The Thief and the Sword
(Cleopatra in Space #2)

Gr 4-7—Cleopatra is back for more galactic adventures. In the opening scene, a foreign spaceship is infiltrated by a young thief using a series of daring and skillful maneuvers to defeat scores of troopers. The action then shifts to the futuristic Planet Mayet, where young Cleo and her talking cat now reside. Cleo, outfitted in a cheerleader-style space outfit with a cobra headband over multicolor bobbed hair, possesses a fearless and impulsive attitude. These attributes, along with her ray-gun skills and predetermined status as heroine of the universe, make her a popular teen classmate. Maihack's characters, both human and nonhuman, are diverse, expressive, and visually distinct. With action varying from tumultuous chase scenes to quiet secret meetings, the book skillfully uses color to impart mood. This title is suitable for fans of Ben Hatke's "Zita the Spacegirl" series (First Second) and Jeffrey Brown's "Jedi Academy" (Scholastic) who are ready to move on to older characters and more complex images. Younger devotees of Jeff Smith's "Bone" (Scholastic) may also it. VERDICT This full-color adventure series is recommended for public and school libraries.—Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA