Star Scouts

January 23, 2017
Avani Patel has a serious case of new-kid blues, and the fact that her father has signed her up for a local Flower Scouts troupe only makes matters worse. But Avani winds up joining another group of scouts altogether after she’s abducted by an enthusiastic blue alien named Mabel, who is working on her Star Scouts
“collection badge.”Avani happily ditches Flower Scouts to spend time in space with Mabel and her troupe, but these new friendships are challenged during a week at Camp Andromeda, where Avani accidentally ignites a rivalry between her troupe and a group of methane-breathing scouts (aka “toot-breathers”). As Avani attempts to win teleportation, jetpack racing, and other competitions, Lawrence (Muddy Max) delivers a madcap extraterrestrial adventure with no shortage of parallels to more terrestrial scouting activities. Gross-out jokes abound, from recurring gags about “xenoscatology badges” to the robots built by parrotlike Star Scout Steve, which include GOOSE (“all it does is pinch people on the bum”) and the Biometric Ultra Techno Tool or BUTT. It’s an exciting, laugh-a-minute story that plainly reveals the rewards of teamwork, whatever planet one calls home. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary.

Starred review from February 1, 2017
An alien abduction goes a long way toward curing Avani's new-kid blues. Avani Patel, an endearingly sassy Indian-American girl who loves rodeo, has joined Flower Scouts against her will; her well-intentioned single-parent father thinks it'll help her make friends in their new home. Avani loathes every minute with these boring, brainless girls who endlessly jabber about makeup and boy bands. Then Avani is accidentally teleported to another planet by Mabel, a friendly Zirdonian working on her collections badge for Star Scouts, an intergalactic organization that studies robotics and has jet packs (but watch out for the xenoscatology badge, which is as gross as it sounds). Avani clicks instantly with her new troop, even though they've earned the fewest badges in the galaxy. At Camp Andromeda, they are challenged by a pack of methane-breathing Star Scouts (don't call them toot-breathers!) and must work together to defeat their high-achieving, badge-laden rivals. With her warm, brown skin and lovably stubborn personality, Avani is an original, funny protagonist, and readers will delight as they adventure alongside her. Lawrence's art has a cinematic feel; he keeps the perspective at the characters'-eye level, adding to the immersive feel. With brilliant worldbuilding and humor in spades, Lawrence has conceived a truly exceptional graphic tale that's also a classic underdog story; don't miss this one. All scouts--and readers--must now raise their right hands and solemnly swear to read this. (Graphic science fiction. 7-12)

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February 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-Middle schooler Avani is the new girl in town, so her father signs her up for Flower Scouts to help her make friends. The girls in Flower Scouts talk about boy bands and, well, boys; Avani likes riding bulls and roughing around. Out of nowhere, Avani is abducted by Mabel, a young alien girl who is recruiting kids from other planets to join the Star Scouts, whose members explore the galaxy and the unknown. Avani is an immediate and enthusiastic recruit. She enjoys going on adventures with her new friends, and soon she and the others are taking part in a weeklong trip to Camp Andromeda. But Avani's strong will leads to a conflict with a rival troop, and, suddenly, her membership in Star Scouts is at stake. This is a gorgeous book, with lush imagery that brings to mind Craig Thompson's Space Dumplins. However, the plot is lacking, as the rivalry at Camp Andromeda follows a predictable us vs. them-narrative. The characters have heart aplenty, but their frequent use of toilet humor relegates the book to a younger audience. Avani herself is a difficult heroine for whom to root: the story sets up readers to dislike the girls with whom Avani clashes at Camp Andromeda, yet the protagonist delivers as many insults and nasty actions as she receives.

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