ALA Booklist (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Twelve-year-old Mace Blazer spends every spare hour in the TURBOracer simulator at the arcade, dreaming of one day racing a real trimorph: a high-tech vehicle that transforms from racecar to aircraft to submarine in a futuristic sport best described as a NASCAR triathlon. When Mace unexpectedly gets to pilot one of the most famous trimorphs in TURBO history, under the tutelage of its mysterious former driver, he can't believe his luck. Mace is soon pitted against three other promising hopefuls to earn a spot in the biggest race of the sport (as the only son of Deaf and overworked parents, Mace can't ignore the prize money at stake). But his new coach may not be as benevolent as she seems, and she expects Mace to do whatever it takes cluding play dirty win. This new series opener from Aslan (The Islands at the End of the World?, 2014) is an exhilarating read that doesn't compromise on fun in its exploration of integrity and friendship. Heartily recommended for fans of sf and sports books alike.

Kirkus Reviews (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

A 12-year-old gets a shot at glory in a high-tech, motorized extreme triathlon—but everything has its price.When not tinkering with mechanical engineering projects, Mace Blazer lights up the leaderboards in TURBO arcade simulations. In TURBO races, vehicles morph among land, sea, and sky forms for various legs of the complicated, wild races. After finding out about a traveling exhibit with a restored, legendary, crashed-too-soon first-generation trimorpher called Event Horizon—just in time to miss it—Mace takes a risk to see the craft in person. The unintended consequences (which include a police chase) lead Mace to Event Horizon's legendary, mysterious pilot, Quasar, who invites him and three other top simulation performers for a summer of training. Quasar promises entrance in the Gauntlet Prix to the best of them. Coloradan Mace (default white and fluent in ASL due to growing up with Deaf parents) is joined by Japanese-American Aya, Dex from the Dominican Republic, and white Norwegian Henryk. They must compete against one another in the face of elimination and dismissal as the legendary racer teaches them to do anything to win. Mace must decide if he should do it Quasar's way or play it honest—either alternative holds heavy consequences—and discovers that TURBO's future depends on his decisions. Intense, impeccably paced, bonkers-awesome international race sequences provide clarity without sacrificing tension or becoming repetitive—and, more importantly, compensate for the formulaic setup.With flash, spectacle, and tough character choices, an all-around, full-throttle read. (Science fiction. 8-14)

School Library Journal (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Gr 4-7 Twelve-year-old Mace dreams of TURBO racing professionally, a sport where competitors drive crafts that transform between a roadster, a jet plane, and a submarine. When Mace sneaks from his house to the airport to visit one of the first TURBO crafts, Event Horizon, he can't resist climbing in. From there Mace is trapped inside and instructed to fly to Denver, where he's offered the chance to compete against three other kids for a spot in the Gauntlet Prix, where the winner will race on behalf of the long-lost TURBO legend, Qasar. When Mace meets his three competitors, Aya, Henryk, and Dex, they learn that Qasar is actually Tempest Hollande, owner of the TURBO sim company, Hollande Industries. Mace is eliminated from Tempest's competition, but realizes that Tempest is in favor of cheating and will risk the lives of her pupils to have fame and fortune. With the help of his family and friends, Mace is determined to win the Gauntlet Prix and show the world Tempest's true character. The plot sets a pace so quick that readers will speed through it, with twists and turns as intense as those on a racetrack. Aslan nicely incorporates diversity throughout, with characters from different cultural backgrounds, and, although it's not a major focus of the plot, Mace's parents are deaf, and the novel explains the difference between "small-d deaf" and "big-D Deaf." Some of the character development and arcs are a bit too pat: Mace acknowledges his misgivings in clichéd terms, his family unquestioningly teams up with him, his school enemy becomes a genuine friend, and rude Henryk apologizes for his behavior. Additionally, the rhyming of Mace and race can be a bit grating. VERDICT A good fit for large middle grade collections, particularly where books about racing are in high demand. Liz Anderson, DC Public Library