Review by Frank Plowright

G.E.M.S. stands for Genetically Engineered Mice in Space, which is probably a bit of a mouthful for young readers to get their heads round, hence writer Marian Dealy’s contraction. Readers may have seen how the mice ended up in space, a story told in Rise of the G.E.M.S., and this picks up with Dorothy, Hugh, Jonas and Ursula not happy with Theodore. They don’t see being trapped in a spacecraft as any better than being trapped in a cage on a space station.

The way things are written, children will recognise their own fears in the behaviour of the mice, and they’re getting a gentle lesson in why sometimes fears have to be faced. Each of the mice has a different ability, Ursula for instance growing large when upset, and Theo able to read, and these manifest at the right story moments.

Dealy’s background is in scientific research, and as the specifics of science are difficult to explain to young children these are taken at a very slow pace. That’s all well and good, but it’s questionable whether those children will have the inclination and attention span to follow a ten page step by step ignition sequence. Further extended sequences on technical issues follow. The most pertinent in terms of plot explains why the mice were genetically engineered with specific abilities, although Dorothy’s mutation remains a mystery.

With the explanations still very technical, Pablo Ballesteros keeps the art simple, drawing friendly mice easily distinguished from each other. He applies a similar simplicity to backgrounds, clarity always a priority, and adds depth via colour.

The ongoing plot concerns the mice attempting to return to Earth. Do they make it back safely? Well, there’s certainly a few tricky moments before they can even consider it.

The pacing isn’t entirely satisfactory, but there’s certainly enough about the personalities of the mice and the attractive way they’re drawn to captivate a young audience. Those readers will learn along the way, and Dealy supplies extra information about some concepts after the story’s finished.