cbr15bingo On the air: Spaceship in space because a signal from an old robot friend is sent back to Earth that starts Billie’s adventures
Billie Blaster and the Robot Army from Outer Space is a good solid 3.5 rating. It was not “OMG Best book ever!” but I enjoyed it. The humor is typical kid, there is a message (though maybe slightly glossed over), and there is a fun premise (though I really really wish there was a particular room on the spaceship….) Overall, ages 8 and up can enjoy and be amused.
I do not think I have read any of Laini Taylor’s novels, though I have probably read a short story or two. But I know they are a terribly popular young adult author of fantasy. And while Billie Blaster is fantasy (her parents are scientists who have invented some out of this world insane things, and there are aliens, robots, and spaceships) this feels a lot less serious. In fact, I would say this book is very much not serious. At all. Sure there is the idea of Billie winning all of the science fairs not because she was actually good at her science projects (not to say she was bad by any means, but maybe her rival Hector’s inventions were actually more practical, or useful), but because she was popular, and had a famous, wealthy family. And there are aliens wanting to attack Earth. But there are also octopus-legged-like toilet weasels. TOILET WEASELS for goodness sake! A weasel that is IN your toilet plumbing! And Jim Di Bartolo did his due diligence and made us toilet weasels, miniature dictators, crazy pigeons, robots and more. I read via an online reader’s copy, so I am not sure how the final results will be, but in mid-August 2023 I will be finding a copy. 
And a quick mention of Jim Di Bartolo’s illustrations. My online reader copy was not complete by the looks of things, but they are silly, goofy and just fun. They fit the tone of things well and are imagery that kids will like. Colors will be good, and allow things to be for kids who like science fiction and humor (or one or the other). It is a good read that readers will probably read multiple times. They will go onto sequels if they have them, but since there is a set up at the end for more adventures. And when they are done you can go onto the Hilo series by Judd Winick series (if you have not already read them, or are waiting for Hilo book 10 due in February 2024 you can read Billie).
