Tag: 4 stars

Boyfriend Chronicles #3: Boomerang Boyfriend – Chris Cannon

Horror story of the month in only one sentence … I voluntarily read a romance novel. Would someone please alert a paramedic?

Delia: I have no idea what’s going on with Aiden. Never again will I kiss a boy first. Now he’s being all weird and mysterious. I think I need to move on and find a new boy. Not that I need a male in my life to make it complete or anything. Maybe if I paint some more it’ll help. Ugh! There’s Zoe’s brother, Jack. Why is he always such a jerk?

Jack: Ever since Dad and Grandpa died in the accident I’ve been the only male in the house. Sure, I go to Trevor’s place a lot. Rocky is a great dog and he likes it when I sneak him bits of pepperoni off my pizza, even though Trevor’s mother said not to. I like being at Trevor’s place but it can’t make up for Dad and Grandpa being gone. Sometimes I feel so alone. It doesn’t help that my younger sister Zoe and Delia, her annoying best friend, are always giggling in the kitchen at home. Doesn’t Delia have a home to go to?

Delia: I really should get a job. Mum and Dad don’t have any money to spare and it’s not fair to expect them to pay for my art supplies. It’s interesting that Mum and Dad have always had money troubles and because a few things broke recently they’re sort of having to budget to afford decent groceries yet I have my own truck. Hmm … Anyway … Guess what, Zoe? I just got a job as the new Pie Princess at Betty’s Burgers. Isn’t that so exciting? That’s where Jack the Jerk works. Let’s not tell him I got the job and surprise him. That’ll be fun.

Jack: What? First she takes over my home and now I can’t escape her at work either?

Delia: Ah, art class. Nothing beats it. What do you mean another class is joining ours because their teacher went on maternity leave early?!

Jack: What? Now I can’t escape her during art class either?

Delia: I don’t want to have to draw Jack’s portrait. Hey! When did Jack get so cute?! No, wait. I can’t think about him like that. He’s like an older brother.

Jack: And now I have to draw her too … Hey! When did Delia become pretty?! No, wait. I can’t think about her like that. She’s like a little sister.

Delia: I’m so confused.

Jack: I’m so confused.

I’m so confused. I’m way outside of my comfort zone here. I’m more of a horror girl and usually avoid romances like they’re diseased. I’m much more comfy reading about people getting chopped to bits than getting kissed. That’s why I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I quite enjoyed this book. It would make a good holiday read, incorporating Thanksgiving and the lead up to Christmas. My main pet peeve, but this seems to be a fairly universal romance novel annoyance, is people trying to keep their relationship a secret and forgetting how to communicate.

Boomerang Boyfriend contains plenty of sweet and lovely bits. There’s plenty of introspection and just enough tragedy and heartache in everyone’s life (think death, grief and addiction) that ensures the romance isn’t all consuming, until near the end when I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room.

I loved that Delia stumbled upon some of her quirkiness out of necessity but then made it her own when she discovered a passion, and I enjoyed her snarky side. But girl, seriously? You don’t need to ask a boy’s permission to go out with a friend on a Friday night. Grr! And playing little word games like you don’t understand what he’s saying so he’ll kiss you? I may have just vomited in my mouth a little. Oh, and I’m so mad at her for ditching her friend date with Aiden when she knew how important it was to him after she’d already promised him she’d go.

OK, so maybe I’m more cranky with Delia than loving her but at least Chris Cannon made me care about her protagonists before I wanted to hit them over the head for annoying me. And Jack, jealous much? You and Delia only kissed for the first time, what, maybe four days ago and you’ve got your cranky pants on over her sitting with a boy at lunch she’s sat with for, let me think, the entire book? Not cool, Jack the Jerk.

I was really liking both Delia and Jack, even when they first started kissing. Then they started questioning their relationship and their stupid started showing. Is there something in ‘How to Write a Romance’ that says your protagonists’ brain cells must fall out of their ears each time they kiss? Moving on!

I adored Zoe and Jack’s grandma and wanted to hang out with her. I wanted to pull up a chair in the kitchen and chat with Zoe while she baked, and of course be her quality control test dummy for all of the yummies that came out of the oven. I definitely wanted to go to Betty’s Burgers for dinner, or maybe just dessert. Plus there are two adorable dogs in the story, Rocky and Buddy, who steal the limelight with their innate cuteness.

I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I’m actually interested in reading more of Chris Cannon’s Boyfriend Chronicles series. I just hope for my Kindle’s sake that the main characters don’t halve their IQ’s once their relationship commences. Seriously, has anyone got a thermometer? Oh, yay! She also writes paranormal novels!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC’s Teen Crush imprint, for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Working with her best friend’s brother at Betty’s Burgers, free-spirited Delia starts to see Jack in a new light. Not only has Jack-the-Jerk turned into a hottie, he’s even acting like a nice guy, who rescues dogs and knows how she likes her coffee. But if Jack is into her, then why is he keeping her a secret? Of course, if her best friend doesn’t approve, Delia could lose the only family she’s ever known.

Seeing Delia in her retro waitress uniform throws Jack’s world out of whack. She’s always been just another pain in the butt little sister … not a datable female. But she’s rockin’ the Pie Princess tiara, and even her hot-pink striped hair is sexy. What’s that about? He needs to get his head on straight, because artsy, funky Delia and her nonconformist ways don’t fit in his safe and ordered world.

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Black Bird of the Gallows – Meg Kassel

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly … Sorry, I kept hearing this song each time I read the title and music does feature in the book so it’s not completely out there …

The first thing I absolutely have to address about Black Bird of the Gallows is that cover. If you want people to need to buy a book without even knowing what it’s about, then it seems like L.J. Anderson from Mayhem Cover Creations is your go to person. I simply adore the cover design and use of colour. I want a huge framed print of this cover artwork for my wall so I can constantly admire it.

Now, where was I? Oh, the book. I really enjoyed it. What was it about? The birds and the bees, but not the way you’re thinking!

Angie has had it tough, spending a large part of her upbringing living in a van or at random mens’ places with her drug addicted mother. While she’s still haunted by her past, she now lives with her father, one of the most adorably sweet fathers I’ve come across in real life or the other real life (books). She has great friends, Lacey and Deno, and her very own secret identity as Sparo, a DJ in a nightclub.

The house next door has been vacant since a tragedy made it impossible to sell. However, one day a moving truck appears and lo and behold, Angie spies (literally, through binoculars) the new cute boy moving in next door with his family. Mystery cute boy with the dark eyes isn’t what he appears to be and as Angie gets to know him, she learns he’s not quite as human as he looks, and apparently he looks really, really good.

I loved the whole premise of this story. I’m a sucker for anything mythological so naturally I was drawn in by the origin stories of the tortured harbingers and Beekeepers. I wanted to know more about them though and I definitely wanted a backstory for the Strawmen. I’d love to read something from all of their perspectives that shed more of a light on them. Plus there’s indications there are other entities/creatures/part human part something else types in this world and I want all the details about them as well.

I had two favourite characters in this book. Rafette, who we spend a considerable amount of the book running from or on the lookout for, is someone I really empathised with. I found myself seeing the story from his point of view and didn’t view him as a baddie at all. Maybe it’s partly due to the soft spot I have for bees but my heart broke for Rafette and the pain he’s endured in his life. I need to know so much more about him! And best friend Lacey … supportive, intuitive and loving, yet willing to bash her best friend over the head with a golf club if that’s what it takes to keep her safe. I loved Lacey!

Tissues Used: 0, which surprised me as I came prepared. Although my icy cold heart experienced somewhat of an earthquake, none of the cracks melted into tears.

Food craved during reading: Pancakes. Oh, they sounded so delectably droolworthy.

Something I thought would be important to remember when reading or rereading: The names and stories of those you don’t think will come back into the story. I found sections of this book to be in the ‘six degrees of separation’ category where peoples’ stories linked together like one big crow shaped jigsaw puzzle. Prepare to get halfway through the book and go ‘oh, I remember them!’

Now for the niggles:

  • A minor thing, sure, but what’s Reece’s real name?
  • The insta-love frustrated me along with the whole ‘our love is destined to be doomed and we’ll both be miserable for all of eternity or for as long as we live (whichever is applicable) so we shouldn’t be together. But first, let’s kiss some more’.
  • Reece telling Angie that he’s been in love with her since they were six. Now, this would have been worthy of an aww if not for the fact that he would’ve been about 190, give or take a few years, at that stage which kind of morphed my aww into eww!.
  • The whole thing about the big ‘event’ when loved ones are being searched for. When they all meet up at Angie’s house after being separated did Angie not wonder or bother to ask Deno if his parents were alive or dead?
  • You know the whole horror movie girl victim/heroine who is always running up the stairs when she should be running out the door? I had that frustration with Angie. I kept wanting to yell at her to just leave! You can’t say she didn’t have ample warning time, yet she still managed to wind up caught up in the ‘event’ like everyone else. What use is fair warning if you don’t listen, sweetheart?

So, my rating. If I didn’t have this many niggles, the writing would’ve deserved 5 stars. The niggles and frustration I felt while I was reading would usually have made it a 3 stars but the writing was just so darn good. So I’m splitting the difference and giving this 4 stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Entangled Teen, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC, for the opportunity to read this book. I will definitely read future books by Meg Kassel.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full.

Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece — and he’s not human.

What’s more, she knows something most don’t. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

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Taproot – Keezy Young

I was drawn to Keezy Young’s Taproot by the paranormal story elements and the interesting use of muted colours on the cover. Both indicated that this graphic novel would stand apart from others I’ve previously read. While I’m used to graphic novels that are brightly coloured and full of action sequences, I felt like I was floating through a dream while reading Taproot.

Hamal has been able to see ghosts since childhood when he thought they were imaginary friends. Hamal works as a gardener at Mr. Takashi’s Flowers and has conversations with his ghost friends while he’s working, which causes his boss and customers to find him odd but he’s so good at his job that it doesn’t cause him any real problems.

I’m usually quite allergic to love stories but this one between Hamal, the gardener and Blue, the ghost was so sweet that my allergy didn’t flare up once. Blue was lonely when he first started hanging around Hamal. Blue was shocked to learn that Hamal could see and communicate with ghosts. A friendship formed between the two before blossoming into mutual love.

Besides his friendship and love with Blue, Hamal is also friends with two ghostie girls, Joey who is a child and April, a mischievous teenager. All three are in-betweeners, ghosts that for whatever reason haven’t moved on yet.

Something strange is happening in the spirit world. The ghosts are being pulled into a dark forest for short periods of time but no one knows why. One time Blue is pulled into this mysterious forest he meets a reaper who wants to make a deal. Will Blue make the ultimate sacrifice for love?

I did have a bit of trouble connecting all of the dots during my first read as there was a lot covered in a short story and it seemed to jump around a bit. I enjoyed my second run through a lot more and found it a much more cohesive and satisfying read, getting my head around connections I’d missed the first time.

I loved the use of colour throughout this graphic novel, with the contrast between a dominance of soft greens and blues in Hamal’s world and the harsh black and dull greys and browns of the forest. The colours and style of Keezy Young’s illustrations added to the overall mood of the graphic novel, something that would have been diminished had bright colours been used. I adored the continued use of flowers throughout the story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Lion Forge and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Blue is having a hard time moving on. He’s in love with his best friend. He’s also dead. Luckily, Hamal can see ghosts, leaving Blue free to haunt him to his heart’s content. But something eerie is happening in town, leaving the local afterlife unsettled, and when Blue realizes Hamal’s strange ability may be putting him in danger, Blue has to find a way to protect him, even if it means … leaving him.

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Es Halloween, Querido Dragon / It’s Halloween, Dear Dragon – Margaret Hillert

Illustrations – Jack Pullan

So, there’s an adorable dragon all dressed up for Halloween and holding a carved pumpkin on the cover. SOLD!

Es Halloween, querido dragón / It’s Halloween, Dear Dragon is a gorgeous little story for new readers, with all text in Spanish and English, with the exception of the activities at the end of the book which are only in English.

There’s word repetition and colour recognition, along with a Reading Reinforcement section at the end of the story to guide the adult in helping their new reader get the most out of the experience. Beginning with the boy and Dear Dragon raking up leaves, then taking the reader through a variety of Halloween preparation activities before attending a party and flying home on a broomstick, Margaret Hillert has written a simple yet lovely story that is appropriate for her audience.

With brightly coloured and engaging illustrations by Jack Pullan, our sweet little dragon is clearly the star of the show. The illustrations complement the text well and will make you want to add a dragon to your family as well, if you don’t already have one.

This is the first dual language early reader I’ve come across so I don’t have anything to compare it to but from what I can tell, this book delivers on its promises and has magical elements that will ignite your child’s imagination as well as improve their reading ability and comprehension.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Norwood House Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

An easy story, in English and Spanish, about a boy and his pet dragon that enjoy fall activities and celebrate a happy Halloween. Beginning-to-Read books foster independent reading and comprehension. Using high frequency words and repetition, readers gain confidence while enjoying stories about everyday life and adventures. Full-colour and updated illustrations included. Reading reinforcement activities and a word list in the back of the book. Activities focus on foundational, language and reading skills. Perfect for an early introduction to Spanish or for ESL.

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Magic Words: From the Ancient Oral Tradition of the Inuit – Edward Field (Translator)

Illustrations – Mike Blanc

Sparse in words but full of wonder, Magic Words is an Inuit creation story that has been passed down orally and then written as a poem, now translated by Edward Field and accompanied by Mike Blanc’s gorgeous illustrations. Aimed at children between 4 and 12 years old, children and their parents alike will enjoy this book.

Magic Words invites us to imagine a time when humans and animals shared one language, when humans could become animals and animals could become human. We’re shown the magic of words, the power of speaking something into being.

Just like Vanita Oelschlager’s forthcoming book Fish-Boy it was Mike Blanc’s illustrations that sparked my interest in this book. I’m no artist but there’s something about Mike’s style that makes me want to linger over each illustration and I don’t know if I can describe this accurately but it is as though there is both a simplicity and depth to his artistry. You can glance at a page and know it’s a beautiful image but as you look closer you discover more and more intricacies.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Vanita Books for the opportunity to read this book. Between Magic Words and Fish-Boy I’ve had a small taste of Inuit culture but I’m hungry for more and will be on the lookout for future publications by Vanita Books.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Magic Words: From the Ancient Oral Tradition of the Inuit is a modern translation (1965) of a very old Inuit creation story by nationally known poet Edward Field. As a poem it captures beautifully the intimate relationship this Arctic people have with their natural world.

Magic Words describes a world where humans and animals share bodies and languages, where the world of the imagination mixes easily with the physical. It began as a story that told how the Inuit people came to be and became a legend passed from generation to generation. In translation it grew from myth to poem. The text comes from expedition notes recorded by Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen in 1921. Edward Field got a copy from the Harvard Library and translated it into English.

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I Need a Hug – Aaron Blabey

I Need a Hug. Don’t we all?! OK, so today was library day!!! Recently I was told about the wonder that is Aaron Blabey by my awesome librarians and how popular his books are with the kids the librarians read to. So I figure if it’s good enough for the kiddies, then it’s good enough for me and my librarians haven’t pointed me in the wrong direction yet so I’m currently in possession of the first batch of Blabey books I ordered last week.

So, our sweet but prickly porcupine needs a hug so she asks her friends for one. They all run away screaming, scared of her spikes. Feeling dejected, our porcupine is still in need of a hug. All of the illustrations are gorgeous but the final one could surely melt the icicles encasing the coldest heart. Just goes to show that if we look beyond someone’s spiky exterior they may very well be hugworthy after all.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

‘I need a hug. Will you cuddle me, Lou?’ ‘What? With those spikes? Get away from me! Shoo!’ All this little porcupine wants is a hug. But with such prickly spikes, will she ever get the cuddle she craves?

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That’s Not My Witch … – Fiona Watt

Illustrations – Rachel Wells

This series of board books are just so adorable. I’ve borrowed every one that my library has in stock over the past month or so. Why? Because I can and because they’re just so darn cute. With bright pictures and sections of fuzzy, sparkly, soft and other touchy-feely bits on each page, they’re interactive and aww-worthy. Someone I know needs to have a baby soon so I can share the love. That’s Not My Witch has been published in time for Halloween so the next generation of trick-or-treaters can join in on the fun.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

A touchy-feely board book with simple, repetitive text, tactile patches and bold illustrations specially designed for babies and toddlers. Small children can meet a range of friendly witches and their accompanying brooms and cats, just in time for Halloween. Don’t forget to spot the little white mouse that’s hiding on each page! Part of an internationally successful series by bestselling author Fiona Watt, which includes more than forty titles and has sold millions of copies worldwide.

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Surf Riders Club #1: Ava’s Big Move – Mary van Reyk

Where was this book when I was growing up?! Girls are going to adore and be empowered by Ava’s story. This story is so sweet it may as well be coated in sugar but young girls love that!

I spent most of my childhood weekends and school holidays at the beach, reading until I got too hot, then swimming or bodyboarding until it was time to read again. Back in the olden days I didn’t see female surfers but longed to be one, even though I adored bodyboarding. Had I read this book as a kid I’m positive I would have had the confidence to ignore all of the boys in the water and claim my right to be a girl surfer.

When Ava finds out her parents are moving their family to Beachcrest to fulfil their longtime dream of opening a café, Ava is devastated. She can’t imagine not living in the city across the road from her best friend Sarah.

When Alex, the first girl Ava meets at her new school, tells her the school is offering surfing as a sport for the first time that year, Ava decides to join as well. Together with Molly, Janani and Bronte, they are the only girls to join the beginners class. Also in that class are a couple of confusing boys, James who used to be nice but isn’t anymore and nice boy Tom. My favourite character was prickly Bronte who appeared somewhat confused by her own desire to join in with this lovely bunch of girls.

Ava spends plenty of time practicing surfing with her new friends, waitresses at the opening night of her family’s new café, hosts a sleepover, and eats plenty of pizza and ice cream. I’m definitely craving pizza now…

To graduate from beginners to intermediate next term each surfer needs to be able to catch five waves in the final lesson of the term. Ava is anxious about the possibility of being left behind in beginners while all of her friends move up a level. What will happen when the big day arrives?

I love that this book is endorsed by Surfing Australia and really appreciated that while this is a great book about friendship, girls will also learn some useful information, including:

  • How to identify rips and what to do if you’re caught in one
  • How to bodysurf
  • Tips for choosing a good beginner’s board
  • Surfing lingo and etiquette
  • How your body needs to be positioned on the board to catch waves on both a bodyboard and surfboard.

While most of the sugary sweet sections had me thinking about how much I’d have loved reading that as a kid, one scene really annoyed me. Ava and her Year 7 friends are dancing around in the lounge room during a sleepover and her Year 11 brother gets home and joins in with the dancing. Huh? Really? I would have found this so much more realistic if the brother simply rolled his eyes and smirked at the girls on the way to his bedroom to escape the giggling.

Adding to my growing list of insults to store in my head for future use, telling someone they’re “the stink that lingers around a dead rat”.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Children’s Books, Australia for the opportunity to read this book. I’ll be continuing to read this series and look forward to getting to know Ava and her new friends better along the way.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Join the girls as they take on the world, one wave at a time!

Meet five very different girls with one thing in common: they’ve caught the surfing bug!

Ava has grown up in a big city. But everything changes when her parents decide on a sea change – they’re moving to the small town of Beachcrest to open a cafe. Ava will be starting high school that year, and now she has to say goodbye to her life in the city. Her new school is very different and Ava misses her friends. When she hears that surfing is going to be offered as a sport for the first time, Ava uses her snowboard skills to give it a try. Not everyone thinks she can become a surfer but Ava is determined to prove them wrong, and she’s making new friends along the way!

Ava, Alex, Bronte, Janani and Molly form the Surf Riders Club to help each other practise, but it quickly becomes much more than that. Whether it’s learning how to get barreled, problem parents or annoying boys, the Surf Riders Club are there for each other, no matter what.

Officially endorsed by Surfing Australia.

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Ruby Wishfingers #4: King of the Castle – Deborah Kelly

Illustrations – Leigh Hedstrom

I’ve read all of the Ruby Wishfingers books that have been published so far and really enjoy the positive characters, Leigh Hedstrom’s adorable illustrations and the imaginative storylines. I confess I’ve already read Ruby Wishfingers: King of the Castle but during my first read I didn’t find it as enchanting as the previous novels.

I was interested to find out if a second read would change my mind about this one or if I’d work out what put me off the first time around. I’m glad I did as it turned out I loved this the second time around and have concluded that during my first read I must have been having one of those ‘nothing is ever good enough’ critical days where I just needed to get over myself.

Ruby inherited her Wishfingers magic from several generations ago. When she’s granted wishes she feels a tingling in her fingertips and to use them she makes a wish and blows on the tips of her fingers. Ruby is a lovely girl and usually ends up using a lot of her wishes to help other people or to fix problems that arise due to the unexpected fallout from previous wishes. She’s learned to be very careful regarding what she wishes for and remembers that it is very helpful to always have a spare wish, just in case.

Ruby is not the only Wishfingers with magic. Granny inherited some magic as well and she is helpful in providing guidance to Ruby. Also, Ruby has recently discovered that her younger brother, Jellybean, has inherited some magic of his own! In the previous book, Hide-and-Seek, Ruby loses one of her wishes and it is still missing at the beginning of this book.

When Ruby gets mad at Jellybean after wasting three of her new wishes on remedying problems he has created, she manipulates Jellybean into doing whatever she wants by declaring herself Queen Ruby and playing a game of Queen Ruby Says with him. Cousin Todd comes to visit and with Ruby still on her power trip, she begins bossing him around. Todd finds Ruby’s missing wish and decides that no one will be able to tell him what to do if he’s the King of Australia. Chaos ensues!

I definitely enjoyed this book more the second time around. I love that there are consequences for any poor decisions made, lessons are learned and children apologise for bad behaviour without having an adult tell them they have to. I look forward to reading the fifth book, Funny Money, upon its release and am interested to discover how the twist at the end of this book is explored.

Thank you very much to NetGalley, Wombat Books and Rhiza Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Ruby is back, with twelve new wishes! And one missing wish from last spring that is still floating about in the garden somewhere …

Jellybean is once again making mischief for Ruby, until she discovers the perfect way to make her little brother do exactly what she says. But Cousin Todd isn’t so keen on doing what Ruby says.

When Todd stumbles across Ruby’s missing wish he decides to teach her a lesson about being bossy, and make a few rules of his own.

Meet Australia’s new king and explore a country where school, homework, manners and peas are all banned. Discover monster trucks, giant jumping castles, furious principals and hungry crocodiles along with plenty of laughs in an all new Ruby Wishfingers adventure.

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Tyrannosaurus Ralph – Nate Evans

Illustrations – Vince Evans

Can an ordinary kid become a heroic dinosaur?

After being taunted by a bully and getting flattened by a dinosaur, Ralph wakes up in a secret lab under a garage … as a Tyrannosaurus Rex! Professor Overdrive tell Ralph that his brain was put into the body of the T-rex and shows Ralph a message from King Clobberus Crunch who is demanding earth send their designated champion to fight in his gladiator style arena or else the planet will be destroyed. Professor Overdrive then drops the bombshell that Ralph is going to be earth’s champion!

Fights to the death with champion fighters from rival planets remind Ralph of when he and his friend Dave play video games fighting fantasy monsters, only this time it’s real. Thud! Crunch! Smash! Kaboom!

With a cast including aliens, a T-rex, a hunchback, a Professor and heroic kids (male and female), delicacies like pizza and blood grub pies on the menu, atom smashing wedgies, flaming farts, time travel, the threat of barf, and intergalactic gladiator fights, kids are going to have heaps of fun reading this graphic novel.

Along for the ride with Ralph and Professor Overdrive, we meet Lugnut, the Professor’s hunchback assistant, Joona, a girl alien who may be friend material, along with a host of cute, gruesome, scared and mean aliens all battling it out to save their respective planets from annihilation at the hands of evil Clobberus Crunch and his ugly minions.

Seasoned and reluctant readers alike will be drawn in by the non-stop action, the humour and the interesting facts about gladiators at the end of the story. The illustrations are brilliant – bright, full of humour and action themselves, and with the best expressions you’ll probably ever see on a dinosaur.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Tyrannosaurus Ralph is the story of fourth-grader Ralph, whose brain is uploaded to a T-Rex body by mad scientist and then is expected to battle in an alien arena to save Earth.

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