An out-of-this-world new middle-grade graphic novel about a genius scientist and her evil nemesis—from New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor and cartoonist Jim Di Bartolo.
BILLIE BLASTER AND THE ROBOT ARMY FROM OUTER SPACE
by Laini Taylor
illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo
Amulet Abrams, August 2023
Don’t you hate it when your archenemy launches your latest invention into space, accidentally creating a robot army that falls into the clutches of an evil alien emperor? Well, that’s how Billie Blaster’s day is going!
The genius child of two famous scientists, Billie is an inventor extraordinaire and the star of the annual science fair, much to the disgust of her nemesis, Tiny Hector Glum. But now their rivalry has gone too far, and the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. Can Billie prevent an intergalactic war that’s kind of totally her fault? With her pet goat, Lucy, a giant robot head, and a toilet weasel from a distant planet, she might just stand a chance. Join them on their perilous adventure, in a spaceship without a bathroom.
Laini Taylor is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy and the Strange the Dreamer duology, among other books.
Jim Di Bartolo is a mixed-media illustrator, painter, visual storyteller, and writer. In his freelance career, he has illustrated novels, comic books, and role-playing games. Laini and Jim live with their daughter, Clementine, and two cats in Portland, Oregon, and have never accidentally started an intergalactic war.
Cheryl loves horses. She’s been studying thoroughbreds at her family’s horse racing stables since she was old enough to ride on the shoulders of her father, a famous horse trainer. Cheryl wants to be a jockey. One problem—she is a girl, and there has never been a Black female jockey in history! Jetolara is a young thoroughbred finding his place in the herd. When Cheryl literally falls onto his back, and Jeto sprints off across the pasture, Cheryl discovers that she doesn’t just want to be a jockey, she is a jockey—and she and Jeto were born to race. Together girl and horse make history and show everyone that once you learn to love yourself, the world is yours.
Twelve–year–old Fish—nicknamed for his skill as a swimmer—never intended to become a pirate. For starters, he’s just a kid from a poor farming family, and second, he absolutely hates to fight. But after his parents send him to work as a courier, one of his deliveries is stolen, and as Fish hurries to get it back, he’s captured by a ship of scalawags. And the mysterious package? It’s the key to locating the Chain of Chuacar, a legendary treasure. Swabbing the deck of the Scurvy Mistress, Fish will have to earn the trust of the fortune–obsessed captain and learn the ropes from the rest of the crew, including a boy encyclopedia on all things piracy, a tough–as–nails young thief, and a fearless girl with knives up her sleeves. Yet with mutiny on the horizon and a ruthless first mate testing him at every turn, Fish isn’t sure he’ll survive, let alone find the Chain. Armed only with wit, courage and determination, Fish leads his new friends in the fight of their young lives and a hunt for the hidden gold.
As Monster High prepares for its annual talent show, Frankie Stein is left wondering what they could perform. When Torelei Stripe mocks Frankie’s music playing abilities, Frankie is left even more confused about which of their brain parts is exciting enough for the talent show. Luckily, Headmistress Bloodgood presents Frankie with new information about their brain that might hold the answer. Except Frankie discovers that their brain part is from a disgraced scientist accused of unethical experiments. Plagued by dreams from the scientist’s life, Frankie teams up with Draculaura and Clawdeen to discover the truth about their past—and save Monster High in the process.
In this origin story, pygmy sloth, Romeo Fortez, is born on remote Escudo Island. At his naming ceremony, a once-in-a-millennium event imbibes him with powers of speed, intelligence, and irresistibly hypnotic good looks. When Romeo moves to New York he discovers that Professor Ian Weird-Warp, a geneticist obsessed with splicing animal genes together, has unleashed a gigantic mutant shar-wolf on the city. With the help of some new human and animal friends, Romeo forms a team of crime fighters to save the city from the evil Professor Weird-Warp and his mutant creation.