August 15, 2018
Sam Wu has the perfect plan to prove that he's brave: embark on a bold adventure, get a "trusty companion," and defeat the ghost in his home! After an INCIDENT that has people calling him Scaredy-Cat Sam, Sam's efforts to prove them wrong take on a life of their own. His solo trip to space derailed, Sam finds himself the owner of an enormous snake and the unwitting host to some supernatural activity--probably the Ghost King! But with his best friends, Zoe (the fastest and tallest!) and Bernard (the smartest!), and Lucy ("a pretty good little sister," sometimes), Sam just might be able to handle it all. Sam's crises tread a well-worn path, but his authentically funny voice still appeals (while purchasing a KILLER SNAKE: "Oh, there's no need for me to hold it!...I can tell that is a high-quality snake"). Reluctant readers and fans of the Wimpy Kid series and its ilk will appreciate the book's dynamic type, graphics galore, cartoonish illustrations, and ironic footnotes. Though some characterizations read a bit rote (athletic Zoe is darker-skinned, while brainy Bernard is white), Sam's mortification during his Chinese family's meal of roast duck and turnip cake will resonate with anyone who has ever felt different.Funny but not groundbreaking, a solid purchase for those looking to diversify their early chapter book collections. (Fiction. 7-10)
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September 1, 2018
Gr 2-4-Sam Wu loves outer space and science-fiction TV-and he's desperate to prove he's not the scaredy-cat his classmates think he is. So when his class goes on a trip to the local space museum, he accepts a dare to ride a rocket simulator that's for adult riders only. And he suffers embarrassing consequences as a result. More determined than ever to demonstrate his bravery, Sam is aided by his friends Bernard and Zoe in adopting a snake and hunting down a ghost that lives in his closet. When Sam soaks his sheets in pickle juice or constructs a special ghost trap, readers are sure to be delighted, but adult readers will see his true act of courage occurs when his friends come to his house for the first time. Amid worries about what Zoe and Bernard will think of the food his mother serves for dinner, Sam stands up for his favorite Cantonese dishes, and his friends enjoy them. It's a nice bit of cultural reflection that isn't seen often in literature for this age group; many readers will appreciate it. VERDICT Fans of Alvin Ho and Hank Zipzer will laugh out loud at Sam's zany capers.-Katherine Barr, Cameron Village Regional Library, Raleigh, NC
Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2019
Sam Wu is out to prove he's brave like his TV heroes on Space Blasters. He even gets a pet snake (though Fang is pretty scary...). But, hopefully, ridding his home of a ghost should make everyone forget the unfortunate (pants-peeing) "incident" for good. This well-written story about courage and maturation weaves in details about growing up in a multi-generational Chinese family and is illustrated with bold, expressive cartoons.
(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)