Galaxy’s Most Wanted by John Kloepfer (review)

Kevin and his brainy friends want to beat out bully Alexander and his chums at the STEM camp’s big science fair expo. They think they’ve got it locked down once they create something that brings to Earth an actual alien, a creature that arrives with not only his adorable fluffy self but also all sorts of cool space tools and a sob story about being the victim of interplanetary brutes. Of course, Kevin and pals can relate, and they decide to protect Mim (an act that will conveniently also win them science camp glory). Unfortunately, adorable Mim is not who he claims to be, and those big bad guys chasing him are actually trying to protect Earth from being sucked down Mim’s ever-expanding gullet. Cheerful illustrations interspersed throughout the chapters mainly reflect the text, occasionally highlighting the grossest elements, which will surely appeal to the middle-grade boys who are the likeliest audience for this book. It does take a bit for the story to get rolling, but now that the characters and camp setting are well established, it is likely that future volumes will get to the fun much quicker. Summer camp’s getting a bad rap this year with rabid zombie squirrels in Lettrick’s Frenzy (BCCB 5/14) and marauding aliens here—kids might want to just stay home and read about it. Black and white line art in appropriate neo-cartoonish style appears throughout.