Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Reach for the stars in this exciting graphic novel about three ambitious, space-loving kids who must put their differences aside to save their summer camp before it closes...for good.

These graphic novels are so cute and fun! Definitely recommended for anyone who has middle school kids.

Val, Mark, and Pete all arrive at Camp Launchpad with very different expectations of how their summer will go. Val is thrilled by the idea of following in her astronaut mother's footsteps and cannot wait to experience everything camp has to offer. Mark is feeling disappointed that his father has chosen Camp Launchpad for him when there is a much fancier space camp where all his friends will be. Pete is at camp on scholarship and essentially wants to stay off everyone's radar. When the three are tossed together in a pod, they cannot seem to get it together. Of course, it will fall to them to try to save the camp when Val overhears a conversation that indicates that Camp Launchpad will close if they cannot win the annual Space Race.

This was an enjoyable read overall. The characters were relatively well fleshed out- though I feel like I know less about Pete than the other two main characters. That may just be a function of him being the more quiet of the three.
I enjoy camp stories and this is one I am sure my students will love!

The central elements here are pretty standard ones: kids at a summer camp with conflicting personalities have to find a way to work together to save their camp from a more privileged rival. Really, it's not doing much in terms of breaking new ground. The characters generally fall into expected types, especially the rivals. Really, though, that's okay. Because it's space camp. Rockets and drones and low gravity simulators are inherently appealing and provide a strong backdrop for those familiar themes. It's visually well designed with panels drawing our eye naturally down the page and balances text and action.

Today I had the pleasure of reading the eARC of Absolute Zeros: Camp Launchpad written by Greg Smith and Michael Tanner and illustrated by Gabrielle Gomez. This graphic novel follows a “pod” of campers at a Florida space camp called Camp Launchpad. Val, Mark, and Pete all come from different backgrounds and have their own unique reasons for spending their summer at Camp Launchpad. At first, it seems like the trio’s conflicting personalities will sour the whole summer. But with the training for the Space Race competition against other area space camps, and with the guidance from their experienced teachers, the kids begin to learn the importance of team work and trust. They don’t let one particular rival camp and its bullies stop them from reaching for the stars! I especially loved that there was an interview at the end with real NASA scientist, Dr. Darlene Lim! Look out for this one releasing March 5 😊

Camp Launchpad is at the bottom of the space camp totum pole and every kid who attends it is aware. The camp may be on its last legs but a pod of three kids who are nothing alike may come together to save it. This was such a FUN read with wonderful characters and a lovely journey of friendship and self discovery. I can't wait to read more from this author!

A fun sci-fi graphic novel!! About a space-themed summer camp with all the special activities. I love val’s enthusiastic personality and how the pod gradually came close. Such a nice read