Popular author Felice has created a modern day Six Million Dollar Man (or rather - boy) in this cool new junior fiction series. Part boy, part machine, Andy's escapades are the stuff of boyish dreams, with super-sensitive hearing, bionic legs, a laser gun finger and even a touch screen palm that can heat up and start fire - something he'll certainly be needing in Book Three.
In The Camp Howl Crusaders, third in the series (behind Superhuman Secret and Field Trip Terror), Andy finds himself at school camp, a place his parents mistakenly presume will be safe for their son. But not only does Andy have to battle a pack of vicious dogs, the evil Zloy has found a way to track the superhuman lad - and hold the General - a family friend - hostage, too.
Will Andy take the bait? Will he try to help the General or will he buckle under the pressure of both his parents and the government? And how can he explain his strange super powers to his increasingly suspicious school friends?
This series is absolutely ideal for older boys who are either struggling to read or struggling to find interest in reading. Packed with high-tech, super cool lingo and high-action scenes, and a skerrick of girl interest, it would suit boys as old as eleven or even twelve.
Arena writes in his usual evocative, action-drenched style, with a fine balance of interesting characters - both likeable and unlikeable, using short, sharp sentences with plenty of punch. Perfect boy fodder.
Title: Andy Roid and the Camp Howl Crusaders
Author: Felice Arena
Illustrator: Chad McCown
Publisher: Penguin, $9.95 RRP
Publication Date: 25 July 2012
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780143306054
For ages: 7 - 11
Type: Junior Fiction