Chris Eliopoulos

I really disliked the first book in this series, Cosmic Commandos, because of how unpleasant the characters were. However, fortunately you don't need to read the first book to follow this second title because I really enjoyed this one!

Zoe, a robots genius, loves to watch classic monster movies and hang out with the robot she created. Her parents would like her to make some "real" friends, but the one time she tried, way back in elementary school, it was all a fake. The girl was just show more pretending to be her friend. Devastated, Zoe refuses to reach out again and isolates herself in her new, high-tech school for gifted kids. Her parents are busy with her triplet brothers and Zoe is all alone, just the way she wants it. But one day, frustrated by her parents and teachers trying to urge her to make friends and secretly lonely, she picks up a ring, wishes the monsters in her movies were real and that night, in the midst of a storm... a real kaiju (monster) shows up at her window! She's finally got a friend, exactly the one she wanted.

But things get complicated fast - her new friend Chomp has got family and friends of his own and they're very, very hungry. Can Zoe save the city and her friend on her own? And if she can't, will she be willing to not only ask for help but also trust other people and kids?

Zoe, a short black girl with a riot of black curls, stomps through the story in her signature blue overalls and goggles. She would like to have friends, but is too scared to reach out and determined to do everything on her own, without the help of well-meaning adults and the kids she doesn't trust to be sincere in wanting to spend time with her. Her parents are worried about her, but exhausted and preoccupied dealing with rambunctious toddler triplets, shown exuberantly flinging food, dashing through the house naked, and generally created chaos. It's refreshing to see a black girl who is not only interested in but excels in science and technology. Zoe doesn't need a helpful (white) friend to teach her social skills; she's got a kaiju monster and a disaster on her hands that forces her to befriend some of the other kids in school who have already learned to work together; she eventually teams up with her teachers, Mr. Nakajima and Ms. Mahnken, and four kids from school, two white boys and a dark-skinned boy and girl. But in the end, she might need even more help - from her parents?

Verdict: This is full of monsters, robots, exciting action, lots of color, a nice environmental twist, and some heart-felt moments of learning to ask for help and open up to friends, even when it might be scary or painful. Sure to be a hit with HiLo fans and kids who love monsters and robots.

ISBN: 9780735231245; Published 2018 by Dial/Penguin; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library show less

Talk about GIRL POWER!
Here, we have a budding scientific mind trapped in the body of a little girl and while she's ace at robotics, she's striking out at making friends. That's okay though, right? I mean, who needs friends? On your own you can see whatever movies YOU like a hundred times, eat YOUR favorite foods, listen to YOUR favorite music, and persue YOUR beloved hobbies...all without having to compromise for anyone. Sounds like the perfect world...right? Yeah, about that...

Zoe is our show more leading lady and she's MAD SMART at all the techie stuff, I could never be. Now, I'm not shabby at running programs, and computer work, but building one? HahahahahaHA! Yeah, right. Guess what? It's child's play for her...quite literally child's play as she IS in fact a child, but the things she accomplishs are SO AMAZING! I loved her little pal B-4...from nuts to bolts, he was her companion, voice of reason, and snarky sidekick without an actual pulse...although give her the suggestion and she could probably give him one. Anywho, she and he get pulled into a MONSTER SIZED adventure after a mysterious piece of jewelry winds up on her finger, and that first monsterous surprise is only the beginning! She'll learn that getting what you wish for doesn't always work out the way you wanted, and that sometimes things happen for a reason much BIGGER than you could ever dream.

Aside from the obvious MONSTEROUSLY fun story, it has SO MUCH HEART! No, really! It wasn't just romp-em-stomp-em monsters, robotics, and saving the city....it was also color filled reminder that while we may be able to do it ourselves, we can grow, flourish, and accomplish SO MUCH MORE together. It broke my heart when our little leading lady stepped outside her box, only to be squashed in such a heartless (even if unintentional) way. I saw through Zoe's bravado, and though she was gifted, brilliant, and so many leapyears ahead of her classmates, she still needed the humbling yet heartwarming connection that true friendship brings. No man/woman is an island...an old saying, but oh so true. We all need someone, and there's no shame in that...it's what makes us human. We thrive in communities, share our strengths, overcome our weaknesses, and build a better today, while striving for tomorrow.


**copy received for review show less

First sentence: It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor.

Premise/plot: This one is a picture book biography--with graphic novel elements--of Mister Rogers. It tells of his life and his life's work, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It includes all the highlights--everything you could want with a kid-friendly delivery.

My thoughts: I love, love, love Mr. Rogers. I do. I really do. For so many decades there were no picture book biographies of Fred Rogers. Then show more around 2019 or 2020 they started flowing in. Now there are choices. I must say I really loved the text of this one. I can't say that I am crazy in love with the illustrations--when comparing them to the other picture book biographies I've read. But the text more than makes up for it. The illustrations aren't bad--let me make this clear. It is just a very comic/cartoon style. It is an artistic choice that I may not personally love, but it is consistent throughout this series. So it make sense for the series, for sure. I would definitely recommend this one. I loved all the information. show less

I thought that this was a great book for several reasons. This biography sent a very powerful message- to respect yourself and take a stand when others don’t respect you, which I believe is highly important. I also really liked the writing and word choice, which further exemplifies the message. For example, after Rosa Parks was pushed and knocked down as a young girl, she said, “...my mother and grandfather taught me to respect myself, and to expect respect from others,” in which she show more stood her ground and didn’t let herself get yelled at by the mother of the child who pushed her. Lastly, I liked the illustrations and felt that because they looked like comics, they evoked a lot of emotion. For instance, the pictures were very exaggerated, with bulging eyes, big mouths, and thought bubbles which would depict the anger and frustration Rosa Parks dealt with as a child. show less