Comics & Graphic Novels, Children - Fiction & Literature, Fiction - People, Places & Cultures
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Overview
Akiko and her crew–Spuckler Boach, Mr. Beeba, Poog, and Gax–are competing in an intergalactic race from one side of the universe to the other. Along the way they have to make it through the narrow passages of the Labyrinth of Lulla-ma-Waygo, the notorious Almost Black Hole of Luzbert-7, and the deadly Jaws of McVluddapuck. All Akiko wants to do is make it back to Earth in one piece!But when Spuckler discovers that his old rival Bluggamin Streed is also in the race, winning becomes the most important thing. And Akiko quickly finds herself caught up in the competition. Who will go home with the celebrated Centauri Cup?
From the Hardcover edition.
Akiko's spaceship race from one side of the galaxy to the other is complicated when Spuckler discovers that an old rival of his is also competing.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
The titular heroine and friends vie for the coveted Centauri Cup in an intergalactic race in the latest series adventure Akiko and the Alpha Centauri 5000 by Mark Crilley. Akiko's greatest concern is their safe return to Earth, but when fellow traveler Spuckler discovers he's racing against an old rival, winning becomes his obsession. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
In this episode of the burgeoning Akiko corpus, we find Akiko time shifted in to a space ship race with her comical alien pals, Spuckler, Poog, Mr. Beeba and Gax. The many fans of Akiko will be engaged as ever with this rag-tag band, but more surprisingly, a newcomer can begin here also without missing anything. If there is an everyman in graphic novels for youth, it is Crilley's ten-year-old heroine Akiko. Thoroughly likable, with a feminist and multicultural undercurrent, Akiko seems to exist in an already enlightened world, where a young Japanese-American girl assumes that she can claim her place in any adventure. It is recommended that librarians purchase both the graphic novel versions and these chapter books, each is appealing to a different sort of reader and the chapter books have more room for text. Don't be surprised to see these flying off the shelves. 2003, Delacorte Press/Random House,— Kate Pourshariati
Gr 3-5-Japanese-American grade-schooler Akiko is scooped up by her former spacefaring buddies: the seedy space tramp Spuckler, brainy but befuddled Mr. Beeba, robot Gax, and floating-dot creature Poog. These cosmos-cruising misfits have entered a cross-galaxy race and need to program the new navigational computer that Spuckler has added to soup up his rickety spacecraft. Unfortunately, the user's manual is written in Jabblenese, a language they mistakenly believe Akiko can read. After all, she has led them through trouble before. Since there is no time to return her to Earth before the race starts, she goes along for the ride. But, when Spuckler's old enemy Bluggamin Streed enters the field, the race threatens to turn deadly and Akiko begins to wonder if she can even get her shipmates to the finish line alive. Based on the highly successful graphic-novel series (Sirius Entertainment), the story clearly shows its comic-book roots: fast-paced, episodic plot action; anime-inspired cartoon illustrations; and descriptive sound bites ("FWUUUUUUUUM!"). Familiarity with the earlier books is helpful but not essential.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Book Details
Published
February 19, 2009
Publisher
Random House Children's Books
Pages
176
ISBN
9780307510761