Belly Up
| Company type | Zoo and theme park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Zoological park |
| Headquarters | Texas Hill Country , United States |
| Owner | J.J. McCracken |
Belly Up is a 2010 mystery novel for children written by Stuart Gibbs. The narrative unfolds within FunJungle, recognized as the largest zoo in the United States and uniquely combining a zoo with a theme park. Situated in the Texas Hill Country, it is owned by billionaire J.J. McCracken. The story is told from the perspective of twelve-year-old Teddy Fitzroy, whose parents are a photographer and a gorilla researcher employed at FunJungle. Teddy teams up with Summer, J.J.’s daughter, to uncover the truth behind the suspicious demise of Henry Hippo, the zoo’s beloved mascot.
Plot
At FunJungle, twelve-year-old Theodore "Teddy" Fitzroy is caught by security guard "Large" Marge O'Malley while distributing water balloons to monkeys. Before Marge can report this incident, Buck Grassley, head of security, announces that Henry Hippo has died. Despite objections from Martin del Gato, the operations director, Doc Deakin—the chief veterinarian—conducts an autopsy. Teddy secretly watches the procedure and discovers that Doc suspects Henry’s death resulted from peritonitis caused by ingesting sharp objects, suggesting foul play. However, Martin insists on keeping this information confidential. When law enforcement dismisses Teddy’s concerns, he embarks on his own inquiry.
Teddy encounters Summer McCracken, daughter of billionaire owner J.J. McCracken, who frequently slips away from her bodyguards to experience everyday life. Together, they investigate Henry’s habitat and uncover a sharpened metal jack toy connected to the hippo’s death. When Teddy questions Doc about this item, the veterinarian nervously confiscates it but also reveals the presence of a deceased jaguar during their discussion.
A deceptive text message draws Teddy to the black mamba enclosure, which has been vandalized with its snake missing; notably, security footage from that period is also unavailable. After slipping away from his mother’s watchful eye, Teddy reunites with Summer and Charlie Conner—a disgruntled employee who overheard a scheme involving Pete Thwacker (head of public relations) and Marge aimed against Henry after he sprayed visitors with feces. Buck exposes Charlie’s criminal background and advises Teddy to leave investigations to professionals.
Following an incident where a tiger escapes near Teddy and Doc, suspicion arises that deeper problems extend beyond Henry’s death. They learn that most recently deceased large animals at FunJungle were species native to the Amazon. Using Henry’s funeral as a distraction, Teddy’s family examines zoo blueprints and uncovers J.J. McCracken’s intention to construct thrill rides through animal exhibits. Subsequently, Teddy’s parents are arrested; amidst chaos during Henry’s funeral—including an explosion involving the hippo’s body—Teddy manages to flee and contacts Doc.
Doc suspects Martin's involvement in Henry's murder due to an emerald-smuggling scheme using South American animals as cover. Martin had blackmailed Doc by threatening to expose his daughter’s activism with the Animal Liberation Front. After another pursuit, Teddy presents his findings to J.J., revealing Martin and Buck as conspirators. Buck had killed Henry while attempting to retrieve emeralds swallowed by the hippo during a confrontation with Martin. The story concludes with Marge receiving a promotion for preventing Buck's escape, J.J. abandoning plans for ride construction through exhibits, and Teddy and Summer witnessing the birth of Henry's offspring one month later.
Reception
Kirkus Reviews characterized the novel as "great fun," emphasizing its combination of detailed zoo elements with exaggerated action to create an enjoyable first installment. Publishers Weekly praised the story’s charming main character, humor suitable for children, and distinctive backdrop, making it particularly attractive to fans of animals. Common Sense Media awarded it four out of five stars, commending the book's gripping tension and film-like narrative style, while noting some mature language and outdated humor.
Sequels
Belly Up serves as the inaugural book in the FunJungle series, set within a Texas-based zoo and theme park. Following entries include Poached (2014), which revolves around a missing koala; Big Game (2015), focusing on a pregnant Asian rhinoceros endangered by gunfire; Panda-monium (2017), involving the kidnapping of a giant panda and FBI investigation; Lion Down (2019), about a mountain lion suspected of killing a dog; Tyrannosaurus Wrecks (2020), centered on the theft of a T-Rex skull; Bear Bottom (2021), where bison vanish from a ranch; and Whale Done (2023), dealing with a dead whale found on a Malibu shore. Future installments include All Ears (2025), which addresses vandalism and elephant rescue, and Ape Escape (2026), featuring the rescue of a baby gorilla alongside another mystery at FunJungle.