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 Billy Clikk: Creatch Battler(Delacorte Press) by Mark Crilley Reading Level: 9-12 I'm pretty sure I don't want to work for AFMEC (the Allied Forces for the Management of Extraterritorial Creatches), but I know a number kids who'd love a shot at it. Even with the risks of debrainment, flattening, loss of limb, and esophagus blocking (as in, you're blocking some-other- thing's esophagus), who could resist the chance to travel the world, wield all sorts of techno-weapons and gadgets, and, on a good day, save the world? When Billy discovers his parents have actually been living a secret life, and even his own dog has been keeping secrets from him, he's furious. But he calms down quickly when he learns that he, too, may have what it takes to become an AFMEC agent. As you can imagine, duty—and adventure—soon call. Although the opening is a bit rough, with Billy's home being invaded by strangers when he's alone, Billy Clikk: Creatch Battler soon finds its footing and generally provides fun entertainment. The climax is actually smarter than many, and this book manages to combine action with family dynamics without getting preachy. I fully expect to see further books in the series, not to mention a made-for-TV-movie, complete with digitalized creatures and special effects. And just in case any young readers want to train a little too-enthusiastically for future agent-hood (not that fans of a skate-boarding, blaster-wielding, creatch-battler would ever dream of such a thing…), I'm already practicing my, "Do you want to get sliced in two by a whirling skark weevil?!"— Jennifer Spray Doering, Member SCBWI
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