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mskrzydlinski's review against another edition
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
4.0
A group of students are in space at the Astronaut Academy, learning about science, math, how to properly float in space and (for at least one student) how to throw a fireball that could save your life. Each short chapter focuses on one character's perspective, and through the course of the book we become familiar with many residents at Astronaut Academy. The main one is Hakata Soy, who truly does sport a fantastic hair-do, which leads some of the girls to swoon. Some flashbacks from Hakata's previous adventures are shown, so we learn who he was as well as getting to see his emo side at school.
This title is compiled from a web comic called Astronaut Elementary, and I am pleased to see it released in a graphic novel format. It felt Japanese-inspired to me, and this helped its appeal. As an example, two girls are talking in the foreground about a third girl, who happens to be close enough behind them to hear them. She looks properly dismayed, and signage over her head reads "*overhear*". Plus, most of the characters have Japanese names.
I highly enjoyed the artwork and the silly, inter-connecting story lines. There are crushes, there is middle-school drama, there is saving-the-planet style adventure. And humor, plenty of humor. I noticed a number of references (lyrics, cultural events from the past,e tc.) that made me laugh, but I wondered if the intended audience would "get it". Then again, I don't care, since it made ME laugh, and tweens will enjoy this book on their own terms. It's like when a Pixar movie throws in a line that cracks all the parents up that the kids don't really grasp, yet they still find it all funny. My younger son (10) really liked it, and said he wanted to learn more about Hakata's life before he came to the academy. I don't know if there are any prequels, but I am certainly going to check. Recommended!
This title is compiled from a web comic called Astronaut Elementary, and I am pleased to see it released in a graphic novel format. It felt Japanese-inspired to me, and this helped its appeal. As an example, two girls are talking in the foreground about a third girl, who happens to be close enough behind them to hear them. She looks properly dismayed, and signage over her head reads "*overhear*". Plus, most of the characters have Japanese names.
I highly enjoyed the artwork and the silly, inter-connecting story lines. There are crushes, there is middle-school drama, there is saving-the-planet style adventure. And humor, plenty of humor. I noticed a number of references (lyrics, cultural events from the past,e tc.) that made me laugh, but I wondered if the intended audience would "get it". Then again, I don't care, since it made ME laugh, and tweens will enjoy this book on their own terms. It's like when a Pixar movie throws in a line that cracks all the parents up that the kids don't really grasp, yet they still find it all funny. My younger son (10) really liked it, and said he wanted to learn more about Hakata's life before he came to the academy. I don't know if there are any prequels, but I am certainly going to check. Recommended!
lannthacker's review against another edition
3.0
A comically literal style of dialogue sets this graphic novel apart. A variety of narrators within the world of Astronaut Academy will also appeal to young graphic novel readers.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
3.0
I warmed up to this a lot as I went. At first, I didn't really get it - it feels like a homage to manga, not only in style, but in vocabulary and speech patterns. I'm not a reader of manga, so I kept trying to figure out if it was actually a rough translation of something from Japan, or something. But after a while, I got mostly used to the affectation.
This is a series of slices of life and/or character studies of the students and employees at Astronaut Academy. As we went along, I was impressed by the subtle depth of the characters, and the way each story interwove with the rest of the world. Some impressive world-building here. This would be a great book to include in a "graphic novels are harder to read than you think" booklist.
This is a series of slices of life and/or character studies of the students and employees at Astronaut Academy. As we went along, I was impressed by the subtle depth of the characters, and the way each story interwove with the rest of the world. Some impressive world-building here. This would be a great book to include in a "graphic novels are harder to read than you think" booklist.
shicklin's review against another edition
Graphic Novel
The Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity by Dave Roman chronicles the lives of the students at a space school. Hakata Soy, former space hero, is laying low at the academy, but unfortunately he cannot remain hidden for long, a robotic doppelganger has been sent to annihilate him. We also meet other students and hear about the ins and out of their life at space academy including the rivalries and romances. This is the first in a series.
My students may not know, but I am not a die-hard graphic novel fan when it comes to my own reading. I have a great collection in my classroom, and I have many favorites. I love Babymouse books by Jennifer Holm, and The Lunch Lady series by Krosoczka (although I am not sure why the bad guys are always teachers, librarians, or authors), and I love the graphic retelling of Greek Myths. This GN was a little more difficult to get into—but I raced through it because my son was chomping at my heels. I think he had a better opinion.
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Lexile Level: 700L
(Scholastic.com)
The Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity by Dave Roman chronicles the lives of the students at a space school. Hakata Soy, former space hero, is laying low at the academy, but unfortunately he cannot remain hidden for long, a robotic doppelganger has been sent to annihilate him. We also meet other students and hear about the ins and out of their life at space academy including the rivalries and romances. This is the first in a series.
My students may not know, but I am not a die-hard graphic novel fan when it comes to my own reading. I have a great collection in my classroom, and I have many favorites. I love Babymouse books by Jennifer Holm, and The Lunch Lady series by Krosoczka (although I am not sure why the bad guys are always teachers, librarians, or authors), and I love the graphic retelling of Greek Myths. This GN was a little more difficult to get into—but I raced through it because my son was chomping at my heels. I think he had a better opinion.
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Lexile Level: 700L
(Scholastic.com)
mattm7n's review against another edition
4.0
Read as part of nightly reading ritual with my 10 year-old son, Spawn[1]. Off-the-wall, seemed to be written like it was a translated manga -- at least, my brain kept wanting to make the dialog sound that way when I read it.
Spawn[1] is anxious to get his hands on the second book.
Spawn[1] is anxious to get his hands on the second book.
sandraagee's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. The writing in this book is really weird, kind of like a bad translation from another language. Unfortunately the book was written by a (presumably) English-speaking American, so I don't know what's going on there. The story is light and fun enough if you can muddle through the language.
quietjenn's review against another edition
2.0
A little too cartoony - in terms of action, not art - for me. Cute, though.
renatasnacks's review against another edition
4.0
What a funny, weird little story! I don't really know what I thought this was about, but I wasn't expecting it to be so gleefully goofy. Great for tweens-adults, includes a diverse & adorable cast of little space students who take classes in stuff like "Anti-Gravity Gymnastics" and "Driving Dinosaurs." More than anything this reminded me of Scott Pilgrim Jr, but in space.
Also I would just like to mention that there is a panel where a robot speaks entirely in Tori Amos references: "Caught a light sneeze, but at least they didn't ruin my precious things. But it looks like I'll be putting the damage on." I feel like this book's intended audience probably does not appreciate that joke, but I would like to take a moment here to acknowledge it.
Also I would just like to mention that there is a panel where a robot speaks entirely in Tori Amos references: "Caught a light sneeze, but at least they didn't ruin my precious things. But it looks like I'll be putting the damage on." I feel like this book's intended audience probably does not appreciate that joke, but I would like to take a moment here to acknowledge it.