Poached (FunJungle) – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Poached (FunJungle)

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2015

90%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A koala-napping, a massive bully, and enough animal poop jokes to keep a 10-year-old turning pages.

Poached (FunJungle)

book

2015

90%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A koala-napping, a massive bully, and enough animal poop jokes to keep a 10-year-old turning pages.

4.8

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Screenwise Verdict

Stuart Gibbs is the king of the 'I don't like reading' crowd for a reason. Poached is a tight, funny, and surprisingly smart sequel that respects a kid's intelligence.

It avoids the 'brain rot' trap of many modern series by grounding its slapstick in real-world science and ethics. If you have a kid who likes animals or just wants to see a bully get outsmarted, this is a top-tier pick.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 8-12 crowd. It's the sweet spot for kids who want a 'real' mystery that doesn't feel like a baby book but isn't quite ready for the heavy themes of YA.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Teddy is a grounded, smart kid who values his parents and animal welfare. The story handles bullying and peer pressure realistically without being preachy.

Imaginative

The FunJungle setting is a brilliantly realized 'super-zoo' that sparks curiosity about biology and habitat design.

Safe

It's a middle-grade mystery. Beyond some school-level bullying and the threat of juvenile detention, there's nothing here that would shock a typical 8-year-old.

Enriching

Stuart Gibbs is a master at sneaking real zoology and conservation ethics into a fast-paced plot. Kids learn about animal behavior and the ethics of poaching while trying to solve the mystery.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

It makes learning about animal conservation feel like a high-stakes heist movie.
Teddy is a protagonist who actually uses logic and observation rather than 'chosen one' magic.
The mystery is genuinely well-constructed—it's not just a predictable 'the butler did it' scenario.
The humor is sharp and actually funny for both kids and parents reading along.

⚠

What to Watch For

Vance Jessup is a fairly realistic, aggressive bully which might be stressful for very sensitive kids.
Expect a fair amount of 'zoo humor'—yes, that means talk of animal waste and gross bodily functions.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think people are willing to pay so much for exotic animals on the black market?"
"If a bully like Vance tried to force you into a prank, what's the safest way to handle it?"
"Do you think Teddy was right to keep secrets from his parents to try and solve the crime himself?"
"What was the most surprising animal fact you picked up from the FunJungle staff?"

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