Nerds want school funds to go to a robotics competition but cheerleaders want the cash for new uniforms - the solution? Entering the nerds’ robot – The Beast – into the Robot Rumble to try to win the $10k first prize so everyone’s covered! Nothing can possibly go wrong…
Prudence Shen and Faith Erin Hicks’ book is a fun, if unremarkable, little number. The tone of it at the start with the cheerleaders’ exaggerated power, not to mention Hicks’ art style, is tres Scott Pilgrim – derivative but if you love that series as much as me you won’t mind.
The student election at the start was a bit overlong to get us to the next part and the story as a whole was largely predictable – you can easily see how Charlie’s absent parents thing is going to be resolved and that the broad characterisations (nerds, jocks, cheerleaders) are going to be subverted, not to mention the tension-less question of whether or not their plan will succeed. It feels very John Hughes.
But it speaks to Shen’s writing that, despite that, it’s still an entertaining-enough read. Charlie and Nate’s friendship was convincing and cute without being mawkish – ditto the growing up themes of characters overcoming cliques and getting closer to their true identities. The humour is a tad forced and mostly unfunny though Hicks sells the hell out of it with her awesome art.
Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong will appeal most to teen readers but even as an adult (and former Robot Wars viewer) it’s still a decent and breezy book.
No comments:
Post a Comment