Book review: Ready for Action, by Brian Lynch, illustrated by Edwardian Taylor

Lynch, Brian. Ready for Action. Illustrated by Edwardian Taylor. (Toy Academy series, book 2). Scholastic Press, 2019. $14.99. ISBN 9781338149166. 185 pages. Ages 7-10. P7 Q7

Tempest Boomcloud, an action figure, has been forgotten and is in a carton next to discarded toys. She uses her battle glove to tear through the packaging to escape. Meanwhile, at the Toy Academy, students are getting ready for a parade to celebrate Elite Action Force Now’s twenty-fifth anniversary. A vital part of being an action figure is being a sidekick. Grumbolt, a stuffed animal, gets chosen to be Rex’s sidekick. Rex is a bully and no one wants to be his sidekick. Grumbolt decides to be the very best sidekick so that Rex will appreciate him. No such luck! Rex adores his van and doesn’t care about Grumbolt. Key Bee, a key chain, is the action figure and Micro is his sidekick. Micro does not respect or believe that Key Bee can amount to anything since it is a key chain. When Tempest enters Toy Academy and steals Rex’s van with Key Bee in it, the true adventure begins. Written from the action figures’ points of view, with short chapters and line drawings, this book realistically shows to what an action figure might feel and go through.

Verdict: With themes of facing your fears and being an upstander, this creative adventure will keep readers engaged, especially ones who enjoy action figures. Readers will be captivated until the end!

February 2020 review by Tami Harris.