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Zita the Spacegirl (Zita the Spacegirl, 1) Paperback – Illustrated, February 1, 2011
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A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Zita's life took a cosmic left turn in the blink of an eye.
When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don't even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita's quest.
Zita the Spacegirl is a fun, captivating tale of friendship and redemption from Flight veteran Ben Hatke. It also has more whimsical, eye-catching, Miyazaki-esque monsters than you can shake a stick at.
- Reading age8 - 12 years
- Print length192 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level3 - 2
- Lexile measureGN310L
- Dimensions6.15 x 0.45 x 8.45 inches
- PublisherFirst Second
- Publication dateFebruary 1, 2011
- ISBN-109781596434462
- ISBN-13978-1596434462
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“For no reason at all, a little red button crashes to earth while Zita and her pal Joseph are out cavorting around. Of course, no one could resist pushing a mystery button, which pops open an interdimensional portal that whisks Joseph away. Zita follows and lands on a delightfully bizarre alien planet, where she sees Joseph being captured by a tentacled, scuba-headed creature. She makes some allies, takes off after him, and zany mishaps and dashing adventures ensue. Any story in which one can escape prison with a tube of "doorpaste" (just like toothpaste, except that it makes magic doors appear when smeared on a wall) obviously puts more stock in wowing imaginations than satisfying logic, and it needs solid cartooning chops to back it up. Fortunately, Hatke's got them, and he doles out an increasingly loony and charming array of aliens, robots, and unclassifiable blobs and hairy things for Zita (herself a cross between Ramona Quimby and a Matt Phelan waif) to encounter. It's fun, plenty funny, and more than a little random. Kids will love it.” ―Booklist
“A headstrong young girl makes a hasty decision and finds herself in a galaxy far, far away in this graphic-novel shining star. Confident Zita finds a strange device in a meteor crater while playing with her more timorous best friend, Joseph. Impetuously, she accidentally activates the device, and before they can say "lift off," the duo ends up on an ill-fated planet, with Joseph about to be sacrificed by an alien doomsday cult and Zita determined to save him. Hatke's skill shines: His characters are richly imagined and portrayed, from the loyal, bumbling Strong-Strong (resembling a cross between a golem and an Uglydoll) to the menacing Screeds, an arachnid-like mechanized device that serves an evil purpose. The giant speechless Mouse, who communicates via ticker tape, is especially ingenious. Hatke takes a page from epic adventures like Jeff Smith's Bone and Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet and throws in a dash of intergalactic zest for a winning combination, sure to captivate young graphic-novel aficionados. Be prepared to blast off; this debut is truly out of this world.” ―Kirkus, Starred Review
“While exploring a meteoroid crater, young explorers Zita and Joseph discover an unusual device featuring a conspicuous red button. Zita's curiosity compels her to press it, only to discover that it summons an alien creature that instantly abducts Joseph. The fearless heroine follows him to a planet inhabited by Scriptorians, who intend to use him as a ritual sacrifice to prevent the destruction of their planet. In her quest to save her friend, Zita assembles a cadre of unusual cohorts: a giant mouse that she rides; an oversize bloblike creature named Strong Strong; a Heavily Armored Mobile Battle Orb known as One; and Robot Randy. Together they head off to the Scriptorians' castle to rescue Joseph. Along the way, she meets Piper, a fellow earthling traveling through space who becomes an important player in the story. Aptly named, he is part Pied Piper and part inventor but always a smooth talker who alternately assists and sabotages the mission. In order to save her friend, Zita must ultimately risk her own chance to return to Earth. With echoes of The Wizard of Oz, this charming, well-told story has a timeless "read to me" quality that makes it perfect for one-on-one sharing. Adults will enjoy the subtle humor and inside jokes, and children will love intrepid Zita and her adventures. The art is simply delightful: a realistic heroine surrounded by a world of bizarre creatures. Fans of the Flight anthologies (Villard) will cheer for the return of Zita.” ―School Library Journal
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : 1596434465
- Publisher : First Second; Illustrated edition (February 1, 2011)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 192 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781596434462
- ISBN-13 : 978-1596434462
- Reading age : 8 - 12 years
- Lexile measure : GN310L
- Grade level : 3 - 2
- Item Weight : 13.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 6.15 x 0.45 x 8.45 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #58,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Ben Hatke is an artist, writer and comics creator. He is the creator of the Zita the Spacegirl graphic novels and a contributor to the Flight Anthologies. Ben learned painting through studying the Italian Masters and by training at the Charles Cecil Studios in Florence.
He lives and works in Front Royal, Virginia with his lovely wife and growing family. He loves swords and whistles and juggling and adventures. Breakfast is his favorite meal of the day.
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Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Zita the Spacegirl is one of those perfect YA science fiction stories that you wish had been written years ago so you could have read it as a kid — which means that you’re gonna want to get this book in the hands of a child in your life. Just make sure you get a chance to read it first.
The story begins when Zita and her friend find a strange object that has fallen from space — a square, hand-held device with a big, red button on it. Just imagine what you’d do: Would you press that button? Guess what the young child Zita does? That’s right — she presses the button. Instantly, a door of light opens before her and the arms — tentacles? — of a strange creature reach into our world and grab Zita’s friend. Zita runs away in terror to think about what she’s just seen and what she should do.
As you’d expect, she goes to talk to her parents and spends the rest of the book waiting for her parents to figure out some way to save her friend. She is then reunited with her friend at the end of the comic. They live happily ever after.
You don’t really believe a word of that, do you? Like many great adventures written for children, we never see the main character’s parents or any other adults on earth, and the young child must take on adult responsibilities. Zita decides she is to blame for her friend’s kidnapping, and therefore she must fix everything. And why not since she’s got the mysterious device? So she presses the red button once again, and steps into her adventure.
In this review, I can’t begin to do justice to Hatke’s vivid imagination in coming up with such a wide variety of creatures and machines and inhabitants of the world Zita enters. Some seem kind but are dangerous, some are boisterous but benign, and still others threaten her before becoming her closest allies. In this world we finally see adults, but they are strange and unpredictable and difficult to judge.
The story’s tension is created by several factors other than the unpredictability of those she encounters: First, she soon realizes getting back to earth is not going to be easy. Secondly, to make her being stranded even more frightening, Zita realizes that everyone is abandoning the planet because it’s about to be destroyed by an approaching asteroid. And she can’t find her friend or get off the planet herself. Finally, she finds out that the recusing her friend will require a major mission dependent upon her finding new friends and building a team on a strange planet.
Zita the Spacegirl is a delight. As you can tell, I highly recommend it. The dialogue is funny, the art is stunning, and the plot is compelling. Your kids will love it. Both my children — 8 and 11 — enjoyed it and the second volume. The third volume comes out in less than two months. Even though it’s a continuing story and you’ll want to find out what happens next, unlike some comics and novels in a series, it has enough closure to give a sense of satisfaction as you come to the final page. Do not pass this book up.
Hatke gives us a classic hero’s journey in an imaginative, sci-fi setting. Our protagonist, Zita is a compassionate and feisty girl, who meets a bunch of lovable, flawed new companions and scary aliens on her quest to find her friend who was kidnapped by a deep sea helmet with mechanical tentacles.
My favorite things about Zita:
~It’s about a female hero. She’s so realistically a young girl I was not at all surprised to read the Hatke has three daughters. She’s frightened, idealistic, so sweet, and brave. It’s always nice to have female protagonists, but often girls have girl problems (like boys, social problems, family). Instead we get a classic damsel in distress, with the roles reversed, the boy needs rescuing, and the girl gets to be the Hero.
~She rides a giant, sentient mouse.
~None of the characters were perfect. Our group of heroes were broken and flawed, and it made them relateable and compelling. (A broken robot, a gun happy prototype, a con man, and a little girl walk into a bar...)
~The story is self contained. While there is a sequel to Zita, the first novel is a whole story beginning to end. I remember being particularly frustrated as a child (while stealing my brother’s comics) about cliffhangers and to be continued’s. There’s nothing worse than an unfinished story. (I’m looking at you Peter Jackson.)
~Hatke has a great colorsense. The palette is soft and consistent. I love a man who knows his colors.
~DID I MENTION THE MOUSE THAT SHE RIDES?
~Threat of apocalypse = automatic +5 bonus points!
All around excellent book (especially if you’re looking for something to get your kid’s interested in graphic novels or science fiction!), 183 pages of pure, epic fun! With laser guns! Pew pew!
I like that this has a strong female lead and girls would benefit from reading this book. But boys, too, would enjoy it and should read it as well. Really, it's a great book for everyone since my son and I read it together and I like the story too! Great artwork, great characters and a good compelling plot. You couldn't ask for more!
Zita is a great character - bold, but tolerant; passionate, but forgiving. The supporting cast is rich and lends itself to many choices for other favorites for children.
If you read many reviews, most will say that this is a great alternative for girls to the "Disney Princess thing." While this is true, the work stands on its own as a phenomenal work of art. Each page is beautifully drawn. The story moves at a pace that captures the attention of any child (boy or girl) and, by the time it is finished, will leave your child wanting to read more. If there is a better standard for a good children's book, I do not know it.
I've purchased multiple copies of this book to give as gifts to friends with young daughters - I have received positive feedback from each one of them.
I should note that the recommended reading level is age 8 and up. My personal opinion is that the subject matter is quite suitable for younger ages.
Top reviews from other countries
I really liked the books. They have a lot of fantasy and misterious creatures which made it interesting! A great read!!!
From Julia
Zita ist mutig, abendteurlustig und halleluja(!) weiblich. Daisy Duck, Minny Mouse und Schlumpfine sind ja nicht unbedingt spannende Charaktere. Die Geschichte ist wirklich lieb. Von mir gibts eine Kaufempfehlung!
(Das einzige Manko: Soweit ich mich erinnern kann, war Zita die einzige weibliche Figur. Ich hätte es viel netter gefunden, wenn die Maus auch ein Mädchen gewesen wäre. Aber man kann ja nicht alles haben.)
Been wanting a full colored graphic novel for kids like this for a long long time - this book ticks all the right boxes. Best suited for kids 8+ or so...
Highly recommended.