  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 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 - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 10/01/2017 Avani hates Flower Scouts: they only talk about makeup and boys, while she’s eager to barrel race in the local rodeo. Luckily, she gets a reprieve from pop music and glitter when she’s accidentally teleported to space by Mabel, an alien Star Scout eager to fit in with her own troop of Star Scouts. Miraculously, Indian American Avani is fantastic at Star Scouts, which gives her exactly the kind of rough-riding adventure she’s after (though it’s more intergalactic than she imagined). Soon she leaves Earth behind to join Mabel at the Star Scout jamboree, where conflicts between methane-breathers and oxygen-breathers put Avani’s skills to the test. Lawrence’s high-flying, action-heavy space adventure has dynamic, full-color artwork to match, and his inventive aliens, blocky spaceships, and glittering spacescapes add lots of playful sci-fi atmosphere. Cartoonish reactions from Avani and her alien friends, as well as a few gloppy slapstick gags, are deployed with fantastic comedic timing. With a diverse cast of human girls and lots of supportive friendships at its heart, this gratifying comic will please fans of Craig Thompson’s Space Dumplins (2015). - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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