Review by Frank Plowright

Ami Moon is from Earth and she’s lost, although that’s not apparent when we first meet her as an agent of the Galactic Peacekeepers Society. It turns out she and her colleagues Sumo, who’s like an indestructible large snowman and Rosa, a small shark, are about to go on their first mission, which is to deliver a present to Lord Paraffin’s birthday party. They’re accompanied by a helpful AI named Mom by Ami.

The ungrateful Lord Paraffin only forms the first of several short missions, each of them drawn in a very different style by Frances Lee, with the one consistent artistic factor being Lee not dividing the art into panels. Multiple versions of Ami are seen on the same page as the story continues, and when this first happens it’s confusing to see her drawn at different sizes. Confusing, though, becomes a default state as it’s often difficult for adults to figure out what’s going on, so what chance do young readers have? Chapters end abruptly when it seems there’s still something to say, conversations drift off and the art sometimes doesn’t clarify what’s being spoken about.

It’s a shame, because there’s also considerable creativity on display. The different styles for different missions extend beyond the call of duty and will surely prod the imaginations of young readers with artistic inclinations. The missions themselves are also imaginative, featuring abstracts and strange creatures. Early in the book Lee has Ami ask why we always picture aliens in human forms, and she goes on to make the point with an assortment of very different aliens. Other points are also made. Ami may be a Galactic Peacekeeper, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to put up with rude or bullying aliens.

More books are planned, but perhaps stronger editorial guidance would be advisable.