Panda-monium

FunJungle #4

by Stuart Gibbs

New York Times bestselling author Teddy Fitzroy returns as FunJungle’s resident sleuth when the zoo’s newest addition goes missing—before she even arrives!—in the latest novel in New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs’s FunJungle series.FunJungle is frenzied, awaiting the arrival of its most thrilling animal yet—Li Ping—a rare and very expensive giant panda that the zoo went to enormous lengths to secure. But when the truck transporting Li Ping shows up, its precious cargo has vanished into thin air. The FBI steps in to investigate, and Teddy is happy to leave the job in their (supposedly) capable hands. After all, FunJungle has never encountered a crime this serious. But when someone threatens to blackmail Teddy’s girlfriend, Summer, if he doesn’t solve the crime, his involvement in this mystery is no longer black and white.

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

352 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2017

Reviews

[Tammi Drevers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have said it before and I will say it again..... will some rich person please read this series and build this zoo. I love this series. Perfect for animal lovers, mystery fans, and humor enthusiasts.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a good book if you are my age and like mysteries. I also would recommend this series if you're into the sort of action that includes falling into a polar bear exhibit, being chased by lions and other animals, and being in an elephant stampede.

[Zoë! · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basing the humor of your whole series on fatphobia and then having your mc save his friend from fatphobic bullying is WILD 💀 Stuart Gibbs isn’t seeing the pearly gates…

[RoRo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion Stuart Gibbs is an extravagent author and has a great prespective of what kids like to read. I am now on the Lion-down the fifth book in the funjungle series and I cant wait to read it.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun, as always. Stuart Gibbs is a great author, and writes amazing middle-grade books. I personally prefer YA, so I wasn't quite the target demographic for this, but enjoyed it nonetheless. It takes place at FunJungle, a zoo/theme park, which is such a fun setting for the book. The mystery was intriguing, the animal facts were very interesting, and the action is exciting.

There are a couple of reasons why this book only earned 3 stars from me. First, it started feeling a little repetitive, seeming very similar to previous books. It starts losing some of its believability when animals are escaping/dying/being stolen every 6 months or so at this theme park, and a 12 year old boy is always the one who solves it, though nearly dies in the process. I do realize that for younger kids this doesn't matter as much, because it's the story that matters the most for them, but it got on my nerves a bit. The second thing was that I really started to dislike Summer's character. In previous books I really liked her character, and she had a lot of depth, but in this book, she felt more "spoiled rich girl" to me. She just does whatever she wants, and gets away with it. It's mentioned multiple times that no one ever gets Summer in trouble at FunJungle, because her dad owns the place. She's always roping Teddy into crime solving, even when he'd rather stay out of it. She's also constantly sharing the details of the investigations at their lunch table, which for some reason drove me insane. Teddy clearly tries to tell her that they shouldn't share classified information, but she does it anyways.

So I did really enjoy this, even though I wrote a lot more about what I didn't like. This is great for elementary-middle school kids, and would also be awesome as a read-aloud. Adults could enjoy this too, though they might be a little more bothered by some of the lack of believability. Definitely check this out, it's fast paced and reads pretty quickly, and is altogether really fun.

[Ethan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing FunJungle installment, I had to wait a year and a half for this book, but I am glad that I was one of the first people in the world to read it!!

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

FunJungle has been granted the right to add a panda to its zoo, and Teddy is on hand for the big day when Li Ping arrives. However, the truck she was traveling in is empty. The FBI quickly swoops in, but Teddy still gets drawn into the case. Can he figure out what happened to the panda?

Fans of this series are in for another fantastic read. A sub-plot involving the dolphins only add to the fun, and the pages fly by all too quickly. There is danger, red herrings, clues, and laughs before we reach the end and see how all the pieces fit perfectly. Plus it’s fun to see a different side to a couple of the characters here.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Maggie Murdock Nichols · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this to my six year old and she would probably give it five starts. She loved the panda, fun jungle and mystery! I was bothered by the fat shaming of several characters and the sibling disdain between two sisters. Several characters were described as fat and dopey, one in particular. The description of body size did nothing for the story. In my pursuit of teaching my child that body size has nothing to do with value, this book wasn’t helpful. I skipped over those parts. The story was cute, perhaps a little overly complicated. Fun jungle sounds like a place we’d love to visit! I appreciated all the panda facts woven into the story. My daughter is even more interested in pandas now.

[Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

pandamonium is a novel about a panda named li ping a rare yet expensive panda. was getting traveled and moved to a zoo but when opening the truck the panda was traveled in the crate vanished and now the FBI and secret agents must work long and hard to find li ping.

the theme of the story is to never give up and don't give up on what you believe in and don't put a price on love.

[Rachel N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teddy Fitzroy lives at a zoo with his parents. The zoo is getting a panda but the panda is stolen on the way there. The FBI is called in to investigate. Teddy has solved other cases at the zoo and he's now blackmailed into helping solve this one. He's also investigating why the dolphins have started stealing people's swimsuits. This was a fun read and I liked the setting. I haven't read anything else in the series but I'm going to go back and read the first three books.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had a very good premise. Although the plot was very similar to Poached, the intensified danger in this one made it a little more interesting to read. As usual, the fourth novel in the FunJungle series set up a secondary plot in addition to the main plot, but ended up solving it on its own without giving the audience a chance to help, which I feel was one of the most interesting parts of the FunJungle novels. Instead, Teddy figures out the whole thing on his own with what appears to be a barely recognizable premise, and only manages to find out that that was the truth via a culprit confessing as soon as the interrogators walk in the room. I noticed this pattern of worsening books with Big Game, in which the poacher's identity seemed completely pulled out of nowhere. In fact, Panda-monium brought up Li Ping's kidnapper once at the beginning before it was all put together at the end. This frustrated me, as there were plenty of other characters getting more spotlight that could have been revealed as the murderer. For example, Teddy's father is revealed to be a monkeywrencher, but no further detail is given to this.

A plot that I did like was the redemption of Marge and the introduction of her commanding and much more charismatic older sister. All in all, however, although the first half of the book was great, the second half began to let me down (besides Marge's redemption) and has set a low bar for the 5th FunJungle book, which I am eagerly looking forward to.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fourth FunJungle mystery, the zoo is expecting delivery of a Giant Panda that they have been allowed to host. Unfortunately, when the truck arrives, neither Li Ping nor Doc are inside. This is not just a problem for FunJungle, it has the potential to turn into an international incident since all Giant Pandas are considered the property of the Chinese government. Not trusting the FunJungle security team (since they have done such a great job in the past), the FBI is called in and Teddy is asked to stay away from the investigation. But the head of the FBI team is none other than Marge O'Malley's sister. The sisters are polar opposites. Marge blackmails Teddy into investigating, hoping to put her sister in her place. Alternating between hilarious escapades and imminent danger, fans of the FunJungle series will be glued to the unfolding mystery. I suggest reading the books in order for the greatest appreciation. Recommended for grades 3 and up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Julia Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soooo funny!

[Jj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing compared with others in this series. Did I not notice it before, or have there always been so many cheap stereotypes in these books? Maybe it is especially noticeable here as Marge, the inept security worker, moves from the periphery to a main role in this story. She is: overweight, smells bad, lacks intelligence, is clumsy, and paranoid. Oh, and her nickname? "Large Marge", of course. This is the most blatant example, but overall I was quite disappointed in this book--which also, in a strange detail, refers to/mentions only two of the previous three books and the related animal-related crimes. I do like how the series highlights the work of zoos to help animals, and the criminal aspect of the exotic animal trade, though--an aspect of the series which I have not seen as often in fiction for children as it should be.

[Tiah Varner · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was sooooo good! Sorry it took me so long to read it lol, I was super busy. But.... now that summers here ill have for free time so ill try to read even more books!

[Abbey Clauw · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Panda-Monium, by Stuart Gibbs is an adventurous mystery of a missing panda. The story begins when the Funjungle delivery truck pulls up to the loading dock to delivery the new baby panda. Everyone was excited until they realized the panda was gone. JJ McCracken, owner of Funjungle Zoo, immediately got the FBI involved which led to complication, anger, and fear. 13 year old detective, Teddy Fitzroy was not pleased when he found out he couldn't work on the case because the FBI didn't want a useless teen hanging around “their” case. Did Teddy help find Li Ping without permission? Will they found Li Ping safely? Stuart Gibbs helps readers understand that no matter your age you can do anything you put your mind too. This book is recommended for people who enjoy animal rescue or if they have read other books in the Funjungle series.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pandamonium means trouble. Definitely.
As Teddy Fitzroy tries his best not to solve this case some trouble happens. It always happens when it comes to Teddy Fitzroy. I mean, the FBI told him specifically to stay out of the case. But how could he? He had been the one to solve all of the other major crimes at funjungle. So why not this one? As I read this book, I could definitely see why it was not the best idea for him to get involved in this crime scene. But as I read this book, I realized that was what made it fun for me to read this book and that is why I loved it so much.
This book is written in normal prose and it does belong to a series. This book is starring the Teddy Fitzroy and I think that the reason he is interesting to read about is because of the challenges that he faces throughout this book including, solving crimes, and staying out of danger.
I think that the theme of this book is that sometimes causing a little bit of trouble is okay. The setting is at Funjungle, an amusement park/zoo.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a used book store solely because of the title. It turned out to be #4 in a series, and written for middle-schoolers. It was a fun little mystery, though, and well worth the 99 cents I paid for it.

[Ruth Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this series because of the humor and the suspense.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

The theme of panda-monium is fighting to protect endangered animals and their habitats because Li Ping the panda gets kidnapped and through out Teddy"s adventure you learn about fighting for animal rights and how some types is wrong like monkey wrenching and how some are better like peaceful protesting and along the way you learn a lot about pandas to and one fact is that pandas are so endangered china owns every panda and loans them out incise is they are needed to keep nature in check.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! IT was just so amazing like the other series such as SPY SCHOOL AND THE MOON ALPHA! I would really recommend this series as well for STUART GIBBS readers!! SUPES FUN

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome!

[Keefe Sencen · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, seriously?
[the rest of this review has been partially redacted for reasons not to be disclosed to the public]
I mean come on! NAME REDACTED is only what, thirteen! 13! THIRTEEN! And what now? He's got a REDACTION? Ok I guess I'll tolerate it but seriously? I used to be disgusted by REDACTION but I guess I'll tolerate it now. Barely. Wait what? Why is my review getting REDACTED. Aw c'mon! Stop it! NAME REDACTED is going to be really REDACTED when he finds out you've been redacting his REDACTED. Oh you did not just do that! READCTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED. Auuuughhh! Ok I give up. REDACTED 💢.

[Vivian Summerville · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the front cover, I wasn't too impressed, and I didn't think it would be that good. I only started reading it because I am one of those panda fanatics that Teddy was making fun of (I have seen every panda that is in the US except for the baby pand that was born at the National zoo in Augest. And that's only because the zoo is shut down because of COVID.), and because a friend recommended it to me. This book was surprisingly very good, funny, and just fun to read!

[Surisaray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with my son, entertaining, funny.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Such a good mystery. Scary though.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I almost missed all the mayhem with the giant panda because a dolphin stole my bathing suit."

Teddy Fitzroy is back in another FunJunle adventure ... and this time it could be a federal crime he's solving. The buzz is about Li Ping, the new panda that FunJungle is getting, on loan, from China. The excitement has been building to a fever pitch. And then, while the Panda was being transported to Texas, it disappears ... along with the Doc, who was riding along with Li Ping. Another PR nightmare ... and another failure by Large Marge and the rest of the security team.

To make matters worse, when they do call in the FBI, the lead agent on the case is no other than Molly O'Malley, Marge's sister. Could this get any worse? As the investigation heats up, clues start pointing toward the Nature Freedom Forces (NFF), a pro animal conservation organization.

But Teddy starts his own investigation, though he has been told to stay away. As his pieces start to come together, he moves ever closer to danger. After all, someone in a panda costume has already threatened him. But nothing could be worse than what happened before, right? Ending up in a shark tank? But you can never guess what desperate criminals might do to protect their secret. Let's just say, it's not good for Teddy's health.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gibbs, Stuart Panda-monium (funjungle #4), 337 pages. Simon, 2017. $17. Language: G; Mature Content: PG (dolphin strips off people’s shorts); Violence: G.

FunJungle and panda fans are over the moon that a panda is being loaned to them by the Chinese government and another zoo. When the truck arrives, however – no panda! Who kidnapped the precious panda and how did they pull it off? It is up to Teddy to solve the mystery, even if he doesn’t want to step on the FBI’s toes, before FunJungle is ruined, the panda starves to death, and before the Chinese government declares this an international incident.

Because of the considerations of the panda’s health, the timeline for the action in the book was severely compressed. I don’t know if Large Marge suddenly becoming Teddy’s ally signals the end to the series, but I certainly hope not! Gibbs masterfully crafts mysteries of all sorts and I can’t wait to read even more!

EL, MS - ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Varun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many of Stuart Gibbs' other books, Panda-monium has lots of twists. This was an unpredictable book, you never know what's going to happen next! One moment you think you know who the bad guy is, and a few minutes later you think it's someone else. As well as providing an exciting mystery, this book educates people about animals. For example, before reading this, I didn't know that bamboo is the fastest-growing grass on earth, or that when a panda is born, it only weighs three to five ounces. For any animal-lover that enjoys reading, you should read this excellent book.

Summary:

FunJungle are waiting for the arrival of Li Ping the panda - only to find that she has been kidnapped. The FBI arrive at FunJungle to take over the case, and Teddy Fitzroy is fine with letting them solve the mystery while without his help. After all, he has got into a lot of trouble in the previous mysteries he has solved. But when he gets blackmailed, he has to crack the case to save Li Ping.

[Tami Ritchey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read with my panda loving daughter. We hadn't read any other books in this series, but now we might just have to do that. I liked that this story didn't rely on the fact that there were previous stories. Their plots were mentioned a few times throughout this book, but you didn't have to know them to understand what was happening in this new story. My daughter and I enjoyed the plot twists and the main characters were very likeable.