Children's Literature - Marilyn R. Garcia

Twelve-year-old Rory Greeley heads off to middle school like it’s any other day—except that his mother has not been seen since the alien attack that leveled parts of central Metropolis and the Wayne Tower where she was attending a top secret meeting. Afraid to be taken away if anyone finds out she is missing, Rory decides to find her using the sensor-equipped robot he built for science class. Meanwhile, Dr. Barbrius Aesop, Rory’s uncle, escapes from the Arkham Asylum for the criminally insane and wants to find Rory’s mother, too. Dr. Aesop tricks Rory into helping him steal secret files from the robotics division of WayneTech. Alarms at the WayneTech laboratory alert Batman, who arrives to find Rory hovering above the laboratory. Rory escapes from the laboratory and rejoins Dr. Aesop in an abandoned factory. There, Rory learns the doctor’s evil plot and finds his mother being held prisoner. Batman tracks them and uses his crime-fighting gadgets against an army of laser-firing drones. Clark Kent stumbles into the scene, looking for a blockbuster story for the Daily Planet newspaper and, as Superman, flies Rory and his mother to safety. Batman returns a stunned Dr. Aesop to the asylum. Comic fans will certainly enjoy this original companion novel, which continues the friendly rivalry between atman and Superman. Readers will laugh at the ridiculously evil yet simple-minded villains and be secure in the inevitability of the good guys defeating them. Rory’s school experiences, including a first crush, feel authentic. Kogge appropriately allows the young protagonist to actively participate in solving the crime and rescuing his mother. Readers will enjoy the action-packed scenes and appreciate the inclusion of kid-designed robotics. Reviewer: Marilyn R. Garcia; Ages 8 to 12.