In this wild graphic novel, two robot brothers wrangle problems small and large, ranging from sibling rivalry to saving the world.
In a not-too-distant-future London, robot brothers Freddy and Alex live with their adoptive interracial parents, their black, stay-at-home dad and their Indian, scientist mother. Although they are machines, the boys are completely sentient and are not above a giggleworthy poop joke or overblown sibling squabble. However, when the less-sophisticated robots of London begin to go awry, the brothers must work together to take down a nefarious robot that claims to come from the same creator they do. Alex and Freddy are instantly lovable and believable, as they struggle with bullying because they are robots and to discern what being human truly means. Cameron’s portrayal of London is wholly inclusive and authentic, capturing a recognizable societal snapshot evincing women in hijabs, men in turbans, and even an interracial royal family; as colored by Murphy, skin tones are realistically varied. Cameron’s worldbuilding is masterful and immersive, brimming with flying trains, cinematic explosions, raging robot dinosaurs, and a penguin-droid that endlessly spews Sartre quotes. The first in a series, this should elicit vociferous demands for subsequent volumes—be sure to recommend this to fans of Judd Winick’s Hilo series.
An immensely smart, fun, and nuanced series opener. (Graphic science fiction. 6-12)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-338-18595-9
Page Count: 96
Publisher: David Fickling/Phoenix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2017
Categories: GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY
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The Heffley family’s house undergoes a disastrous attempt at home improvement.
When Great Aunt Reba dies, she leaves some money to the family. Greg’s mom calls a family meeting to determine what to do with their share, proposing home improvements and then overruling the family’s cartoonish wish lists and instead pushing for an addition to the kitchen. Before bringing in the construction crew, the Heffleys attempt to do minor maintenance and repairs themselves—during which Greg fails at the work in various slapstick scenes. Once the professionals are brought in, the problems keep getting worse: angry neighbors, terrifying problems in walls, and—most serious—civil permitting issues that put the kibosh on what work’s been done. Left with only enough inheritance to patch and repair the exterior of the house—and with the school’s dismal standardized test scores as a final straw—Greg’s mom steers the family toward moving, opening up house-hunting and house-selling storylines (and devastating loyal Rowley, who doesn’t want to lose his best friend). While Greg’s positive about the move, he’s not completely uncaring about Rowley’s action. (And of course, Greg himself is not as unaffected as he wishes.) The gags include effectively placed callbacks to seemingly incidental events (the “stress lizard” brought in on testing day is particularly funny) and a lampoon of after-school-special–style problem books. Just when it seems that the Heffleys really will move, a new sequence of chaotic trouble and property destruction heralds a return to the status quo. Whew.
Readers can still rely on this series to bring laughs. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4197-3903-3
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Nov. 19, 2019
Categories: GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY
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SEEN & HEARD
The Wimpy Kid hits the road.
The Heffley clan has been stuck living together in Gramma’s basement for two months, waiting for the family home to be repaired, and the constant togetherness has been getting on everybody’s nerves. Luckily Greg’s Uncle Gary has a camper waiting for someone to use it, and so the Heffleys set off on the open road looking for an adventurous vacation, hoping the changing scenery will bring a spark back to the family unit. The winding road leads the Heffleys to a sprawling RV park, a setting teeming with possibilities for Greg to get up to his usual shenanigans. Greg’s snarky asides and misadventures continue to entertain. At this point the Wimpy Kid books run like a well-oiled machine, paced perfectly with witty lines, smart gags, and charming cartoons. Kinney knows just where to put a joke, the precise moment to give a character shading, and exactly how to get the narrative rolling, spinning out the oddest plot developments. The appreciation Kinney has for these characters seeps through the novels, endearing the Heffleys to readers even through this title, the 15th installment in a franchise boasting spinoffs, movies, and merchandise. There may come a time when Greg and his family overstay their welcome, but thankfully that day still seems far off.
A witty addition to the long-running series. (Humor. 7-12)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4197-4868-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Nov. 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2020
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