Leonard, M. G. Beetle Boy.

Leonard, M. G.  Beetle Boy.  Scholastic/Chicken House  2016  270p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-545-85346-0  elem/ms  Fantasy  VG

Darkus Cuttle’s father, Director of Science at the National History Museum in England, has gone missing. Since his mother died previously, Darkus moves in with his eccentric Uncle Max.  In his new school, he meets new friends Virginia and Bertolt. Pondering his father’s disappearance, Darkus meets a mysterious and personable beetle. As he and his uncle investigate his father’s disappearance, Darkus becomes convinced that the beetle and his father’s vanishing have a connection. When he and Uncle Max encounter the wicked Lucretia Cutter, Darkus and his friends embark on a mission to save the newly discovered, exceptional beetles living next door and to find Darkus’s father.

This fast-paced adventure-fantasy novel will engage and delight young readers. Suspense builds on every page, and the reader will root for Darkus and his friends as they search for Darkus’s dad and for answers about the mysterious beetles they have found. As the first book in a trilogy, the novel has a satisfying ending; however, it leaves the door open for successive novels. It is a fun and carefree read that peaks curiosity. Leonard has done excellent research about beetles and offers a challenging vocabulary related to the jargon of “coleopteran” studies.

Summary: Darkus Cuttle’s father, Director of Science at the National History Museum in England, is missing; and, when Darkus moves into his eccentric Uncle Max’s home he meets new friends Virginia and Bertolt, who recognize his connection with beetles and make a pact to find Darkus’s dad and save the mysterious beetles.
     

Beetles-Fiction, Mystery-Fiction          --Virginia McGarvey

Hosler, Jay. Last of the Sandwalkers.

Hosler, Jay.  Last of the Sandwalkers.  Macmillan/First Second  2015  311p      $16.99  ISBN 978-1-62672-024-4  jr/sr  Graphic novel  VG-BN   

Lucy, a tiny one-and-one-half-inch beetle, leads a team into the world of the unknown.  Their travels and investigations provide the reader with humor, edge-of-the-seat tension, and some scientific insights into the world.  The story takes place in Colepolis, a community just like a human one.  It is a small community living underground on the edge of a desert.  As in most communities, the needs and desires of people vary greatly, and the story readily portrays the needs and traits (both good and bad) of various community members.

Lucy, the tireless leader of the scientific expedition, is fashioned after the beetle (Stenocara sp.) that lives in the Namib Desert.  Although she is only one-and-a-half-inch high, she is a tireless worker and supportive leader.  The team’s explorations and dilemmas allow readers to draw similarities to human communities in today’s world.

The black-and-white illustrations complement the text, and speech bubbles are artistically placed to provide little-known facts and interesting and useful information about the small world of Lucy and her friends.  The inclusion of chapter notes to further explain the science was a wonderful bonus.  Personally, I found myself enjoying the annotations as much as the graphic novel.  This is a well-balanced and attractive addition to the world of science in a graphic novel, through the eyes of some unique beetles from Colepolis.
                 

This is a well-written book that would make an excellent addition to any middle-school or high-school collection.  It is recommended for Books of Note.           

Summary: Lucy, a tiny one-and-one-half-inch beetle, leads a team into the world of the unknown.  Their travels and investigations provide the reader with humor, edge-of-the-seat tension, and some scientific insight into the world.    

Beetles-Fiction, Environment-Fiction                              --Linda McNeil