by Laini Taylor ; illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 15, 2023
An intergalactic joyride.
A giant robot army in space? What could go wrong?
Billie Blaster is a genius. She has all the things a genius needs: genius parents, home laboratories (including a secret one, of course), a team of superintelligent animal engineers, a sassy goat sidekick, and, most importantly, a nemesis. Tiny Hector Glum, who is 4 1/2 inches tall (thanks to his Irreversible Shrinking Ray) and who’s been Billie’s rival ever since he came in second to her at the Kindergarten Science Fair, has set his sights on world domination and taking Billie down. Meanwhile, a robot alien arrives bearing a message of “grave galactic importance”: Evil aliens from the planet Bonk are planning to take over Earth, and it’s (kind of) Billie’s fault! Can Billie and her ragtag band of robotic and furry friends stop the invasion? Will Tiny Hector Glum finally succeed in taking over Earth? Energetic and upbeat, this graphic novel refuses to take itself too seriously even when it touches on topics such as access and opportunity in STEM. The story, though not particularly original, is laugh-out-loud funny in places and heartwarming in others; it keeps a consistent momentum throughout. Its partially unresolved resolution gives it an episodic feeling, as though another installment is just around the corner. Bright, vibrant art adeptly underscores the movement of the narrative and brings new heights (and sewer depths) of humor to the quirky cast and world. Human characters present White.
An intergalactic joyride. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781419753848
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2023
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by Laini Taylor
by Julie Buxbaum ; illustrated by Lavanya Naidu ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2022
Contagiously goofy and fun.
Area 51 gets its first new resident in 5 years—and a new mystery.
When her grandma moves into a kid-free retirement home, 12-year-old orphan Priya “Sky” Patel-Baum and Spike, her pet hedgehog, relocate to Area 51 to live with Sky’s eccentric Uncle Anish. At 51, humans and Break Throughs (government-speak for aliens) live together off-grid in harmony. Unfortunately, several Zdstrammars (one of many Break Through species) mysteriously disappear, disrupting the base’s harmony and contributing to feelings of suspicion. Despite being deputy head of the Federal Bureau of Alien Investigations, Uncle Anish becomes a prime suspect. Can Sky and Elvis, her alien classmate, prove Uncle Anish’s innocence and find the missing Zdstrammars before it’s too late? YA author Buxbaum’s middle-grade debut is a rip-roaring series opener complete with over-the-top characters and jokes galore. Naidu’s black-and-white cartoon illustrations extend the comedy with ongoing commentary that smartly interacts with the prose. The cast of Break Through species—like Audiotooters, Galzorian, and Sanitizoria—have hilariously creative on-the-nose names with illustrations to match. Sky is coded biracial, with a White dad and Indian mom. Aliens appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors; Elvis shape-shifts but looks like a brown-skinned boy to Sky. Though the main mystery is neatly wrapped up, the cliffhanger ending promises more laughs.
Contagiously goofy and fun. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-42946-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
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by Julie Buxbaum ; illustrated by Lavanya Naidu
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by Annie Matthew ; developed by Kobe Bryant ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 24, 2021
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship.
A young tennis champion becomes the target of revenge.
In this sequel to Legacy and the Queen (2019), Legacy Petrin and her friends Javi and Pippa have returned to Legacy’s home province and the orphanage run by her father. With her friends’ help, she is in training to defend her championship when they discover that another player, operating under the protection of High Consul Silla, is presenting herself as Legacy. She is so convincing that the real Legacy is accused of being an imitation. False Legacy has become a hero to the masses, further strengthening Silla’s hold, and it becomes imperative to uncover and defeat her. If Legacy is to win again, she must play her imposter while disguised as someone else. Winning at tennis is not just about money and fame, but resisting Silla’s plans to send more young people into brutal mines with little hope of better lives. Legacy will have to overcome her fears and find the magic that allowed her to claim victory in the past. This story, with its elements of sports, fantasy, and social consciousness that highlight tensions between the powerful and those they prey upon, successfully continues the series conceived by late basketball superstar Bryant. As before, the tennis matches are depicted with pace and spirit. Legacy and Javi have brown skin; most other characters default to White.
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949520-19-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Granity Studios
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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by Annie Matthew ; developed by Kobe Bryant
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