School Library Journal Starred Review (Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)

Gr 2-5 Leo Geo is back in another science-based adventure, joined by his brother, Matt Data, in a nifty flip-over format. Leo learns that a large comet is on a collision course with Matt's orbital science facility and blasts off to save his astronomer brother. When Fizzcom, his supercomputer, malfunctions, Leo must survive a black hole, space pirates, and a crash landing before he can stop the comet and be reunited with his sibling. On the flip-side of the book, Matt finds out that Leo's computer has a bug and sets off with his genius dog, Maff, to reboot it. Matt and Maff share information about satellites, comets, and other astronomical bodies they pass on their way to the remote broadcast station. When Maff is kidnapped by space pirates, Matt uses his scientific knowledge to get her back and to finally find Leo. Science, adventure, and comics are perfectly blended in this kid-friendly story. The bright, detailed, full-page panels are covered with strange creatures and planetary objects that will catch and hold young readers' attention, and the scientific information is simply presented and well-integrated into the dialogue. The varied layout of the pages, vertical and horizontal, and the "search engine," a hunt for specific objects throughout the book, encourage engagement with the story. This is a great offering for graphic-novel enthusiasts or kids looking for a fun read.— Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

There's trouble in outer space, and brothers Leo Geo and Matt Data must fix it. This book is constructed as two-in-one: on one side you get Geo's perspective on the jumbled and fantastical journey to save a space station; flip the book over to hear from Data. The two meet at the center. Real space facts are peppered throughout the highly detailed panel illustrations.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Starting at opposite ends of this follow-up to Leo Geo and His Miraculous Journey Through the Center of the Earth (2012), the intrepid explorer and his space-based scientist brother Matt Data trace looping paths through crowded spacescapes toward each other. Before they meet in the middle, both encounter black holes, white holes, wormholes, asteroids, space pirates and some distinctly more unusual "space sights." Hidden among improbably thick floating clouds of aliens and miscellaneous detritus are such items as "someone taking candy from a baby," "a double-ended feline ferocity" and "some cute cookie thieves"--all detailed on preliminary lists inside the covers. Readers who carefully trace the science-minded sibs' circuitous pathways will be rewarded with a nonstop barrage of chases, battles, goofy sight gags and silly details. They'll also enjoy numerous meaty minilectures on topics astronomical, from how multistage rockets work and types of asteroids and stars to algebraic formulas for computing gravitational attraction and escape velocity. "I thought we were goners for sure," proclaims Leo as he and Matt exchange a high-five at the volume's center point. "But luckily I had good, sound science on my side!" Don't leave home without it. (Graphic fiction/nonfiction. 9-11)

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Starting at opposite ends of this follow-up to Leo Geo and His Miraculous Journey Through the Center of the Earth (2012), the intrepid explorer and his space-based scientist brother Matt Data trace looping paths through crowded spacescapes toward each other. Before they meet in the middle, both encounter black holes, white holes, wormholes, asteroids, space pirates and some distinctly more unusual "space sights." Hidden among improbably thick floating clouds of aliens and miscellaneous detritus are such items as "someone taking candy from a baby," "a double-ended feline ferocity" and "some cute cookie thieves"--all detailed on preliminary lists inside the covers. Readers who carefully trace the science-minded sibs' circuitous pathways will be rewarded with a nonstop barrage of chases, battles, goofy sight gags and silly details. They'll also enjoy numerous meaty minilectures on topics astronomical, from how multistage rockets work and types of asteroids and stars to algebraic formulas for computing gravitational attraction and escape velocity. "I thought we were goners for sure," proclaims Leo as he and Matt exchange a high-five at the volume's center point. "But luckily I had good, sound science on my side!" Don't leave home without it. (Graphic fiction/nonfiction. 9-11)

ALA Booklist (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Leo Geo is happily puttering around the Fizzmont Institute for Rad Science when he gets some alarming news from his trusty computer, Fizzcom: a comet is headed right to the Fizzmont Orbital Science facility, where Leo's brother, Matt Data, lives! Determined to rescue him, Leo hops in his spaceship and sets out to help his bro. Meanwhile, at the other end of the book, Matt Data has detected a fatal error in Fizzcom's programming: soon he will malfunction and start performing bad experiments instead of rad experiments. So Matt sets off in his spaceship to save Leo from his renegade computer. Where do they meet? Right in the middle, naturally. But not before explaining propulsion engines, supernovas, and a handful of other science concepts, all while battling space pirates (of course). Chad's frenetic and lushly colored illustrations depict Matt's and Leo's riotous romps through space as a universe of tiny details swirls around in their wake. Another rollicking, playful science adventure, following Leo Geo and His Miraculous Journey through the Center of the Earth (2012).