Lucky Scramble introduces readers to seven different characters representing a variety of backgrounds and ages who all are competitive speedcubers. As they make their way to the national championship event in Las Vegas, the backstories of each competitor unfold. Their stories intersect as they face each other during the competition, where they’ll need to persevere and overcome obstacles to win the championship.

For those who aren’t familiar with the world of speedcubing, the book provides an introduction to the world of competitive cubing. The book’s hybrid format that includes a combination of narrative content and graphic novel style panels will engage readers who might be reluctant to dive into a completely narrative text. The fast pace and dramatic competition angle will keep readers hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book to read and review.

The narration style drove me crazy--I guess it was supposed to be a sportscaster narrating everything going on, but it just felt silly and preachy. The partial graphic format was also jarring, and I didn't like how I couldn't tell what was true cubing history, and what was made up for the book. I think this would have been stronger as a nonfiction book about competitive cubing.

Tyler Goodman is a competitive cuber and although he has qualified for the National Speed Cubing Championships in Las Vegas, the prospects of getting there are slim. Things have been tight for him and his mom ever since his dad, who introduced him to cubing, died. Luckily, Tyler is offered a sponsorship by CubeMania, enabling the two to head to Vegas. At the same time, six other speedcubers are headed to the Championships, each with something to prove. There's Dirk, the favorite to win National Champion for the third year in a row. Twins, Lizzy and Izzy, have always cubed in the exact same way at the exact same times--until one of them starts to go off on her own. An eight-year-old prodigy and his pushy dad, as well as Miles Oldman, an old man, and the first American to solve a cube in under 40 seconds.

What worked for me: The fast pace and moving between characters helped this book move quickly. I also enjoyed learning about competitive cubing. I didn't know anything about that world until I read this book.

What didn't work for me: Some of the characters were genuinely unlikeable and a little TOO one-dimensional. Naming your hero "Goodman", a fast character "Speedman" and an old character "Oldman" was also a little much for me.

A unique story about competitive rubik cube solving. Told from five different perspectives, from multiple ages, genders, and background, this is a quick read with half novel half graphics. It was fun to read but so much of this book was just explaining rubik's cubes and the competition process that I didn't really feel like I got to know the characters all that well. Also, two of the stories featured such distasteful characters that I wanted to skip over them because I could not like Dirk or Eli's dad. There's a hopeful message about being yourself and never giving up, but it just felt so weird and like it had to happen the way it did. I think grade school kids who are interested in puzzles will like this though, and the style allows for easy reading which makes this a good hi-lo book.

After Tyler Gooden’s father passed away, Tyler’s Rubik’s Cube became an unexpected source of comfort. In just a couple of short years, Tyler’s persistence and dedication catapulted him to the top of the regional championships because of the speed with which he can solve his cube. Unfortunately, Tyler and his mother do not have the funds to attend the national championships in Las Vegas, so Tyler decides all he can do is continue practicing. But when a surprise email lands in his inbox, Tyler finds himself flying across the United States to compete with the greatest hands in the country, and he must be brave enough to give the competition all he has despite the odds. This middle grade novel is an entertaining blend of a traditional narrative and a colorful graphic novel. By presenting the story in this way, the novel is able to dive deeper into the character development while giving the plot the momentum it needs. Though there is not much in the way of depth to the storytelling, the overall presentation feels like a high-stakes speed competition and readers will be anxiously making their way to the end to discover what happens next. Readers who are cubers themselves will be especially drawn to this story and its messages, but even readers who have never solved a Rubik’s Cube will appreciate the dedication and commitment people must have to become skilled at this activity. Engaging and with a positive overall message, this is a fun and unique addition to library collections for young middle grade readers.

I have not read a book quite like this before. It's excellent for second through sixth graders in content with a graphic novel format that's appealing to this demographic. An interesting hobby of solving speed cubes evolved into a Speed Cubing national championship. This hobby appeals to all age groups, but this particular novel focuses on six competitive cubers, mostly a younger demographic, and their path to the Speed Cubing National Championship in Las Vegas. Whether they're learning lessons of individuality, humility, or ethics each competitor has their own story that intersects with the others. Overall this story is irresistible and keeps you hooked through the end. You'll finish it quickly and may be inspired to pick up a 3x3 speed cube of your own! Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this title.

This was an original book; I haven't come across many that are about rubik's cube competitions. I like the balance between the GN format and paragraphed text. There was a nice focus on good sportsmanship, but not in a corny way.