When a planet that hosts a nonhuman civilization is doomed, can explorer Finn Caspian save the day?Finn Caspian, the first child born in space and the Chief Detective for Explorers Troop 301, lives aboard the Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station. This first offering in a proposed series drops readers right into the action as Finn and his friends and troopmates Abigail Obaro, Elias Carreras, Vale Gil, and Foggy the robot are tasked with preventing the imminent explosion of a planet inhabited by nonhuman individuals with four eyes apiece, no mouths, and translucent heads. The kids are soon split between two factions on the doomed planet and unsure whom to believe. Will the group manage to resolve their rift and work together again? Inspired by the podcast of the same name, this heavily illustrated, fast-paced, and plot-driven tale is high on action but slim in character development, perhaps gone missing in translation from one medium to another. Finn, who presents White, is the oldest member of the group but not its leader; dark-skinned, decisive Abigail is. Even though she's the captain, Abigail doesn't receive much attention from the author, leaving her a one-dimensional vehicle who constantly propels Finn. Elias and Vale also appear to be kids of color. Sequel The Accidental Volcano publishes simultaneously.A clever concept that falls flat. (Science fiction. 7-10)

Gr 1-3 In this early reader chapter book, a young troop of interstellar space scouts explore both a new planet and the limits of their friendship. Finn and his best friends are the children of astronauts. The four kids and their robot sidekick are tasked with finding a planet that humans can inhabit. On the first prospective planet, they meet Doug, a manipulative alien who convinces them that ne'er-do-well bunnies are set to destroy his planet, and that an explosion is imminent. But the lone remaining bunny tells a different story, and is desperate to escape the despotic Doug, who can plant messages and images in the minds of those around him. Finn and his friends have to decide who to believe and how to help. The tension is high between Finn and his friend Abigail, the scouting group captain, because they both want to be in charge, and their plan of action is complicated further when Doug uses his mind-control powers to split the troop. Reminders of the countdown to explosion set an exciting tone, and colorful descriptions of the planet being explored are both vivid and entertaining. The fast-paced plot dabbles in high stakes problems, but the narrative remains lighthearted and at times downright silly, as do Bitskoff's cheerful illustrations, sprinkled throughout the text. Messinger has written a book for beginning readers that impressively tackles how kids can express their emotionswhich also includes a thinly veiled metaphor for climate change and individual and societal responsibilitybut manages to keep the tone merry throughout. VERDICT Finn and friends learn that teamwork means not doing everything yourself and that relying on each other's specialty areas and strengths makes them stronger as a troop. Highly recommended for juvenile fiction collections. Lauren Younger, Univ. of Dallas Lib.