It’s true what they say: You never really appreciate your annoying, nose-picking kid brother until he’s snatched by a giant robot.

But while most kids would simply shout for their parents and let the adults battle the brother-stealing ’bot, that’s not an option for 11-year-old Molly McQuirter.

Her mom left Far Flung Falls, Ohio, two years ago, whisked away in a van with a mystery man with a mullet. (It’s the’80s.) Molly’s dad still is there, though. Technically. Overcome with grief, depression and inertia, he’s too busy bingeing on TV shows and junk food to do much of anything else, including keep track of his kids.

Fortunately for Molly’s brother, Wally, (and for readers), our plucky heroine is a determined STEM girl, a creative problem-solver, and an inventor like her eccentric Gruncle (great uncle) Clovis.

After the robot lifts Wally from the backyard, Molly vows to rescue him. She gathers supplies (including her slingshot and fluffernutter sandwiches) and her delightful animal sidekicks—dog Darryl, cat Crank, and wild-eyed chameleon Don Carlos. Then, she jumps on Pink Lightning, her tricked-out bike, and pedals after the Wally-swallowing robot, even though it very well could be part of a Soviet plot against the US.

Soon, Gruncle, his pet armadillo, and two neighborhood boys are pulled into the search through the wild, wooded hills of southern Ohio. Young readers will cheer for Molly and her friends in this funny, heartfelt, and exciting adventure that offers satisfying twists up to the very end.

An action-packed romp into the heart and mind of a giant brother snatching robot! Set in rural Ohio with a nostalgic nod to the 80s, this book is for lovers of adventure, relatable sibling love/hate relationships, eclectic pets, tricked out bicycles and all things STEM.

What do you do when a giant brother-plucking robot comes to town and makes off with your annoying little brother? If you're twelve-year-old Molly, you go right after it with the help of your cat, dog, and chameleon, tricked-out bike, and a newfound friend. Set in the 1980s, this delightfully fun story creates a world of arcade games, Soviet scares, neglectful parents, and kids on wild adventures. It's full of heart and explores friendship and family in a nonstop adventure. Middle school kids will love it.

Summoning every ounce of early 80s nostalgia that's left in the world right now, Erik Jon Slangerup has mashed-up "The Goonies," "Iron Giant" and a tiny bit of "Adventures in Babysitting" to tell a Midwestern, Middle Grade, heavy-metal tinged tale that will thrill young reader (and older ones yearning for the days before cel phones and online everything).

The irrepressible Molly McQuirter has used her internal resolve and ingenuity to survive everything life in Far Flung Falls, Ohio has thrown at her; a booger-eating brother, a mom than abandoned the family, a father who's totally checked out, and a heavy dose of teasing at school. But when her annoying sibling, Wally, is suddenly abducted by a massive robot that towers over the trees, she views it as her responsibility to get him back. Packing up three of her favorite animal pals, plus a few flashlights and fluffernutter sandwiches, Molly takes off on her custom Pink Lightning bike, a gift from her inventor Gruncle. Following clues and facing dangers, Molly rides out into the hills of southern Ohio to rescue the brother she usually doesn't even want, and discovers a lot more about her own strength, and the friends she didn't even know she had.

Beyond the action, the considerable comedy and the inventive character twists, this book wins based on its palpable positivity in the face of real, hard things kids still deal with; loneliness, divorce, disappointment. This is the kind of book that kids will love because of the adventure, but will learn from without even noticing it.

Super fun, retro awesome, action adventure!
Molly is thrust into an epic quest to save her brother (and their relationship) when a giant brother-plucking robot steals him away from her. Astride her trusty Pink Lightning banana-seated bicycle, with her unique pets along for the ride, Molly faces a series of non-stop challenges that test her mettle, conviction, and assumptions. Throw in a quirky Gruncle Clovis and death-defying close calls, the adventures are sure to please young readers and keep them turning the pages. And "old" readers like me loved it too! With all the references to 80's culture, it was a fun slip-n-slide down memory lane. For fans of The Iron Giant with a dash of Ready Player One. Radical.

This adventurous and funny tale of a brother-plucking robot is filled with memorable characters and laughs while carrying an undercurrent of love and loss. The message of relying on true friendship & family when the going gets tough is woven expertly into a fast-paced race against a seemingly unbeatable foe. Throughly enjoyable; kids will gobble this up!!