Coldfinger: Zinc Alloy

by Donald Lemke, Douglas Holgate (Illustrator)

Overview

It's winter vacation, and Zack Allen's family is headed to the mountains. When Zack arrives, Johnny, the school's biggest bully, tricks him into entering the annual ski competition. While on the slopes, however, Zack discovers an even greater problem, an evil villain is building a giant freeze ray within the mountain. Now Zinc must stop his evil plans and take home the ski trophy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781434223142
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Series:	Zinc Alloy Series
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Donald Lemke works as a children’s book editor. He has written dozens of comic books, including the Zinc Alloy series and the adventures of Bike Rider, and many chapter books for DC Comics. Donald lives in Minnesota with his beautiful wife, Amy, and their not-so-golden retriever, Paulie.

Douglas Holgate is a freelance illustrator from Melbourne, Australia. His work has been published all around the world by Random House, Simon and Schuster, the "New Yorker" magazine, and Image Comics. His award-winning comic "Laika" appears in the acclaimed comic collection "Flight, Volume Two".

Editorial Reviews

Well, I just discovered a whole new boy-friendly series courtesy of my 8 year-old son, Dave, who brought home two new Zinc Alloy books from his school's library. He raved and cooed about them, informing me that this was a new series being read 'by all the guys'. (And yes, some of the guys are girls.) Since the books are short — containing under 800 words — I was able to read both of them in a few minutes, and I pretty much liked what I found. [Note though that the reviewer for the School Library Journal thought they were 'bland', and that may well be for us adults, but sometimes we just need to listen to the kids, and if these books help children to love to read, well then, I'm going to pass on the good word.] In general the books seem to offer low levels of 'exciting adventure' and some fantasies of empowerment that I think youngsters can identify with. And unlike the popular Captain Underpants series, the Zinc Alloy series is written at a simpler level— which I like since there isn't nearly enough books out there for book-lovin' little guys. Both books I read were in the low 2's. There is, however, one book in the series though that is at the 2.4 level. I think they'd be great for all those 5 year-olds that read above level. And even for guys like my Dave, who can read at a much higher level, but who still enjoys some fun and silliness. [Note, Captain Underpants is at the AR 4 level.] Revealed! (Zinc Alloy) by Donald Lemke Douglas Holgate (Illus.) Description: When Zack Allen reveals his secret superhero identity, his life changes and he's the coolest kid at school and the world's greatest athlete, but can he compete without the Zinc Alloy suit? * Paperback: 40 pages * Publisher: Stone Arch Books * ISBN-10: 1434208591 * amazon Word Count: 763 Reading Level: 2.0 Accelerated Reader: reading level: 2.0 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 123901 Lexile: GN290L Coldfinger (Zinc Alloy) by Donald Lemke Douglas Holgate (Illus.) Description: While on a winter vacation with his family, Zack must stop a plot by Dr. Icee to freeze Metro City with a giant freezer ray and overcome his fear of sports after a bully challenges him to a ski competition. * Paperback: 40 pages * Publisher: Stone Arch Books (January 1, 2010) * ISBN-10: 1434223140 * amazon Word Count: 665 Reading Level: 2.1 Accelerated Reader: reading level: 2.1 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 130909 Lexile: GN360L Super Zero by Donald Lemke Douglas Holgate (Illus.) Description: Zack is always getting picked on by bullies, but then one day, he builds a high-tech robot suit and must decide how to use his powers. * Paperback: 40 pages * Publisher: Stone Arch Books * ISBN-10: 1434208583 * amazon Word Count: 829 Reading Level: 2.4 Accelerated Reader: reading level: 2.4 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 123903 Lexile: GN380L Zinc Alloy vs Frankenstein by Donald Lemke Douglas Holgate (Illus.) Description: When Zinc Alloy is chased by an angry mob out of Metro City he hides in an old house on the edge of town, but inside the house he faces his most frightening challenge yet, robo Frankenstein. * Paperback: 40 pages * Publisher: Stone Arch Books (January 1, 2010) * ISBN-10: 1434213919 * amazon Word Count: 860 Reading Level: 2.1 Accelerated Reader: reading level: 2.1 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 127553 Lexile: GN410L http://www.booksforkids-reviews.com/2011/01/books-boys-love-zinc-alloy-by-donald-b.html

Good Books for Kids Blog

Cute graphic novel about a nerdy kid who also happens to be a superhero. Kids will enjoy this graphic novel.

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