Boy vs beast: Air beast by Mac Park

This is a boy-friendly sci-fi fantasy involving boys who battle beasts from other realms. It is deliberate in being simple in language and sentence construction, so would automatically appeal to readers who are not yet adept at tackling complicated plots and details, but want action and are switched on by fantasy battles against ‘dinosaur-like’ beasts. It is an easy read chapter book with few chapters. With technology to assist, and a robotic dog, there are lots of features that add twists to the action  ‘fight scenes’. A section of the plot is told via graphic novel illustration in one chapter. I  can’t say I loved it … but it does have a place in meeting the reading demands of some young readers.

This is definitely a book for readers who are at risk of switching off to reading, appealing to those aged 5-7. (Beyond this age it would suit those who are struggling with their reading.) It will not meet the needs of capable readers, the simplicity in sentence construction will feel very clumsy for able readers. There is the occasional hint of humour, but the impossible scenarios are inherently bizarre rather than funny. Those readers that love graphic novel style may be enticed to read this simple story. (A brief introductory section details the premise of Boys vs Beasts series, and introduces characters.)

Themes: Fantasy battles, Beasts, Graphic novel.

Carolyn Hull