Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun
It’s been 42 days since the Monster Apocalypse began, and 13-year-old Jack Sullivan, a self-proclaimed “zombie-fighting, monster-slaying tornado of cool” is on a quest to find and rescue his not-so-secret crush, June Del Toro, whether she needs it, wants it, or not.
Jack cobbles together an unlikely but endearing crew, including his scientist best friend, Quint Baker; Dirk Savage, Parker Middle School’s biggest bully; and a pet monster named Rover, to help him save the damsel in distress and complete the “ULTIMATE Feat of Apocalyptic Success.” Middle-grade readers, particularly boys, will find Jack’s pitch-perfect mix of humor, bravado, and self-professed geekiness impossible to resist. His sidekicks are equally entertaining, and it doesn’t hurt that there are also plenty of oozing, drooling, sharp-toothed monsters and zombies and a host of gizmos and gadgets to hook readers and keep them cheering with every turn of the page. Holgate’s illustrations play an integral role in the novel’s success. They not only bring Brallier’s characters to life, but also add depth and detail to the story, making plain just exactly how big Rover is and giving the lie to Jack’s “killer driving.” The marriage of text and illustration serves as a perfect example of what an illustrated novel can and should be.
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun (. (Graphic/horror hybrid. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-670-01661-7
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An entertaining read for Wonder Woman fans new and old.
The continued adventures of Diana, princess of the Amazons.
Soon after the events of Diana and the Island of No Return (2020), in which she defeated a plot to conquer the Amazons, Diana is keen to start training as a warrior, but she fears that things are not quite right yet with their mysterious enemy still out there. After a new attack on Themyscira—during which her best friend, Sakina, is kidnapped—the Amazons are told by the goddess Artemis that the Targuni are taking children who have unusual powers. Only Diana and one other young person have been able to evade them. Diana does not want to hide and will do anything to rescue her friend, including dealing with capricious Greek gods, terrifying aliens, a hatchling dragon, and a trip to the Underworld itself. Diana battles external enemies as well as her own internal demons in this fun, fast-paced sequel that mixes Greek mythology with science-fiction elements. Diana’s concerns over being dismissed due to her youth and lack of special powers are heartfelt, and the novel does a good job of foretelling the wondrous heroine she will grow up to become: loyal, smart, courageous, and sympathetic to a fault. A cliffhanger ending signals more to come. The ethnic diversity of the world is subtly cued through names.
An entertaining read for Wonder Woman fans new and old. (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: May 25, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-17837-9
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
With a cameo from Batman himself, this origin story presents an entertaining new team of supers.
Setting their debut superhero graphic-novel series for kids in the suburbs of East Gotham, Quinn, Lunetta, and Gil introduce readers to an unlikely DC Comics duo.
Sloane MacBrute and Piper Pájaro are both 13 but are otherwise very different from each other. Piper is Latinx, the brown-skinned daughter of scientists working in Antarctica; she lives with Abuela and Uncle John, a police officer. She also has superstrength and can lift a small car. Sloane is white and happens to be the granddaughter of the Bear, the notorious goon; she is also a robotics genius. When her recently laid-off mother’s health declines, Bear dispatches Sloane, as her supervillain alter ego, Gray, to steal a device from a research facility. Piper, who moonlights as the superhero Hummingbird, learns about a threat to the device her parents created, so she shows up to protect it. The late-night mission goes awry, and the device somehow causes both girls to switch bodies, forcing them to work together to switch them back and thwart the Bear. Co-authors Lunetta and Quinn’s quick dialogue, narration, and pacing are successful, and from Abuela, readers hear Spanish peppered throughout the story. Gil’s illustrations are dynamic, filling spreads with noir-toned purple and dark-blue hues. Panels cut from aerial views and zoom into the fast-paced action, building momentum.
With a cameo from Batman himself, this origin story presents an entertaining new team of supers. (Graphic adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4012-9325-3
Page Count: 144
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
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