Ultra Violet: Down to Business (Cristy Burne, illus Rebel Challenger, Larrikin House)

Ultra Violet: Down to Business is the first in a new junior graphic novel series with a hilarious—but very scientific—premise. Violet (a science genius who wears a lab coat) and her best friend Izzy (a cheery conspiracy believer) are desperately trying to fix the broken toilets at their school because today is the day of the school’s famous bean-eating competition. With only a few hours up their sleeves (and a visit from an alien!), Violet puts her science brain to the test to come up with a solution. Everything turns disastrous when Violet’s ‘Butt sucker’ machine malfunctions, and the pair (with Violet’s amusing sidekick Leonardo da Pinchi, a talking hermit crab who loves cheese) end up trapped in the sewer. Author and science communications writer Cristy Burne wastes no opportunity to introduce the science of fatbergs (and all the absurd things that get stuck in them) and structure the story around scientific methods and experimentation. Encouraging and representing girls in STEM, Ultra Violet: Down to Business is a fun read for both keen and reluctant readers aged 7+, with vivacious characters and gross situations brought to life by Rebel Challenger’s zany illustrations. A brilliant combination of graphic novel and science, this is an impeccable read for kids curious about science, toilets, poo, friendship and what happens with little adult supervision.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Clare Millar is a writer, editor and children's bookseller. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Reviews