Okay, Karate Prom by Kyle Starks was funny, with the loving and the punching and the bowling. If I have to describe it in one sentence, it is if Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, 1990s teen Nickelodeon, and Scooby Doo made a book baby.
Never have I ever thought that ninjas, crazy ex-crime-girlfriends-currently helping her brother run the family-cartelle, teenagers, bowling and a high school prom would be so funny. By the end two things happened that I was very excited about (I won’t say exactly what it was, but true love does win out for a couple of couples and one not-so-bad guy (somewhat) finally puts on a shirt).
The main characters show that with a few well placed kicks, punches or kisses any obstacle can be overcome. Nothing is serious. If something bad could happen, it happens. Including a breakup of one couple. The illustrations are crazy, goofy, over the top, ridiculous and fun. There is color, busy details and a scene that is basically out of Karate Kid One. Nothing, but nothing (except the kitchen sink) seems to have been left out. It is packed with goodies.
Is this book going to be a classic? No. Will it be on the Top Ten Best books of 2024? No. But it will be a book that your 10 to 14 year-old will want to read. It is gender neutral as both a male and female character are the main characters, both are martial arts experts, the romance does not overpower the action and even though there are some really bad, bad guys, nothing really too horrible happens. If anything, things work out too well.
One small point though, due to the fight scenes, people do get big bruises, cuts, and there are action accidents (someone falls off a three story building), along with a couple dislocated shoulders. But honestly, I think I’ve seen worse in a Tom & Jerry cartoon. Also, I think this is the only younger graphic novel Starks has created.
Even though it is available, I did have an online reader copy that I read.
