Star Scouts (Star Scouts Series #1)

by Mike Lawrence

Overview

Avani is the new kid in town, and she’s not happy about it. Everyone in school thinks she’s weird, especially the girls in her Flower Scouts troop. Is it so weird to think scouting should be about fun and adventure, not about makeovers and boys, boys, boys?

But everything changes when Avani is “accidentally” abducted by a spunky alien named Mabel. Mabel is a scout too—a Star Scout. Collecting alien specimens (like Avani) goes with the territory, along with teleportation and jetpack racing. Avani might be weird, but in the Star Scouts she fits right in. If she can just survive Camp Andromeda, and keep her dad from discovering that she’s left planet Earth, she’s in for the adventure of a lifetime.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626722804
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	03/21/2017
Series:	Star Scouts , #1
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	1,139,399
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mike Lawrence is the award-winning illustrator of Muddy Max: The Mystery of Marsh Creek (with Elizabeth Rusch) and the novel The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl (by Melissa Keil). The Star Scouts series (published by First Second) is his debut as a solo graphic novelist. In addition to making comics, Mike has created several pieces of public art for his hometown of Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife and two sons.

Editorial Reviews

01/23/2017
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. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"The characters are engaging, the message focuses on teamwork, and the book is a lot of fun." —Paste Magazine, from their "10 Best Kids Comics of 2017"

"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." —Kirkus, starred review

"Lawrence's illustrations are bright and dynamic, driving the action across (and down, and around) each page." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"It’s an exciting, laugh-a-minute story that plainly reveals the rewards of teamwork, whatever planet one calls home." —Publishers Weekly

"This is a gorgeous book, with lush imagery." —School Library Journal

"The fact that much of this graphic novel takes place away from Earth gives Lawrence both visual and textual freedom, and the odd, nifty landscapes and madcap, unexpected camp adventures demonstrate his creative flair." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"With a diverse cast of human girls and lots of supportive riendships at its heart, this gratifying comic will please fans of Craig Thompson’s Space Dumplins." —Booklist

From the Publisher

02/01/2017
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. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries looking for a visually appealing selection to fill out their graphic novel sections.—Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

★ 2017-01-17
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)

Kirkus Reviews