Terradon. (Boy vs Beast. Battle of the Worlds). Mac Park. Illustrated by Melanie Matthews, Lionel Portier and James Hart. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2011. 76 pp., pbk., $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4431-0748-8. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Robert Groberman. *** /4
	Tornados. (Boy vs Beast. Battle of the Worlds). Mac Park. Illustrated by Melanie Matthews, Lionel Portier and James Hart. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2011. 76 pp., pbk., $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4431-0750-1. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Robert Groberman. *** /4

excerpt:

Kai and BC were in the rock land. It was hot and dry. There was a rock and dirt everywhere Kai Looked. But no beast. Maybe I got it wrong, thought Kai.Kai kicked down on his overboard. He flew just above the ground.

Nothing but rock, thought Kai. Where is the beast?

Suddenly, BC shouted, "Noise attack!"

I can't hear anything," said Kai. Then everything went dark. Kai heard a buzzing sound. And it was getting louder. (From Terradon.)

These two books, by Mac Park, are from a series of four novels for beginning novel readers. The stories are about a 12-year-old boy named Kai who is a border guard on a futurist planet that man and mega-beasts once shared.

      After many battles, the planet was divided. Humans live in the area of the planet called "Earth," and mega-beasts live on the rest of the planet called "Beastium." A border wall between the two areas was created to keep the beasts out of Earth. Five boys like Kai are the border guards. They are training to become border masters like their dads. The boys’ dads help them during battles with beasts. If the boys do well, they are rewarded with battle gear upgrades and new battle gear. Likewise, beasts that do well receive more power and new battle attacks.

      In Terradon, Kai and his robotic, speaking dog BC must battle a Terraminisaur that, according to the computer analysis of its Beast ID card, has transformed into Terramegasaur. With the proper weapons and assistance from his dog, Kai is able to prevail.

      In Tornados, Kai battles a Tormegadactyl, a flying monster. Later he’s faced with a Tormaxidactyl. Children will recognize the growing menace of these enemies from their size in the illustrations, the increasing power and energy on the illustrated power cards and the familiar “mega” and “maxi” descriptors in their names.

      Many premises of these books seem borrowed from video games or a power card games which late primary-aged kids love. These books should catch their imagination. Each story pits Kai against a different beast. In a scene that is wonderfully illustrated with detailed weapons, he goes to the guard centre to choose his weapons. The beast is introduced by an illustration of its power card, showing Strength, Attack Power, and Speed. For the climactic battle scene in each book, the novel's format changes from standard print with illustrations to four pages of complete graphic illustrations. It is a transition that is both surprising and welcome. What better way to show an action sequence to young readers than by using the technique of the graphic novel? Illustrators Lionel Portier, Melanie Mathews and James Hart have made it possible for young readers to really fall into the story.

Recommended.

Robert Groberman is a grade two teacher at Kirkbride Elementary School in Surrey, BC.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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