This Stuart Gibbs mystery is a great companion to Belly Up. I think I preferred Belly Up, maybe because the Hippo, even though he was dead, had a personality. Koala's apparently have zero. I was surprised to find out who the poacher was up until the very end. I liked the fact that Gibbs doesn't make everything end in a perfect world as that is not the way of the world. A lot of people did suffer and that happens in real life.
Teddy's parents work for FunJungle, a zoo in Texas. They live in a company trailer park in back of the zoo. Teddy seems to find trouble and is always under the watchful eye of Large Marge, who is head of security and very much not a Teddy fan. Trouble comes to Teddy by way of a middle school bully named Vance and his minions, twins, referred to as JimTim. Vance coerces Teddy into pulling a prank at the shark tank or face a swirly in the Toilet of Doom. Here is where the mystery begins as Teddy finds refuge from his bullies in the koala exhibit. Later when Kazoo, the popular koala at the zoo comes up missing, the only suspect is Teddy who happens to be the only person who appears on the security videos.
While a mystery, the book is still full of laughs and you will find emotions as Teddy is treated so unjustly. ( )

Not my favorite at all. Decent story but some holes (in my opinion). ( )

Kid's lit woven with actual animal info creates another enjoyable adventure in FunJungle. Teddy's story continues! ( )

Poached is a fun, entertaining, barrel of laughs! I could not stop reading this book. I had a really good laugh during the koala death scene. Don't worry it is really not that bad and no "real" koalas were hurt during this part. Teddy is not that great of a spy/detective but this is what makes this book so much fun to read. It is because of all of the trouble that he finds himself in that makes things interesting. Any kid who reads this book is going to want to live at an amusement park. In fact, the idea sounds fun that I would want to live at one as well. There were many eccentric characters in this book. The author did a good job with this book. Keeping it fun but also easy to read for the targeted audience of the younger readers. I had so much fun reading this book that I am going to go back and check out the prior novels. ( )

Poached by Stuart Gibbs is a fabulous action-packed middle grade read for those who love animals and adventures. A sequel that doesn’t disappoint and you don’t have to read the first one to really get to know the characters.

Meet Teddy Fitzroy, a 7th grader who is the primary suspect when a Koala has gone missing from FunJungle, an exact definition of the name but in a zoo-like setting. Teddy’s parents both work at FunJungle and all of Teddy’s life he has spent with animals. Why would he take a newly acquired Koala on loan from Australia. He has been set up and he knows it but all the proof is directed at him. If Teddy doesn’t find the culprit he will be shipped off to juvie as a convicted koala-napper. To top off his bad luck, Teddy is also bullied by the meanest and toughest kid in the middle school, Vance. Teddy just can’t seem to catch a break, yet his perseverance prevails.

An extremely well-written story about mystery, animals, bullying, as well as a sweet coming of age story that will keep you on the edge of your seat guessing who took the Koala from the beginning to the end.

Recommended for ages 8-12. ( )