Roman, Dave, and John Green. Teen Boat: Race to Boatlantis.

Roman, Dave, and John Green.  Teen Boat: Race to Boatlantis.      Houghton Mifflin/Clarion      2015  150p  $14.99  ISBN 978-0-547-86563-8  ms  Graphic novel  E-BN

The sequel to TeenBoat!, this silly story about a boy named TB who transforms into a yacht whenever his ears get wet will be a hit with middle schoolers who want a fun story and bright illustrations.  They will laugh (or possibly roll their eyes) at all the boat puns throughout and crack up when they see the love story between TB’s mom and his long-lost dad, a submarine, whom he finds in Boatlantis.  TB is not a perfect character by any means, but he will be relatable whether he is in human or boat form.  The graphic novel can definitely be read as a stand-alone story.

Summary: TeenBoat (TB) is a yacht living as a teenage boy who transforms whenever his ears get wet.  He is going through the ups and downs of high school like any normal teenage boat would.  He has a crush, a best friend with a secret, a need to be popular, and of course a new TeenBot who shows up at his school who is not quite a yacht himself, but a captain’s chair.

Humor, Boats-Fiction                                        --Erin Daley

Roman, Dave, and John Green. Teen Boat!

Roman, Dave, and John Green.  Teen Boat!  Houghton Mifflin/Clarion  140p  $14.99 978-0-547-63669-6    ms/jr       VG      Graphic novel    

Teen Boat has a unique ability that separates him from everyone else.  He can turn into a boat!  A nice boat at that, where all his friends can fit.  The only problem is that if you are the boat, how can you have fun?  On the surface, being a teen boat sounds like fun, but when you are the boat, you cannot be in the boat.  Everyone has a great time except you.  People take advantage of you and you think they are being kind.  You can impress a girl, but then another boy comes and romances her while they are on your boat.  Doesn’t seem fair.  Well, maybe she was not meant for me.

Teen Boat has a few teenage problems and then he has a lot of boat problems.  It’s a strange concept that can be funny with all the teen problems added to the concept.  Romance, adventure, pirates, and bad accidents where a true love may or may not be discovered.  All of these elements are found in Teen Boat.

The book is beautifully illustrated and not at all expensive.  The colors are vivid and bright, and it has many funny moments.  Kids will like this book.  The concept of turning into a boat is a little strange, but the stories are good.             

Graphic novels, Fantasy, Humor                                    -- Magna Diaz