'The fantastic tale of a young Balinese duck who races against time to find his fallen ancestral home, the Kingdom of Ducktopia, to unlock the answers to restore balance to Bali and the planet before it is too late...Classic adventure-fantasy with an environmental message in a class story-telling voice. He lives an idyllic life by a pond in Bali with his family of orphaned ducks, the Bootongs, cared for by Suki. Life's turned upside down when he stumbles onto a secret meeting held by the leader of the fish, Agung. He learns of a royal heritage, a fallen Kingdom and of the future of Bali - its environment and culture threatened by rampant development. Caught eavesdropping, plans are propelled forward and he is commanded to recover an old Manuscript from the ruins of the Kingdom of Ducktopia which contain the answers to not only save Bali, but the rest of the planet. But, he's followed by sibling Spotty, who carries bitterness from his past, believing that as the son of an exiled Prince, brother to the long-reigning King of Ducktopia, that he is the rightful King to the fallen throne. Cheeky sets off on a journey around Bali to report back to island elders the extent of change on the island. He is visited by ghosts of the past in his dreams, who show him a beautiful world that they must fight to restore. Along the way, he meets Star, an endangered White Starling and a number of other friends who help him with his quest. But meanwhile, Shadow, the spirit of darkness, lurks wherever he goes and threatens Cheeky's mission. In a shattering conclusion, evil forces seek to take control, as whoever is the first to unlock it will receive the ultimate prize - rulership of the Kingdom of Ducktopia and effectively, the island. A fast-paced tale that will leave young readers intrigued and with an indelible desire to help make a difference. With beautiful illustrations by Clare McAlaney, this is a book that will take a treasured place on your bookshelf.' (Publication summary)
