Lucky Scramble

Lucky Scramble by Peter Raymundo (Scholastic Australia) PB RRP $18.99 ISBN: 9781761527739

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Twelve-year-old Tyler dreams of becoming the speed cubing national champion – he just has to get past a bunch of cubers with the fastest fingers in the country. From the nine-year-old prodigy and the two-time national champion to quarrelling twins and an old guy trying to reclaim the fame from his youth, the competition is fierce. Tyler eventually learns that skills and strategies are great to have, but it’s more important to stay positive when stress threatens to send him spinning from the tournament.

Aimed at kids aged eight to twelve years, Peter Raymundo’s lively story is told through an interesting mix of narrative text and graphic novel. Even readers who have never played with speed cubes (aka Rubik’s cubes) will have no trouble following this energetic tale, as helpful explanations of rules and terms are scattered through the pages. They’ll soon be cheering for Tyler as the underdog, and may be inspired to try speed cubing for themselves.

Peter’s bright and dynamic illustrations help to break up the text for reluctant readers. The vignettes highlight important people and actions, while the colourful comic strips move the story along at a brisk trot. The overall blend of text and images will be enticing to children, and ensures that the book is fun and accessible.

With edge-of-your-seat action and a diverse cast of characters, Lucky Scramble is a game-changer in middle-grade fiction. The enthralling twists and turns will keep readers flipping the pages until the very end.