I managed to get my hands on an early copy of this and it was by far the best book I read last year. I love Mitch’s work but this has really taken the cake. Such a fun adventure but with really deep important messages too. I think everyone should read this — adult or child!

Jessica is used to moving regularly and travelling with her parents, who are frog researchers. At a research station in the amazon, she hears of a hidden secret that a powerful billionaire will do anything to get their hands on. Alongside new friends Renata and Briony, Jessica must survive dangers from all directions to save it. This is a fantastic children's book that tackles friendship, loneliness, environmental issues, beauty standards and some really cool frogs! It manages to explore these in a very child friendly way that is neither too delicate nor too daunting, plus it's wonderfully exhilarating and adventurous. I loved the way the mythical elements were woven into it alongside the environmental issues in the story. It's safe to say I was completely gripped by finding out what happened to Jessica, Renata and Briony. It was pacy, thoughtful and superbly written!

An adventure set in a rainforest...what a great setting for a story! Toxic by Mitch Johnson opens with the main character, Jessica, moving to a research facility in the Amazon rainforest where her parents are scientists who specialise in frogs. There she meets a local girl called Renata and they become friends. Jessica is gifted an old book about a man who disappeared into the rainforest one hundred years ago in search of a frog with special properties that allow you to stay young forever, but little did Jessica realise she would get caught up in the mystery in the present day. When a billionaire beauty uses her fame and money in a quest to find the frog, Jessica and Renata are determined to foil her plans. But when the adventure turns into a nightmare as danger lurks around every tree, they wonder if they will be able to get out of the forest alive. This was a fast and exciting read. There were some facts that weren't initially explained -Jessica's parents and the Cambridges - but once you understood, the back story became clearer. I really enjoyed the plot and the setting, and became engrossed in the plight of the characters. There were some real twists and turns which were cleverly written, and the pace and exciting episodes kept you interested and wanting to read more. I liked the size of the chapters and that they were named, making you wonder what was going to happen next. A very entertaining read which I would definitely recommend!