Siblings Tuck and Celine are facing a new adventure. They and their parents go into suspended animation to ride out an environmental crisis, but when the kids awake, their parents are gone! Can they learn to survive and cooperate using their knowledge of science? This volume in the Howtoons graphic novel series is fictionally fun, though it lacks the nonfiction punch of the original. Though Tuck and Celine's adventures seem to be dramatic and slightly silly, the tale still ends with a great twist. Fans of the first volume, which was heavy with DIY projects and experiments, might be disappointed by this latest installment, since the layouts are cramped, there are a few editing errors, and the activities seem less kid-friendly than in the previous book. (Adults will want to supervise most.) Though kids are unlikely to care about the essays on energy that close the book, the icons denoting different types of energy, which are sprinkled throughout the text, are useful and unobtrusive. A solid, if not perfect, addition to DIY, STEM, and general science collections.

Gr 4-9 This science-based adventure story simultaneously teaches about principles of energy and delivers an environmentally friendly lesson. Because of an energy crisis, Tucker and Celine's parents put their family into a state of suspended animation. Tucker and Celine wake up alone, with their parents gone. To survive this postapocalyptic world and its inhabitants, these knowledgeable siblings must build kid-friendly projects, such as a wind turbine, a solar cooker, and a go-kart. Step-by-step instructions and warnings for each device are included. The materials needed for each project varies. Each example features icons denoting what kind of energy this project represents. An icon glossary provides further explanation. While the story has an energetic pace, it stalls at the instructional sections (casual readers can skip over these). Aside from this misstep, the factual elements are flawlessly incorporated, jargon is used only as necessary, and the writing is accessible. Visually, this is an appealing tale, featuring expressive, somewhat wacky character designs that inject plenty of humor. VERDICT A strong teaching aid for lessons on energy that makes science fun. Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ontario, Canada