52 pages • 1 hour read
Stuart GibbsBelly Up
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Teddy Fitzroy
Teddy Fitzroy is the novel’s mischievous, courageous, and resourceful protagonist and narrator. When the reader is first introduced to the 12-year-old, he is caught giving water balloons to chimpanzees. This prank establishes a number of key aspects of the protagonist’s personality and motivation. Authority does not intimidate Teddy; he is bored and hungry for excitement, and he cares deeply about animals. The water balloons aren’t merely a practical joke but rather a way for the primates to fight back against rude guests: “If the security guards weren’t going to protect the animals, then I figured I ought to help the animals protect themselves” (2). As the novel continues, Teddy goes to valiant lengths to defend the animals of FunJungle. Even after perilous encounters with a black mamba and a hungry tiger, he seeks the truth about Henry’s murder. Teddy demonstrates great resourcefulness during this investigation, such as when he uses a rock to startle a herd of water buffalo and evade Buck Grassley’s security guards. A combination of mischief, courage, and ingenuity drives the novel’s main character. He is both round and dynamic.
As the protagonist and narrator, Teddy plays a pivotal role in the story’s 
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By Stuart Gibbs
