Review Detail

THE FANTASTIC FREEZE RAY is a delightful start to a new series, SUPER VILLAINS IN TRAINING. Vicky Von Evil was born to be a super villain - but it does not come easy for her. She is very excited to be accepted at a special school for villains, but she'll need to prove that she has what it takes!

What I loved: This is a fantastic format for independent readers who are moving away from picture books/early readers into chapter books. It is heavily illustrated with only a few sentences on each page and large, full color images. The colorful and comic-style illustrations are fantastic at grabbing attention and helping to convey the story, aiding young readers as they work their way through the book. It's almost like a long picture book, helping independent readers to stretch their skills and grow.

The story is very fun, with a focus on being a super villain (in a charming way). Young readers will relate to the story of wanting to fit in, feeling your family expectations, and wanting to succeed in school. Vicky is a compelling character, and the story is told from her perspective in a conversational tone that young readers will enjoy. The story has a nice touch of humor, and the ending is very sweet.

Final verdict: THE FANTASTIC FREEZE RAY is a charming chapter book, perfect for advancing independent readers with a fun story, great illustrations, and relatable themes.