With the invention of hover car technology available to anyone, a new breed of brave appears – 
“Part Race Car Driver. Part Fighter Pilot. All Superstar. The Hover Car Racer.”
Brothers Jason & Bug Chaser are a young, talented, hover car racing team. With Jason’s driving skills and Bug’s exceptional navigation prowess, they hope one day to be in the Pro Racing Circuit. Already in the regional championships, they know they have what it takes. But racing isn’t always smooth, and a chance slips away.
Fortunately, someone was watching their final race in the championship, and confirm to the brothers and their parents that they are skilled enough to attend the International Race School. They can hardly believe it.
Things are exciting and new, but far from smooth with fierce rivalries from every direction. But they do make firm friends with the only female driver, Ariel Piper and their very own mech chief, Sally McDuff. Sally’s skills lie in the use of the tech available for pit stops in every race and soon proves to be a valuable part of their team of three.
Race by race, the brothers and Sally inch towards hover racer stardom, but it seems the better they do the more dangerous it gets on the track. The rivalry has intensified, with more than race points to fight for. Now, money, status and futures are on the line and even their lives.
You don’t have to be a race fan or a car nut to enjoy this thrilling, action stuffed graphic novel! I felt like I was in the hover car with the Chaser brothers as they battled in every race against older drivers and newer cars.
Their team of three, driver, navigator and pit stop whizz, had everything stacked against them from the start, but their courage and mantra of Never Give Up drives them through every obstacle and dastardly dealings along the way.
Family support, good friendships and loyalty are an underlying theme of the story, and the good guys achieving their goals despite all the pitfalls of international sport also makes Hover Car Racer an engaging read. But it’s far from easy and each trial just builds the stakes more and more, pinning me to the page as they raced.
John Hanna’s illustration style captures the incredible pace of the racing, and also the emotions of the characters as they meet famous racers, make new friendships and loyalties and face each hurdle thrown at them.
Riveting read indeed!
Author – Matthew Reilly
Illustrator – John Hanna
Age – 10+
Graphic Novel
(2024, Pan Macmillan, Action, Betrayal, Bullies, Conflict, Courage, Family, Future, Science, Cars, Hover Cars, Mechanics, Technology, Magnets, Skulduggery, Cheating, Trust, Siblings, Brothers, Friendships, Racing, Exciting, Gripping Races, Speed, Guts, Loyalty, Team)