The League of Lasers

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 9, 2018

Review

The second book in the Star Scouts graphic novel series is jam-packed with action, fascinating new creatures, amusing robots, and some of the best alien hair in comics today. Avani has been asked to be in the elite Star Scouts group The League of Lasers, but in order to join, she has to pass a test requiring her to survive on a possibly-hostile planet. Her over-achieving navigation system gets Avani marooned on a planet but within a Bermuda Nebula that does not allow communication. Fortunately, Avani is not the only Star Scout who crash landed on this planet; unfortunately, the other Scout is Pam, Avani's nemesis. The two must work together to communicate with the natives, finagle a ride on a rocket, and get off this planet, and this is the best part of the book. What started as an adversarial relationship of a Mean Girls proportion shifts to a relationship of give-and-take and appreciation of the skills of the other. Lawrence's sci-fi adventure story deftly explores the difficulty of friendships and mirrors the feelings of many middle grade readers. The end of the book has the promise of more adventures and a double-page spread on the creator's process which will be of interest to young GN enthusiasts. A recommended purchase particularly if you have or can add Book one.

Overall Book Score: very good