Jungledrop

Eleven-year-old twins, Fox and Fibber, have been rivals for as long as they can remember. Only one of them will inherit the family fortune and so a race is afoot to save the dwindling Petty-Squabble empire and win the love of their parents.

But when the twins are whisked off to Jungledrop, a magical Unmapped Kingdom in charge of conjuring our world's weather, things get wildly out of hand. An evil harpy called Morg is on the loose. And if she finds the long-lost Forever Fern before the twins, both Jungledrop and our world will crumble.

Suddenly, Fox and Fibber find themselves on an incredible adventure in a glow-in-the-dark rainforest full of golden panthers, gobblequick trees and enchanted temples. But, with the fate of two worlds in their hands, will the twins be able to work together for once to defeat Morg and her dark magic? {goodreads summary}

With adventure and heart on every page, this is another stunning novel from Abi Elphinstone. 

Elphinstone's world is exquisite. I was transported to the heart of Jungledrop and didn't want to leave. It is a world of vibrance, colour and life. The playful inventiveness of the magical plants will have children giggling and gasping in turn. Jungledrop has everything from trees that grow newspapers, to plants that hit you if you don't say "excuse me". 

At Jungledrop's core is the magic of kindness. The strength that comes from believing in others and in yourself. A child's capacity for growth and change and their unwavering belief that everything can be improved, can be corrected, but we all need to look after each other and work together, rather than against each other. The emotional message in this story is just as wonderful as Sky Song and is presented in a way that is clear for young readers to follow, without them feeling as though they're being taught or preached to.

Jungledrop contained strong character growth. Fox and Fibber start their story as squabbling twins in business suits who think you need to push down others to stay on top. They are the opposite of what you'd expect from a pair of heroes. Elphinstone's emotional insight is so astute, helped by Heckle, a parrot who reveals everyone's feelings (perfect for when voicing your fears feels too difficult). I really felt for Fox and Fibber throughout their quest. By the end, they are both amazing heroes, ready to go home and challenge the injustices in their own world using everything they've learnt in Jungledrop. 

This is a story I'm already looking forward to sharing with my own daughter in a year or so. MG readers will love Jungledrop. It will have them looking at rain in an entirely new, magical way and watching hopefully at stations for trains with plumes of green smoke.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for letting me read an advanced copy of Jungledrop through NetGalley.