When we last left the Mega Rich Guinea Pigs, they had foiled their scheming relatives, secured their vast fortune, and settled down to a life of privilege and pampering. Everything was peaceful, and the guinea pigs were safe and sound… right?
Of course not! The McAloons aren’t giving up on getting their hands on the tremendous family fortune that easily! They will stop at nothing to get rid of those cashed-up pigs, once and for all! And so comes another wild and wacky adventure for our favourite sibling team of gifted guinea pigs: Lunk, G-Chip, Hot Head, and Big Pig (who is still unaware that he is actually a capybara).
After receiving several mysterious threatening letters, the guinea pigs agree that the best way to protect themselves is to enter ‘Witless Protection’ (wait, shouldn’t that be witness protection…?). The McAloons are now running the Guinea Pig Protection Society, and seem to be nothing but supportive and concerned for the guinea pigs’ well-being. But something doesn’t seem quite right… and the guinea pigs will need to use all their wits and talents to get themselves out of this pickle and protect their fortune!
Kate and Jol Temple delight once again with this light-hearted, chaotic, laugh-out-loud adventure for young readers (and honestly, adults too!). If you enjoyed the first Mega Rich Guinea Pigs book, this second instalment will not disappoint; we are treated to the same loveable characters, consistent jokes, and perfect mix of tension and absurdity. The writing is balanced between clear character development through entertaining dialogue, and action scenes that are so well conceptualised you can hear the buzz of a drone, feel the squirt of the hose, and smell the inside of a giant pumpkin.
This is the kind of book that is perfect for reading-aloud to the whole family or class, or for a young chapter-book reader finding the joy in reading to themselves. It is a fantastic option for gifts, and a must-have for school libraries and classrooms. The story is fast-paced, genuinely funny, and keeps you constantly wanting to read “just one more chapter!”. We loved it so much in our household that my 8-year-old has asked to dress as a Mega Rich Guinea Pig for Book Week… if only his costume came with equipped with ButtPay!
