Razorbites (Robo-Runners) by Damian Harvey
| Razorbites (Robo-Runners) by Damian Harvey | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Keith Dudhnath
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| Summary: A rip-roaring adventure of four robots in search of contentment. It's pacy and dramatic, but suffers (as all series do) from a cliffhanger ending that means you either have to buy the whole series or none of it. | |
| Buy? Maybe | Borrow? Maybe |
| Pages: 112 | Date: April 2009 |
| Publisher: Hodder Children's Books | |
| ISBN: 978-0340944882 | |
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We pick up book 3 in the Robo-Runners series with Crank, Al, Torch and Grunt driving through the Wastelands. As in all past and future books in this series, they're in search of Robotika - a safe place for old robots. When they run out of fuel, Bouncer and softie (human) Quill are kind enough to give them a lift, but are they everything they appear? What will they find in the colosseum they're heading towards? And what should they make of the deadly Razorbites that can tear a robot to shreds in seconds?
Razorbites is a rip-roaring adventure. From first page to last, every word is dedicated to the action. Any... well, let's stereotype... boys who aren't interested in those boring things like emotions and the way people interact with each other, will find Razorbites is ideal for them. A leads to B, which leads to C, which leads to D. It's all very exciting, especially as it deals with robots. The story is detailed enough for it to interest slightly older confident readers, yet still direct enough to be accessible to all. The characters are writ large, the foreshadowing telegraphed enough to be clear, but not patronisingly spelled out.
This was my first experience of the Robo-Runners series, but I didn't feel left out. I was quickly brought up to speed (although I didn't quite get why they were searching for Robotika, other than it being a nice place). As with any series, it's best to start from the beginning, but it's good to know that you don't have to. What I was less keen on - as with all series - is the cliffhanger ending, designed to sell the next book. By highlighting the episodic nature of the overall tale, it lessens the impact of THIS episode. It's a criticism that isn't exclusive to this series, but it bears comment.
If you're willing to buy the whole series, Razorbites and its fellow books are excellent for adventurous boys. They'll enjoy the toned-down Mad Max world, the jolly romp, and the quirky characters. The series continues in Aquanauts.
My thanks to the publishers for sending it too Bookbag.
Robot fans won't go far wrong with Dot Robot by Jason Bradbury. For a pacy adventure with a more sciencey twist, check out Felicity Frobisher and the Three-headed Aldebaran Dust Devil by Marcus Chown. Slightly older readers will love The Sky Inside by Clare B Dunkle.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Razorbites (Robo-Runners) by Damian Harvey at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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