Akiko in the Sprubly Islands - Hardcover

Crilley, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385327269 ISBN 13: 9780385327268

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2000

Synopsis

In this companion novel to Akiko on the Planet Smoo, fourth-grade earthling Akiko and her odd team are on a journey to save the kidnapped Prince Froptoppit from the evil Alia Rellapor. Unfortunately, on their way to Alia Rellapor's castle, the group has gotten lost while sailing over the Moonguzzit Sea in their flying boat. With no maps available, the team's best hope is to find Queen Pwip of the Sprubly Islands, a clairvoyant, who will be able to point them in the right direction. But the Sprubly Islands aren't like Akiko's hometown, and when Spuckler and Mr. Beeba disappear one night, Akiko is left to decide how she is to survive in this strange new world.

About this title

Review:

Fourth grader Akiko continues her adventures on Planet Smoo after being selected as the one earthling suited for the job of rescuing Prince Froptoppit from the evil Alia Rellapor (read all about it in Akiko on the Planet Smoo). Akiko and the extraterrestrial crew of her flying boat--prim Mr. Beeba, gallant Spuckler, robot Gax, and eerie, levitating Poog--lose their way over the Moonguzzit Sea, crash-land into the waiting jaws of a giant sea snake, and make their way to the Sprubly Islands, where a tiny clairvoyant queen awaits them to offer guidance. But the other Sprubly Islanders are not so welcoming as Queen Pwip, and when Akiko's friends disappear into the sky, she must fend for herself in this strange, Lilliputian world, complete with brave, blustering soldiers and an exotic palace.

Based on Mark Crilley's original comic strip, the Akiko series of illustrated novels is bursting with all the elements of a fast-paced adventure story. Akiko and her friends travel in air, underwater, and overland, where they meet unusual friends and enemies. Throughout, Akiko struggles with her role as heroine; starting as a shy fourth grader in Middleton, Earth, she's come a long way. Homesickness and bouts of uncertainty never get the best of her, though, and the reader will love watching Akiko's spunky nature bloom as she rises to every occasion. At novel's end, Prince Froptoppit is still unsaved--watch for future episodes from Crilley. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

About the Author:

Mark Crilley was raised in Michigan. He has traveled to Taiwan and Japan, where he taught English for nearly five years. It was during that time that he created Akiko.

About this edition

• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0385327269
• ISBN 13: 9780385327268
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176
• Illustrator: Crilley Mark