- Graphic Novels
- Ages 9–12
- Science Fiction
Star Breakers: Zeke Zero Vs The Galaxy
Book 1 in Star BreakersView the full series
Thirteen-year-old Zeke is forced to join a scrappy crew of treasure-hunting Star Breakers, and their hunt for an ancient god's eyeball turns into an accidental race to save the universe. Guardians-of-the-Galaxy energy for young readers.
- Best for9–12
- FormatGraphic
- Length240 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr55 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
Tone
- Funny
- Exciting
- Adventurous
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Zeke Zero has been living his worst life ever since his dad traded him for a spare battery when he was a baby. Still, thirteen-year-old Zeke gets by, until he 'borrows' the wrong priceless star map and finds himself press-ganged into a shoddy crew of Star Breakers: brave (read: foolish) souls who scour dying worlds for sometimes-incredible treasures. Their first job? Retrieving an ancient god's eyeball. Unfortunately the evil Grizelda 'Princess' Grim has her eye on it too, and soon Zeke and his crewmates, the grouchy Captain Tooms and the mysterious Astrid of Elsewhere, are locked in a race across the galaxy, dodging monsters and mayhem and stumbling onto a secret that puts the whole universe at risk. Ed Caruana and Chris Hazeldine launch a hilarious, action-packed graphic novel series with the swagger of Guardians of the Galaxy and the treasure-hunting thrills of Indiana Jones. Fast, funny and bursting with heart-warming crew dynamics, it's perfect for fans of Amulet and Percy Jackson who like their space adventures loud.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
An action-packed graphic novel best for independent readers of about 9-12. There are monsters, mild peril and a comically bleak backstory, but nothing genuinely frightening, so it suits confident younger readers who love fast, funny space adventures more than quiet bedtime stories.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Minimal
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Patchy
Works well for
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
1 / 5 · Wide awake
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
2 / 5 · Mild
Best for
- Space adventure fans
- Graphic novel fans
- Reluctant readers
- Action lovers
Avoid if
- Wants calm bedtime
- Dislikes action
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
A scrappy underdog forced onto a crew of ridiculous treasure hunters, chasing an ancient god's eyeball while an undead space-princess hunts them down, is pure page-turning fun. Monsters, mayhem, crew banter and a galaxy-ending secret make every chapter a blast.
- Adventure and freedom
- Going on a quest
- The underdog winning
- Friendship and belonging
Why parents love it
Caruana and Hazeldine deliver a fully realised sci-fi world with a genuinely funny script and heart-warming crew dynamics under all the action. The fast pace and rich artwork make it a magnet for reluctant readers, with the found-family warmth that fans of Amulet and Hilo love.
- Shared humour
- Great writing
About the creators
About the creators.
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