Akiko: The Training Master

Akiko Books #8

by Mark Crilley

When Akiko’s Smoovian friends, Poog, Mr. Beeba, Gax, and Spuckler Boach, swing by to pick her up in an astroshuttle, she’s feeling bored with her “normal” life and more than ready to go—anywhere. What she doesn’t know is that King Froptoppit has enrolled them all in the Intergalactic Space Patrollers Training Camp on Zarga Baffa. Every planet in the universe relies on patrollers for protection, but no one from Smoo has ever graduated. Akiko and her crew are the planet’s last hope.

After a freak accident at nearby Virpling Canyon, Akiko’s crew faces the ultimate final exam. Will Akiko go home, leaving the rescuing to others? Or will she stay and risk everything?


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Science Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Juvenile, Young Adult

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Mark Crilley is an American comic book creator and children's book author/illustrator. He is the creator of Miki Falls, Akiko, and Brody's Ghost. He is also noted for his instructional videos for drawing in the manga-style. Crilley distributes drawing advice to artists via YouTube videos and his DeviantArt account. In August 2010, he starred in some how to draw videos for Funimation on demand. Mark Crilley's wife is Miki Crilley who he named Miki Falls after. The two have a daughter, Mio, and a son, Matthew.
Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Cri...

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a big fan of this one; the boot camp–type storyline is right up my alley.

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, let me say that I have loved the Akiko books for many years. It is one of my favorite series to read. I found that Akiko: The Training Master is another great book in this series and well worth the read. I quite enjoyed learning about Akiko and all of her friends as they trained to become space patrollers. And poor Akiko, her training master is so hard on her. She always seems to be failing at all of her tasks.

The only reason I had a small problem with this book was because Mark Crilley changed the look of Akiko. Yes, Akiko is growing up. She has moved into fifth grade, but Mr. Crilley changed her look to reflect this. Of did he? Unfortunately, he made Akiko look like she was 16, not 11. I found that the further I got into the book, the more this bothered me. The good news is that Mr. Crilley fixed this in the next Akiko book and she now looks age appropriate. Yea!

Overall, I highly enjoyed Akiko: The Training Master and young readers will too. I look forward to the further adventures of Akiko and her gang of misfits in Akiko: Pieces of Gax.

I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.

[faiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny book about a girl named Akiko who travels to different planets saving the world

[Emily]

A story about grade-grubbing? Perhaps all is not what it seems....