Review by Ian Keogh
There’s a distressingly common pattern of a woman knowing a solution or the right answer, but not having the confidence to speak up, leaving a gap for a man who’s ignorant, but self-assured to jump in. That’s at the core of Blake Laser. Blake has intimidating military parents and an annoying and impulsive older brother. As the subtitle tells us, she’s a genius at twelve, whereas her parents defer to her brother because he’s older.
Blake lives in 2354 when space travel is normal, and on a family trip to build a vacation home on an asteroid they’re diverted to another asteroid that’s the centre of activity for draining all energy from the sun.
The back of the book biography for writer Keith Marantz lists plenty of his enthusiasms, but not previous writing experience. If he is a relative novice then the compact delivery of credible personalities is even more admirable. Most of the book is Blake’s observations and experiences, so the expectation would be that she’s sympathetically portrayed, but Marantz is able to convey others concisely from their introduction, ensuring they’re understood.
Of course, that’s also down to the lively way Larissa Brown draws the cast, giving them an emotional strength. It’s no great spoiler to note aliens are involved, and they’re well designed, also showcasing personalities, as is a small robot with a significant part to play. The drawing is simple, as needed for a young audience, but never to the point of the art talking down.
A clever parallel is drawn between the McClain family and their alien counterparts, who have many of the same frustrations in their relationships. However, Marantz exaggerates Blake’s parents not listening to her beyond the point of credibility. No matter how many times she saves the day they don’t take her seriously, which is a children’s fiction standby, but overplayed here. Far better is the way we’re shown Blake’s smart inventions well before they have a practical use.
This is in the course of a funny and unpredictable story with plenty of clever elements showcasing how smart Blake really is. Will it be enough to save the day?
