Author: Christopher Eliopoulos
Illustrator: Christopher Eliopoulos
© Date: 2018
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Pages: 211
Chapters: Yes
Illustrations: Yes, graphic novel
Publisher Recommended Age: 8-12 years
Bonus Activities at End of Book: No
Summary from Book: Zoe’s favorite thing to do—besides invent amazing robots—is watch classic monster movies. She has never been comfortable with kids her own age, and so she pretends she doesn’t need friends, while inside she’s lonelier than she wants to admit.
One day on her way home from school, Zoe finds a mysterious ring. She puts it on, gives it a twist, and—FRZAKK! There’s a massive burst of light!
The next morning, a familiar monster appears at Zoe’s window. He’s from one of her favorite kaiju movies, and he wants to be her friend. Has her secret wish been fulfilled? But it turns out that the magic ring has brought more than just this friendly monster to life. More monsters have arrived, and they are hungry! Zoe needs to come up with a brilliant plan—and find a squad of heroes ready to help her save the city.
Note: This review is done from memory. I originally read this awhile ago.
Page Pig Thoughts: This one was a sweet story about a girl with robotics skills that learns good friends make your life better. Even if making friends does not come naturally or easily, they can still be made and are worth the effort. I loved the cute illustrations, particularly the monster and robot friends.
Page Pup gave this one thumb up.
Family Unit: Zoe lives with her mother, father, and triplet younger siblings.
Items of Interest:
- Zoe has the gift of being an amazing robotics designer/creator.
- Zoe hadn’t made friends with other kids her age. One day at school, another girl seems to become her friend. Then a potential misunderstanding or saving face incident from the other girl means that Zoe has no interest in having friends anymore.
- Zoe stubbornly tries to do every single thing herself. She also secretly has been building a large robot in an abandoned amusement park.
- Zoe’s parents don’t have much time for her because her triplet younger siblings take most of the time/effort of her parents. Her mother wants to do more with Zoe, but the triplets always seem to have something going on.
- Zoe steals a robot part from her classroom.
- Zoe’s monster friend saves her from potential drowning in the ocean. Zoe was concerned that B-4, her robot buddy, would not recover from the water. She was relieved when he came back as himself.
- In the end, Zoe discovers that she needs help. Her classmates come to her rescue and help her out.
- Zoe’s teacher also identifies a shortsighted flaw in Zoe’s plan to save the day, so her teacher gets help from someone (Zoe’s dad) to solve the small problem.
- After they all save the day, Zoe and her classmates become friends. Zoe seems much happier.