Review by Booklist Review
For some kids, space camp is a dream come true. For others, not so much. It's a new season for Camp Launchpad, but with money dwindling and the rival camp Star-X threatening to buy them out, this could be the last season of Launchpad. Val, Pete, and Mark, an unlikely trio, are thrust together as podmates, initially worlds apart but destined to unite. As their friendship blossoms, so does the camp's promise. In this charming and nerdy graphic novel, Gomez's art skillfully captures the essence of Launchpad, filling the pages with scenes of the gritty, repurposed gear the campers use. Smith and Tanner, creators of Junior Braves Apocalypse, offer a thrilling summer-camp story that explores resilience and teamwork in a fun setting. Will the absolute zeros triumph in the Space Race competition against their rivals and rescue Camp Launchpad? Can they overcome their differences to work as a team? A strong choice for space enthusiasts or those who liked Jeffrey Brown's Once upon a Space-Time! (2020) or the Lumberjanes series.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Previous collaborators Smith and Tanner (the Junior Braves of the Apocalypse series) craft an inspiring journey that chronicles the travails of an unconventional summer camp experience. As seasonal heat radiates in swampy Florida, the stakes couldn't be higher for the future of the once-bustling space program Camp Launchpad, which is in dire straits and facing fierce competition from a flashier, hipper rival camp. Aspiring campers Val, Mark, and Pete might be just what the camp needs to get back on the up-and-up. The trio, who are portrayed with varying skin tones, are united by their shared dream of cruising among the stars; Val wants to follow in her mother's footsteps and become an astronaut, Mark yearns to live up to his U.S. vice president father's high expectations, and Pete merely wants to enjoy the camp as much as possible, grateful to be attending despite his family's low income. Heartwarming visuals by Gomez skillfully complement the thrilling narrative, a celebration of the unwavering spirit of youthful dreamers and a pleasant escape in which readers are encouraged to pursue their own ambitions, never give up on their goals, and to face challenges head-on. Ages 8--12. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5--8--Camp Launchpad, once cutting-edge, is now a run-down tween space camp, especially compared to the well-funded competitor camps in Florida. Despite Fred, the camp director, making efforts to maintain a positive experience for young science nerds, Camp Launchpad is on the brink of closing down at the end of the season. Randomly selected as podmates--Val, the eager daughter of an astronaut; Pete, the timid, observant scholarship kid; and Mark, the son of the Vice President of the United States--don't exactly hit it off right away. Fred places a bet on the Space Race, a competition among all of the space camps, that will either fund his camp or shut it down. The race gives the podmates a chance to get to know one another and build a connection. Through strong characterization, this graphic novel demonstrates the power of friendship amid the pressure to succeed. The authors offer a diverse range of characters, providing readers with relatable experiences and opportunities to connect with characters. Further, this text highlights the positivity of mentorships, pairing each camper in the pod with an adult mentor. Gomez's cartoon-style illustrations offer great depth to the mood and tone of each scene. Panels are varied from spread to spread, offering variation and flow that match the pace of the plot. VERDICT This quirky graphic novel, with its unique characters and space-themed adventures, will interest young readers and belongs on all library and classroom shelves.--Angie Jameson
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Three kids attending a run-down space camp in Florida learn valuable lessons, even without all the fancy gizmos. Camp Launchpad, which has seen better days, welcomes a group of young summer campers, including new podmates Mark Maxon, who reads Black, is the vice president's son, and is good at flying drones; brown-skinned scholarship recipient Pete Duarte, who's handy with tools; and aspiring leader Valerie Hermans, who appears white and whose mom is an astronaut. The Launchpadders must put up with unreliable technology, bad food, and a pool that has an alligator living in it. How can they compete in the annual inter-camp Space Race when they're up against slick, glamorous, well-funded competitors? Fortunately, they have dedicated adult trainers in the forms of Dr. Rhea Hae, a NASA mission planner who's cued East Asian, and Colonel Gage McGuff, a Black military pilot. They help prepare the campers for all the disastrous things that can occur during a space mission. With each activity they fail, Mark, Pete, and Val learn to function better as a team, developing selflessness and mutual trust. Their obnoxious rivals turn their pod name, A-Zero, into "Absolute Zeros," but they don't let the bullying stop them from doing their best--and even trying to save their camp. The cartoonlike art, clean backgrounds, and bright palette support a fast-paced story that weaves in interesting space facts. An appealing and uplifting underdog tale. (interview with a NASA scientist) (Graphic fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
