Ziggy and the Plugfish

by Jonathan Harlen

When Ziggy and Shayla attempt to rescue their parents from the belly of a giant jellyfish, they embark on a funny and fantastical adventure featuring a slew of creative characters such as Admiral Crushmore, the pilot of a breakdancing mini-submarine. Jam-packed with crazy underwater action, several sticky situations, and lots and lots of jelly, this novel will engage young readers with its irresistible combination of outrageous circumstances and two clever kids.

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Jonathan Harlen is the author of the young adult novel The Lion and the Lamb, and of other works for adults and children. He was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1963.

Reviews

[nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My friends," he said. "Mankind is faced with a terrible choice. Work, or daytime television. But I can't talk about that, because I have to tell you about this thing we've caught in our net, this giant jellyfish. This is the very same creature that attacked us, without warning, at the bottom of the ocean, forty-eight hours ago. New information has come to light that demonstrates exactly how dangerous this creature is. Indeed, I am not exaggerating when I say that it could well be the greatest threat the human race has faced since the dawn of the last Ice Age." -pg. 65

Sigmund Plunkett, better known as Ziggy, is on holiday with his parents when a giant (25 metres wide, to be precise) jellyfish attacks his parents. By the end, the jellyfish is carrying, three men, a woman, two children, a large service vehicle, and mini-sub around inside it's enormous gelatenous center and headed straight for a hole at the bottom of the Pacific. WHAT EVER SHALL THEY DO!?

Funny, ridiculous, quirky adventure with a relatively surprising ending and lots of fun names. Lieutenant Squidsworth and Admiral Crushmore. Yes, please.

[Neill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ziggy discovered the giant blue jellyfish on the beach when it swallowed his parents. When it swallowed the man from the rescue squad and his fancy ute he knew it was dangerous. But when a big submarine appeared and tried to drag it off to sea he knew he had to go along. It was then that he discovered that the giant blue jellyfish was actually the plugfish responsible for ocean depths.

[Addie Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

books about jellyfish are always a win, as far as i'm concerned.