Gibbs sprinkled the book with loads of facts about elephants, while leading his character on a chase to find the elephant, the urine thief, and the truth about his friend's innocence. I enjoyed every moment, and think most kids would love it too.

Thank you to the publisher for my #gifted copy!

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ninth book in the FunJungle series, each of Stuart Gibbs books features their own animal. In his latest release, All Ears, elephants take center stage when they trample their way to the local high school football field for a night out on the town. With a mysterious town-wide blackout and an elephant who only wants to eat the nacho cheese sauce, the police and residents have a lot on their hands. When they realize Tanzy, the sole African Elephant, is missing, the search begins and what they find is not what they’re expecting.

A fun and thrilling middle grade fiction, All Ears has a lot of serious moments but also some hysterical ones too. Did I mention the book opens up talking about deer urine? Learning through stories, this book also teaches about the importance of conservation and the effects of Global Warming.

I was lucky enough to be able to read with my eyes and ears, and the audiobook was very well done. My daughter Sam has dyslexia and she uses audiobooks for accessibility, so having a quality audiobook, even for kids books, is important so everyone has access to the story. I recommend both editions!

Thank you Simon kids & Simon Audio for the gifted copies.

[Karen Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it is hard to jump into a series without having read the previous books. This was not the case with FunJungle: All Ears. There was enough of an explanation as the story unfolded that I understood basically what the premise of the series was, without it ruining the ending of previous books in the series if I go back and read them.
The first chapter immediately hooked me with a mystery that included action and humor. The story continued to unfold, introducing characters readers would know from the series as well as new ones. Gibbs does an excellent job with character development, making them three dimensional and relatable. The fun from chapter one continued and I eagerly returned to the story every chance that I got. I love the way that the main character was presented with situations in which acquaintances were put in a new light, but he was often able to put his emotions aside and think about them in an unbiased way. Lots of great food for thought as you read a fun adventure/mystery. All Ears would make a great class or school wide read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL EARS features Teddy Fitzroy in yet another animal centered mystery. Teddy has been called upon to investigate the theft of deer urine (yes, deer urine!), which leads to a much larger investigation into the disappearance of an Asian elephant after a herd of elephants storms a Friday night high school football game. As Teddy digs deeper, it becomes clear that the elephant was stolen. He works with his girlfriend Summer to find out who’s behind the theft before time runs out and the animal is harmed.

As in previous installments of the FunJungle series, lots of information about animals and an important message about conservation are seamlessly woven into the mystery and adventure. Lots of twists and turns in the story along with plenty of humorous moments will keep readers engaged and guessing until the very end.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery, conservation, fast paced, series book

I did not realize when I picked this up that it is not really a stand alone. I read it, and I didn't need the background of the previous titles to understand and enjoy it, but it would have been a fuller reading experience if I had read the previous titles. A heard of elephants shows up at a Friday night football game in Texas, and local kid and detective Teddy is assigned to help find the one who is missing. At the same time, Teddy's best friend is accused of vandalizing a construction site. A fun story, reminiscent of Carl Hiassen's children's books.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teddy has his hands full in the 9th book in the FunJungle mystery series. It begins with Teddy working on a case involving missing deer urine, then he is hired to find a stolen elephant while also trying to prove that his best friend, Xavier, has been falsely arrested for a vandalism crime he did not commit. This is a fast paced story told with plenty of humor and lots of fascinating animals facts embedded in a compelling mystery. The main characters are all likeable, the plot is carefully crafted, and the animals are totally captivating. Readers who love Stuart Gibbs book won't be disappointed!

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic FunJungle mystery, though this one takes place outside of the zoo/theme park, at a private elephant sanctuary nearby. Teddy (and Summer) are solving multiple time sensitive mysteries, involving deer urine, a missing elephant, and a false accusation against their good friend Xavier. In addition to being a satisfying mystery, there is a lot of good information about animal conservancy and climate change. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up. It helps to have read the other books in the series first.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss