The grabbem getaway by Adrian C. Bott
Ill. by Andy Isaac. Axel and BEAST series. Hardie Grant Egmont,
2016. ISBN 9781760127800
(Age: 7+) Recommended. What happens when a giant shape-shifting
robot BEAST crash-lands in Axel's garage? Twelve-year old gamer
Axel's life changes dramatically. One minute, he is battling
BAGGER_63 in the Tankinator Arena using his skill, stealth and
knowledge and the next he is off on an amazing action-adventure with
his new friend BEAST. The young gamer lives with his single mother
Nedra a motor mechanic, who home schools Axel because of the
bullying he suffered previously. When Axel, Nedra and BEAST sit down
to discuss the robot's fate, a holographic projection - a 3D image
of Agent Omega appears on the robot's chest. With his wise guidance
and some technological transformations, Axel and BEAST are ready to
fight the enemy.
Axel climbs inside the clear panel on the robot's chest and steps
into a clear, magnified world. Everything the BEAST senses, Axel can
sense, the words appear in front of him and describe the object,
material, history and the robot's abilities to utilise them. Flying,
accelerating, dodging missiles launched by the Grabbem pilots in
their flying ships, Axel is in his element, employing his gaming
strengths. Ingenuity and creative problem solving allow Axel to best
use BEAST's shape-shifting abilities to outwit the enemy.
Themes of having a go, standing up to bullying, courage,
resourcefulness, friendship and loyalty are included in this
action-packed chapter book just right for tech-savvy readers. Both
Axel and BEAST are well rounded characters: the robot has a gentle
nature, is fearful at times although he is really built to destroy
others. Rusty Rosie, the junkyard owner is also a key character
whose crane-driving skills play a vital role as well. Andy Isaac's
graphic cartoons bring the action to life - the shape shifting as
BEAST's SKYHAWK shoots into the sky like a rocket and the junkyard
scenes with the enemy ships tied up in cables.
Axel and BEAST is a great junior novel to read to children
who enjoy robots, technology and gaming. This book is captivating
for readers with a high-interest and low reading level and is a
great read-aloud class novel. Challenge the class to write their
next adventure, develop and publish a short graphic novel or utilise
a graphics program to design a similar range of robots.
Rhyllis Bignell