Jungledrop - Abi Elphinstone

I am a huge fan of Rumblestar so to say that I was excited when a proof copy of Jungledrop landed on the door mat would be an understatement to say the least!

This is the second in The Unmapped Chronicles series and the Faraway is in trouble: drought is ravaging the world as it hasn't rained anywhere for months. This, however, is of no concern to the Petty-Squabbles, a money-grabbing, control obsessed couple, whose family motto is 'to stamp all over other people's feelings'.  Their children, twins Fox and Fibber, have always been pitched against each other and are quickly developing their parents' uncaring ways. Then suddenly, the pair find themselves in the unmapped kingdom of Jungledrop,  and the fate of both worlds is in their hands.  Can the twins, who trust nobody and are rude to everyone they meet, work together in a world where kindness is key and defeat Morg and return the rain to the Faraway?

This really is the most magical book, which sweeps you up and carries you away to the most vivid new world.  The details and the imagination that have gone into creating the kingdom of Jungledrop are clear to see and it's a land that will very quickly feel real to readers (it certainly did for me!).  It's somewhere children will dream of visiting and a land that adults will wish existed when they were young.

But more than the land, I fell in love with the characters and their perfectly created names - Iggy Blether, Doogie Herbalsneeze and the world's best parrot: Heckle, who will tell everybody what you're really thinking!  And, of course, I have to mention the two heroes: Fox and Fibber Petty-Squabble (again, very aptly named) who really are rather unlikable at the beginning of the story: selfish, rude and inconsiderate; yet I found myself rooting for them as they slowly learn that art of manners! It's quiet a journey they make and to share in their journey was an absolute pleasure.

All in all, Jungledrop is a simply brilliant book, full of adventure, excitement and so many positive messages about the power of kindness, friendship and believing in yourself, that I lost count!

My copy is now heading back into school where two of my class have been waiting not so patiently for me to finish reading it so they can dive in because they just can't wait until the release date in May to find out what happens!  There were actual squeals

of excitement when they saw it!