Jen Breach

Clem Hetherington and the Ironwood Race

Published by Scholastic Graphix, 2018

Clem Hetherington and her robot brother, Digory, join up with a shady character from their past to enter a multiday rally race… to recover stolen artifacts!

This is Clem and Dig’s chance to prove their cred as archaeologists, but in this black market, no rules, no-holds-barred race, they might be in over their heads…

Jen gratefully acknowledges Creative Victoria for their support while writing this book.

Credits

Douglas Holgate: Illustrator

Accolades for Clem Hetherington and the Ironwood Race

Kirkus Reviews
Delightful. Breach and Holgate have delivered an impossibly energetic graphic novel with action that leaves many a panel in a cloud of dust. A tight narrative arc allows the pacing to shift intensity in all the right places. The older protagonist and teen-oriented emotional turmoil is balanced by the delightful, adrenaline-charged incongruity of high-stakes excavation and absolutely-no-rules racing for a broad audience. Indiana Jones meets Mad Max in a whirlwind as exciting for teens as it is for middle-grade readers.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
This is just the kind of breakneck adventure that flourishes in comic-book format… the road race among contestants of human and alien origin (who need only “a trowel… a car… and a crap-ton of luck”) is an action-lover’s dream.

Booklist
Holgate’s adorable and fun illustrations recall the style and execution of Ben Hatke’s art in the Zita the Spacegirl series, and they seamlessly shift from the many action and racing scenes to quieter moments. A great addition in the growing number of kids comics with spirited heroines.

School Library Connection
A unique, fast-paced story.