Supa Nova - by Chanté Timothy (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Venture into Nova's secret underground lab-- and witness a gum monster come to life! A full-color, action-packed graphic novel about a young Black girl with a love for science and enough determination and confidence to fix the world.

Nova is horrified when she learns about the world's plastic problem and the trash islands floating in the ocean. Good thing she has a super-secret lab in her basement. No problem is too big for SUPA NOVA or for SCIENCE! But things go spectacularly awry when she creates a plastic-eating monster who won't stop eating and GROWING! Will Supa Nova be able to save the day--and the planet?

Review Quotes

Supa Nova is, above everything, a fun, bright, vibrant read. The illustrations are very appealing. The message of the book, about the problem of plastic pollution and how we might tackle it, is an important one, as is its aim to inspire young scientists to investigate the world around them. Supa Nova shows that science isn't boring. (Though there isn't very much in the way of copious note-taking and cross-checking results in the storyline!).
This is the start of a new series, and after this first outing, I'm interested to see where it goes next. There's lots of big science out there for Nova to sink her teeth into! Supa Nova is a light read, with entertaining characters and a fun plot, akin to the sorcerer's apprentice. Giving children access to books like Supa Nova is a great way of enticing them to think about the world around them. Schools and libraries everywhere should make room for Nova and her scientific exploits.

--Robin Brooks, GeekDad

Ecological concerns prompt a young Black inventor to create a plastic-eating creature.
This STEM-centric romp introduces Nova, a science-loving child with a big personality, a pesky preteen big sister, and a gigantic underground lab. Having learned that scientists are working on mushrooms and mealworms that will consume the multiple islands of waste plastic floating in the ocean, Nova decides to help out. Unfortunately, Chomp, the little being she creates by zapping a mix of random ingredients, including her sister's used gum ("IT'S ALIVE!"), doesn't stop with eating the odd toothbrush and other small items--and Chomp grows bigger the more it consumes. Young readers may be confused by the disconnect between Nova's claim that Chomp just eats plastic; in the loudly hued cartoon scenes, the pink, blobby behemoth ignores piles of plastic rubbish to instead chow down indiscriminately on everything else, from kitchen cabinets and cardboard to hovering helicopters. Still, Nova's insight that acetic acid dissolves chewing gum is a nugget of actual chemistry, and Timothy brings the tale to a suitably thrilling climax that involves sisterly bonding, creative problem-solving, and wildly entertaining antics. Science for the win!
Just the ticket for unstoppable young mixers and makers with big dreams. (character drawing lessons) (Graphic science fiction. 7-9)

--Kirkus

"In this energetic graphic novel series launch, a solo debut, Timothy (Beyoutiful) offers timely messaging about sustainability and environmental preservation. Young science prodigy Nova, rendered with brown skin, intends to eradicate plastic waste. Inspired by microorganisms in nature that consume plastic, Nova takes to her underground basement lab to conduct experiments. Using mushrooms, worms, lemon juice, a "few other special ingredients," and her older sister's chewed bubblegum, Nova develops Chomp, a pink, jellylike creature that eats plastic. But when Chomp begins devouring more than plastic and starts to double in size, Nova must enlist her sister and their scientist parents to her creation from gobbling up the world. Intelligent, confident, and capable Nova-along with her supportive family and their gentle ribbing-model healthy attitudes around creativity, curiosity, and accountability. Though Nova's experiments often rely on fantastical sensibilities, a closing section detailing "the real science behind the story" grounds the featured antics, while bright and kinetic artwork contribute to the novel's cheerful atmosphere. Ages 7-10. (June)"--Publisher's Weekly

Ada Twist meets Dexter's Laboratory in this debut graphic novel starring an enterprising, brilliant Black girl. Spurred into action after learning about the plastic islands caused by trash in the ocean, kid genius Nova descends to her (mostly) supersecret lab to create the solution for ocean cleanup: Chomp! A gelatinous pink pal that can digest plastic particles faster than any mushroom or mealworm. But someone should have reminded Nova that matter cannot simply be created or destroyed, because soon Chomp's appetite isn't the only thing that's growing. The energetic artwork pops off the page and brings to mind a Cartoon Network-style episode full of fun colors and larger-than-life antics. Easy-to-follow plot and dialogue within a longer story arc make this perfect for young independent readers ready to graduate from transitional books. Closes with an author's note on the real-life plastic islands. A brainy bonanza with an important message of conservation at its center.--Emerald Martinez, Booklist

Nosy Crow seems, as a publisher, to be mightily invested in what's going on in our oceans these days. After all, in this new STEM-oriented graphic novel series, our scientist heroine decides that the best way to clean up plastic from the ocean is to create a plastic-eating monster. What could possibly go wrong? Don't recognize the name Chanté Timothy? That's because she's a rising star in the UK. Basically this the tale of a kid who loves exploring things in the scientific world. Looks fun!--Betsy Bird, A Fuse 8 Production

Nova, or Supa Nova to some, is a science-loving tween who sports adorable double puffs and lab coat. Nova has scientist -parents, an older (irritating) sister, and a -secret lab in her house. After watching a news -report about plastic islands, Nova is inspired to create a plastic-eating creature, Chomp, from her sister's used chewing gum. Chomp has a sweet disposition at first but quickly grows to ginormous proportions, with an appetite to match, and becomes uncontrollable. Nova invents a solution but realizes the situation is beyond her control and calls in her sister, Cass, to help. With the help of Cass, a Supa Novatron, and her newly -invented shrink ray spray, Nova springs to make things right. -Mixing panels, full-page spreads, speech bubbles, and -superhero-inspired sound effects, this -dynamic graphic novel is compelling and fun with loads of science mixed in for STEM enthusiasts. Family dynamics shine with supportive parents who correct without scolding and a developing appreciation between siblings. Readers will love Nova's ingenuity and her scientific missteps that lead to more than one sticky situation. Back matter goes into further detail about plastic islands and real-life solutions along with a how-to guide on drawing Nova and Chomp. -VERDICT A wonderful STEM-themed addition for all tween shelves. Readers will love Nova and look -forward to sequels.--Melisa Bailey, School Library Journal

"Giving children access to books like Supa Nova is a great way of enticing them to think about the world around them. Schools and libraries everywhere should make room for Nova and her scientific exploits."--Robin Brooks, GeekDad

"Just the ticket for unstoppable young mixers and makers with big dreams."--Kirkus Reviews

"A wonderful STEM-themed addition for all tween shelves. Readers will love Nova and look ­forward to sequels."--Melisa Bailey, School Library Journal

"A brainy bonanza with an important message of conservation at its center."
--Emerald Martinez, Booklist

"Intelligent, confident, and capable Nova--along with her supportive family and their gentle ribbing--model healthy attitudes around creativity, curiosity, and accountability. Though Nova's experiments often rely on fantastical sensibilities, a closing section detailing "the real science behind the story" grounds the featured antics, while bright and kinetic artwork contribute to the novel's cheerful atmosphere." --Publisher's Weekly

About the Author

Chanté Timothy is an illustrator who loves experimenting with movement, vibrant colour, character design and storytelling. Drawing for as long as she can remember, she's always been the kid who asked for paper and pen to entertain herself instead of playing with toys. Chanté is a Pathways into Children's Publishing 2019 - 2021 Alumni. She is the illustrator of a number of non-fiction books and has previously published picture books with Tola Okogwu for Simon & Schuster Children's Books. Chanté featured in Dapo Adeola's Hey You! which won Children's Illustrated Book of the Year at the 2021 British Book Awards.