Mike Lawrence (6)

Avani isn't happy about being the new girl in town. She's even more disappointed in the Flower Scouts troop. Unlike her Pine Scouts troop at home they don't do anything fun, just talk about boys and makeup. But what Avani doesn't know is that, quite a ways away, another girl is having a hard time fitting into her scout troop...and only has a few minutes to pick up her specimen for her badge!

Turns out, she picked Avani. At first she's shocked, but Avani figures out pretty fast that she'd much show more rather be a member of the Star Scouts, even if her troop has some.... issues... than the Flower Scouts back home. But it's not long before things start getting dangerous, with a rivalry with the methane-breathers and a challenge to Avani belonging in the Star Scouts. After all, Earth isn't a member of the Galactic Union!

Will Avani be able to stay in the Star Scouts - and will she figure out how to be a good friend (not to mention survive?)

There's an easy sense of diversity throughout this graphic novel. Avani doesn't automatically team up with the only other non-white girl in her earth troop. Although it turns out they have some interests in common, she has to get past her dislike of anyone with different tastes and how easily she dismisses the other girls. The aliens themselves have a huge variety of tentacles, colors, and personalities but there's still prejudice against differences and some rough competition. Avani learns that there's still a lot she needs to know about teamwork and friendship before she can truly fit into the galactic universe.

Lawrence has a crisp style that will attract fans of Telgemeier and Hatke along with a sense of humor that will appeal to Captain Underpants readers. This isn't quite the book for readers who want a more sophisticated story of interpersonal emotions - there's too many fart jokes - but it's just the right book for kids who like adventures and funny stories and are navigating the shift to upper grades in school, different rates of maturity, and changing interests among their friends.

Verdict: A funny and exciting story, it might need a little booktalking to get it to the exact right audience, but once you've found them it's sure to be a hit! Also, accidental alien abduction is never not funny. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781626722804; Published 2017 by First Second; Purchased for the library show less

reviewed from egalley (thanks to netgalley)

Children's graphic novel (less-pink girls, everyday diversity, cool sci-fi/alien badges). Terrific new series (I hope it becomes a series!) starring a Hindi girl who doesn't care for the makeup tips and decoupage topics discussed by her flower scout troup and finds something better when she is accidentally teleported by a star scout. You don't actually learn real science from the book, but it does portray STEM topics like robotics and engineering in show more a positive and fun way. Avani learns a lot about making friends and working together when she goes to her alien scout camp and eventually even makes some strides towards bridging the rivalry between O-twos (oxygen-breathing species) and methane-breathers.

The cover reminds me of the latter years of the Akiko series, but it's not like there's a whole lot of ethnic-looking characters on covers (yet!), and I think kids should be able to find books where the characters look like themselves, so I don't mind at all. show less

Educational comics are like gifts that keep giving! It's an opportunity to blend the art of a graphic novel with storytelling and a learning component. Science comics nails this combo with Deep-Sea Creatures. I love that it reads like a story but it's actually teaching you some things about deep sea life that you may not have known. Definitely recommend to readers of all ages!

children's graphic - how to: pack an emergency kit before heading into the wilderness (because you never know), replenish water supplies safely, build a fire (and extinguish it) safely, make a shelter safely (with knots), wrap a sprained ankle, go number 2 in the outdoors, clean and cook a fish, tie a fishing hook (with knots), cast a reel and reel in a fish, and don't forget cleaning up your area afterwards so as not to leave behind nonbiodegradable refuse.

The fishing parts seem like you show more really need to be with someone who knows what they're doing and can show you first hand, but I guess you can borrow someone's pole and do a half-decent job with an adult who's learning from the book alongside you, or if you are with someone who knows how to fish but isn't the greatest teacher, that's where this will come in handy. (It might have been better to show ways to catch fish if you find yourself looking for food without a fishing pole, but maybe that's a bit too difficult for this beginner level? I don't know; I've only tried bait fishing once and only succeeded in snagging my hook multiple times on the rocks, repeatedly.) Otherwise, the step-by-step illustrations are pretty great at walking you through all the things you should be aware of, and the characters are funny and easy to relate to.

If the reader takes well enough to this book, a second survival reference book wouldn't be a bad idea to keep on hand. show less