Monster Mayhem

Zoe has trouble making friends, but she excels at inventing robots and getting lost in classic monster movies. When she stumbles upon a magic ring, it summons a giant, building-eating monster, nicknamed "Chomp," to be her friend. It also calls to Chomp's pals, who begin to arrive and cause widespread destruction until Zoe, her classmates, her robot assistant, and her new monster friend find a way to protect the city. Through her confrontation with the monsters, Zoe makes friends and learns what it means to trust and collaborate with others. Cartoon art by Eliopoulos (the Ordinary People Change the World series) renders the monstrous antagonists menacing but not entirely terrifying, while Chomp is round and friendly looking, with a protruding lower tooth. This fun, relatable tale captures how children can lose themselves in interests to distract from feelings of loneliness and isolation. While the story occurs in the same universe as Eliopoulos's Cosmic Commandos, it also works perfectly as a standalone. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)

Gr 3-6--Zoe, a young black girl, is too busy building robots and watching movies about kaiju (giant monsters) to have friends. Besides, getting close to other people can lead to heartbreak, as she knows from painful experience. Zoe keeps to herself at the Advanced School of Technology, and in her free time she escapes to the abandoned amusement park, where she is building a robot so big that she can sit inside to control its movements. When she finds a ring on the ground and puts it on, her dreams of kaiju come to life. The first creature is friendly, but more keep appearing, and they want to eat all the towering buildings. Zoe realizes it's going to take more than just her, her robots, and one friendly kaiju to save the city. Maybe relying on others isn't such a bad idea after all. While the magic ring ties this book to Eliopoulos's Cosmic Commandos, it easily stands alone. The simple panel design, clear black linework, and vibrant color make the tale inviting and accessible. The theme of the importance of friendship and asking for help is a bit overdone, but the story is so fun that readers won't mind. VERDICT With robots and giant (and cute) monsters, this is a surefire hit among younger graphic novel fans.--Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library, IL