Jungle Escape (Nathan Luff, Walker)

Jungle Escape is the latest middle-grade title by Nathan Luff, author of Bad Grammar and the Family Disasters and Nerd Herd series. This stand-alone novel is filled with comedic mishaps, deliberate misunderstandings, and wildlife that may want to kill you. Branson’s parents head to Aspen on a luxurious ski holiday, while he is sent against his will to a retreat in the Daintree. It turns out he was right to be sceptical, because not everything is as it seems at the Jungle Escape, including the deceptive owners who want to make the most of some free labour. What follows is a crusade against slime and snakes and some other icky encounters. This distinctly Australian story set in Far North Queensland will be eye-opening for any young readers not yet familiar with that part of our landscape. It’s not for the faint-hearted! Luff’s writing is cheeky and irreverent, making this story appealing to fans of Matt Stanton or Nat Amoore. The dynamics between the young characters, their problem-solving efforts, and their understanding of adult inner lives all add a more unexpected element. The story offers young readers aged 8+ a great example of the resilience and tenacity kids can develop when the grown-ups in their lives let them down or don’t make them feel heard. Jungle Escape is a fun adventure with plenty of layers.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Karys McEwen is a librarian, bookseller, author, and the vice president of CBCA VIC Branch. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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