Teleportation and Other Luxuries

In Bongiovanni's YA graphic novel, a science competition gathers diverse students to design and create a viable new invention. The Blamazon Corporation welcomes Tyler Risley as an entrant in its Teen Scientist Competition. He joins a team of four who'll live in a lab for six weeks and collaborate to invent something; members of the winning team will earn full college scholarships. Ty, the son of "rockstar scientists," is a shiftless rich kid who immediately clashes with teammates Gabby Thomson, L.J. Col�n, and Allegra Peabody. None of them can agree on what their collective invention will be. (If they produce nothing at all, Blamazon will send them home and require them to pay for their lodging, flights, and meals.) Ty's idea for a teleportation device may sound implausible, but it's one this team of young geniuses is willing to try. When their prototype turns out to be somewhat dangerous, should they disregard its shortcomings and go for the win or start over and risk total failure? In the cast of characters, Bongiovanni showcases a medley of backgrounds and personalities. Allegra, for example, is meek, brilliant, and, like Ty, trans; nonbinary Gabby takes any opportunity to share their pointed opinions on greedy corporations. Even their goals differ: Ty wants to appease his parents, who expect him to follow in their footsteps, and Gabby harbors their own secret agenda. The four spend pages butting heads or pondering their flaws. Their scenes of bonding (as when they sneak outside the lab) are the narrative's highlight, illustrating how distinct individuals can connect with one another. The character development, however, overshadows the story's SF element--their amazing device is a relatively small part of the story, and a hilarious montage of Ty testing the prototype is disappointingly brief. ("Let's fire this baby up! I plugged it in to drop me off in Hawaii!") Verhoeven's lively, cartoonish artwork brings everything to life with indelible settings (like the futuristic city outside) and the cast's exaggerated, sometimes anime-like expressions. An entertaining character study with shades of SF.

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November 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 The Implausible Visionaries are here, the genius goofs known for science and bickering. Let's give a blazing, brilliant, brainiac welcome to Tyler "Ty" Risley, Allegra Peabody, Gabriella "Gabby" Thomson, and Le�zaro Jos� Col�n (aka L.J.). They are competing in the Blamazon Teen Scientist Competition, fighting for a chance to blast off to college--for free. They just have to invent something mind-blowing, and they've landed on a true marvel: a transportation teleporter that, sure, might be impossible, but who needs research ethics when a full-ride scholarship is at stake? Bongiovanni writes about a bunch of queer kids struggling with the ethical implications of science, raising important questions about what technology can and should do, not to mention corporate greed. Verhoeven, with Lucas Gattoni and Dayn Brody, weaves together an energetic world awash with soft colors and cute characters; their exaggerated facial expressions match the high-energy tone of the story. Aside from the entertaining plot, this offers a strong model of how positive relationships can develop after times of stress and strife.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2024

Gr 8 Up-The Blamazon Teen Scientist Competition, a six-week challenge to create a lucrative invention for the dubious corporation, promises college scholarships for the winning team in exchange for full rights over their design. Four teens make up the Implausible Visionaries, a team determined to create a teleportation device despite the odds. There's privileged Ty, who is more interested in his social media presence than science; Kansas native L.J., whose diverse skills come from solving problems in his hometown; shy Allegra, who prefers outer space to people; and outspoken Gabby, who's only participating in the hopes of curing their sister's illness. When the team miraculously develops a functional teleportation device with a fatal flaw, they have to decide if the thrill of winning justifies how the corrupt Blamazon Corporation might use their imperfect invention. The engaging, colorful artwork, combined with the teens' budding friendships and well-developed back stories, brings heart and humor to this graphic novel. With frank discussions of corporate greed, the misuse of science, and abusive family relationships, Bongiovanni and Verhoeven's collaboration thoughtfully explores heavy topics while remaining hopeful. Characters are racially diverse, and the story includes nuanced queer and trans representation. VERDICT A story that highlights the strength of individuals uniting against a materialistic corporation, delivering a powerful message that's sure to delight teens.-Emily Yates

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