Our Book Reviews

Asha's new school is insane. Everyone has giant robots that launch out of their mobile phones! She's only been there five minutes when the school bully challenges her to a fight. So now it's not just about figuring out who's cool and who isn't. She has to learn to pilot her Mo-bot. And fast. But while Asha gets to grips with her Mo-bot's moves and customises her DMC, she's being watched...Her piloting skills are about to be put to the ultimate test, and there's nothing her new friends can do to help. This title presents thrilling titanic battles from the DFC Library.

Publication date 28th October

Review:  Asha is the new girl in school, with all the trials that can bring, like trying to fit in and make new friends. As if that wasn't bad enough, her mobile phone has a giant robot inside it, and there are some strange people speculating on her future.

The first thing to appeal about Mo-Bot High are the brightly coloured robots leaping out of the front cover, and such a promise of excitement may be a lot to live up to. Fortunately, the pages inside the covers are just as appealing, with an intriguing story that ensures you want to turn the page to see what happens next. Cameron's artwork is a fluid mix of traditional-looking linework and digital backgrounds which help the more bizarre aspects story blend nicely with the familiar parts that readers can relate to, and his eye for contemporary teenage fashion grounds the characters even more. Sometimes the colours look a bit off -- on several pages Asha looks green, although I think she's supposed to be Eurasian.

The characterisation can be a little oversimplified in places, which mostly works to comic effect, and probably works in favour of a plot that could potentially become complicated, as there is quite a large cast of characters to become familiar with. Fortunately, Cameron's plot and dialogue hits a decent pace, explaining things like the robot technology without ever dumbing down, or without giving too much away, which means it's never predictable and makes for a very entertaining read. The only trouble is that it ends on a cliffhanger, and I want to know what happens next!