Squish #3: The Power of the Parasite

Squish #3

by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm

Soon to be an animated show on HBO Max!

It's SQUISH —a hilarious, action packed graphic novel series from the award-winning creators of Babymouse! Filled with superheroes, comics within comics, and gross-out science, Squish is perfect for fans of Dog Man, Captain Underpants, and My Weird School.

School's out! Everyone's favorite amoeba is headed to summer camp! But instead of SUPER AWESOME FUN, Squish's summer is turning out to be SUPER AWESOME TERRIFYING! For one thing, Squish can't swim. And to make matters worse, his new camp friend is a Hydra (scientific A hydra's tentacles can paralyze you!). Will Squish sink or will he swim this summer? (And what's up with Pod and black holes anyways??) Find out the answers to these questions and more in the super spectacular adventure, Squish #4: The Power of the Parasite . Summer reading has never been so slimey!

Yowza! You can draw comics, too! Look in the back to find out how to draw one of the Squish characters! Also includes instructions for a sensational science experiment you can do at home! Shazam!

Here's what people are saying about everyone's favorite amoeba!

New York
"An energetic, good-hearted escapade, one that young readers will enjoy."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews :
* "Hilarious. If ever a new series deserved to go viral, this one does."
 
The
"A perfect mix of writing that is simple enough for early readers but still remarkably snarky, clever, and entertaining. Kids will soak up the humor, tidbits of science instruction, and adventure."

Genres: Graphic Novels, Childrens, Comics, Humor, Fiction, Middle Grade, Friendship

96 pages, Library Binding

First published May 22, 2012

About the author

Jennifer L. Holm is a USA TODAY and NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling children's author with more than 9.8 million books in print She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE and a Scott O'Dell Award for her novel FULL OF BEANS.

Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!

For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.

Reviews

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squish is fast becoming a favorite of mine. I think the emphasis on making good choices when faced with difficult situations is a great addition to an already fun character. Additionally, the narration arrows are quite funny.

[Colton]

i like how his new friend can regrow body parts

[Daniel Zeng · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story Squish by Jennifer L. Holm tellAt swim camp, Squish's new friend Basil helps him avoid learning to swim with pranks that sometimes go too far, but the comic book exploits of Squish's idol, Super Amoeba, help him deal with Basil and conquer his fear.

[Sarah W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squish's summer is off to a rough start. When forced to pick between swim camp and ballet camp, he chooses swimming only to find out his best friends Peggy and Pod are enrolled in ballet camp instead. Squish reluctantly trudges off to swim camp.

While the other amoebas at the pool are having super awesome fun, Squish is not. The pool staff don't even have his name right! They think he is Squash not Squish. While other little amoebas splash and swim, Squish sticks to pool ledge as he remembers what happened the last time he attempted to swim. Even though his teacher tries to encourage him to try, Squish invents excuses not to get wet. A supposed bathroom trip results in several hours of reading his favorite comic.

That comic is what leads him to making a new friend. Basil the hydra loves Super Amoeba too. Now Squish has someone to hang out with, someone who loves goofing off and pulling pranks. Now Squish can't wait to get to camp even if he still won't try swimming, but that fun starts to turn dangerous as Basil pushes the limit further in the name of fun. When Basil stuns their swim coach, Squish will have to make a decision.

Parallel to Squish's story is the story of comic book hero Super Amoeba dealing with the arrival of the Parasite, a hero Super Amoeba met several years earlier. At first, Parasite offers to help Super Amoeba but Squish's favorite hero will have some tough decisions to make when the Parasite displays his true nature.

The green and white illustrations in this book add humor to this fast paced graphic novel. I loved all the different notes that caption the different characters and events in the story. I also like the little bits of science snuck in as well. The Holms have created a great new volume in this series with a friendship theme that many kids will connect with. Students will have super awesome fun with this book!

My review copy came from NetGalley.

[Paul Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole Squish series by Jennifer and Matt Holm is fun, but Squish #3 is "super awesome fun."

It's summer vacation and while his friends attend ballet camp (Pod has other motives for attendance including disrupting the universe vs learning to spin on his toes) Squish must attend swim camp at the insistence of his mother who reminds him that amoebas should know how to swim as they live in ponds (an important scientific fact offered early on in this work).

But getting in the pool could be one of Squish's greatest adventures of all. It's not "super awesome fun" to sit at the side of the pool while everyone else jumps in, so when Basil, a hydra befriends Squish and begins to show him alternative sources of "super awesome fun" it is fun at first, but slowly pranks and avoidance of the daily lessons begin to strain the relationship.

The backdrop of Super Amoeba, a recurring comic super hero that appears in the Squish books plays out nicely here when Super Amoeba teams up with a super parasite who lives up to his name.

This title would work nicely to open up conversations about healthy relationships and what both parties bring to those relationships. I also like that Pod is excited about attending ballet camp.

Never underestimate the power of ballet.

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this 3rd installment of the popular Squish graphic novel series, Squish joins a swimming class and makes a new friend, Basil, who is a poisonous hydra. Instead of the "Super Awesome Fun" he planned, Squish finds that swimming and friendship are scarier than he predicted. I cannot wait for Squish #4 this fall. My students love Squish!

[Colby Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has Nerdy winner written all over it. The best Holm GN so far. Can't wait for the book to come out. My fourth graders NEED this book and the lesson they will learn from reading it.

[Janet Ngai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is called “Squish”by Jennifer L.Holm.The story in this book is about Squish and his friend Basil.Squish is an amoeba,Basil is an hydra,his tentacles can paralyze prey and his body can grow back again.In the beginning of the story,Squish’s mother let him go to swimming camp because they get a summer vacation.But Squish doesn’t like swim,so he go to bathroom for read cartoon book.Suddenly Basil see him and that book,and he said he also like the book.They talk a lot so they be come friends.And then they do something super awesome fun on that day.
The next day,their swimming teacher tell something about swim safety to the student,Squish think it’s super awesome boring,so Basil said, “Do you want to see something super awesome fun?”and then he use his tentacles to paralyze a student.Suddenly,the student feel numbness for his body,and he fell to the swimming pool,lots of water spill on the teacher.Then all of the students laugh at him and that teacher.But the teacher doesn’t know anything!
A few days later,the teacher find Squish and Basil doesn’t like jump on the diving board.So he wants to jump from the diving board for them,and let them try to do it.But when the teacher run to the diving board,Basil said, “do you want ton see something super awesome fun?”.Then he use his tentacles to paralyze their teacher’s feet.Suddenly,the teacher fell on the ground.But the teacher doesn’t know that,he thought this is an accident.Basil feel funny for this thing but Squish doesn’t,he think it is impolite to make fun form teacher.
The next day morning,Squish go to swimming camp very early to see his teacher.And he tell to teacher what happened on yesterday,then he apologize to the teacher.He said don’t worry about that.Later Basil meet Squish,he said, “ do you want to see something super awesome fun?”.But Squish said, “No really...”because he doesn’t want to see Basil makes fun on others again.During the lunch,Basil said to other student, “do you want to see something super awesome fun?”,and then he makes fun on Squish likes before he made fun on others.Squish feel numbness on his whole bodies,and he dance very crazy.Suddenly,there is a very big vortex in the sky.And the end of the story is the vortex cuck Basil to the sky.So he disappear in the sky forever.

[Jesse Bray · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable story about Squish an amoeba that makes a friend at swim camp. While I think having the author push a gender normative is silly especially with a non binary creature, the plot of this story is relevant and charming. Squish's story parallels and is emboldened by his reading of his comic book heroes. He in turn learns how to handle toxic friendships. Which is a powerful topic for both children and adults alike.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squish the amoeba is headed to swim camp this summer. He’s not happy about it as the last time he tried to swim did not end well, but since he does live in a pond, his mom insists. While there Squish meets a new friend, Basil, who he thinks is very funny. But when Basil starts to take things a little too far, Squish reassesses their friendship ... god moral lessons in this novel, with the story inside the story helping to guide Squish to do the right thing.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's summer school break, and Squish has been signed up to take swimming lessons. He also makes a new friend named Basil who is a Hydra. As their friendship forms Squish begins to take notice of Basil's tendencies for practical jokes that cross the line. Now Squish has to make a choice on what's more important, showing some courage, or letting Basil lead him astray.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've had Squish on our library shelves , so I took one home to find out what they are about. They are simple graphic novels. In this one Squish doesn't want to or is scared to learn to swim. He finds a naughty friend, who ends up not being the type of friend he wants. He eventually learns to swim.

I find it interesting that he loves comics and they insert a superhero comic into it.

[Tillie Trinidad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The graphic novel format is well-suited for early and reluctant readers. The comic-style panels, colorful illustrations, and expressive characters make the book visually engaging. The inclusion of diverse characters, each with their distinct personalities, adds depth to the narrative and provides a variety of perspectives for readers to connect with.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s talk about Squish make a friend Basil.And Basil teach him how to tease the other.in the beginning, the Squish think it is very funny.but in the end, Squish know how terrible it is.And Squish let the power to take the Basil out.

[Ray Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squish by jennifer L. Holm
This story is about a thing call squish , he went to swimming camp and meet a friend cell Basil they don't want to swim at the end the basil mischief squish and squish must dance so he get basil into his stomach..

[Oracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's summertime!! And Squish is going to Swim Camp!! Super awesome fun appears when he makes a new friend! Will Squish get to learn how to swim?? ;) Check this one out! It's sure to leave you with a smile on your face. :D

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is just cute and funny. I like the mix of a comic within a comic, science and drawing lessons. Who knew ballet could be so deadly? ;)

[Alex Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very quick, but it is kind of boring.

[HaileyEvans · Rating 5 out of 5]

its ok

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good. It was a classic squish book teaching a lesson.

[Aisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

some parts could be better

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes mean people try to hide themselves under the guise of "friend".

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel read this series in 2nd grade

funny comic books

[Zazie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm liking how these books are kind of teaching kids not to bully. I'm enjoying the series so far.

[S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mep

[Neha Vishnuprem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squish is torn when his new friends starts to take his jokes too far.

[blueygurl2016 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, not the best Squish. Basil was toxic.

[Carlson L C1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squish, one of the amoeba, found a really cool friend during the swimming lesson. The friend to play with. Friend to talk with. The friend to help with. However, this friend is naughty and playful in a good way. That's why Squish felt the danger to this friend, which can be normal to all amoebas. Because the parasite is harmful to them. The friend uses that power to Squish to play more with him and command him to do some kind of bad things. The thought that I had was 'Power is not for bullying and showing off.'

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Power of the Parasite is the third book in the Squish series by Babymouse creators Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. In this episode, Squish, a pond-dwelling amoeba, is sent to summer swim camp because his mom thinks amoebas who live in ponds should know how to swim. While sitting on the sidelines, too scared to actually get in the pool, he meets a hydra named Basil. Squish and Basil share a love of Super Amoeba comic books, which Squish reads in every volume of the series so far, and they laugh themselves silly over the swim coach’s insistence that swimming is “super awesome fun!” Before long, though, Basil’s sense of humor reveals a cruel streak, and Squish finds himself wondering if their fun is going too far.

What I like about Jennifer and Matthew Holm’s work is that it finds the fun and humor in childhood experiences. Both Babymouse and Squish are successful series, I think, because of their unique, clever perspectives on school, adults, family, friendship, and in Squish’s case, science. As I’ve said in the past about the Little Wings chapter book series, there is something really appealing about realistic problems set in fantastical and unusual settings. There isn’t much new about the storyline in this book - lots of books have dealt with the idea of bullying or peer pressure in some way, but because the setting is a pond and the characters are hydras and amoebas, the entire story becomes fresh and interesting to its audience, even if that audience has read the basic plotline before.

I also think the way each organism is introduced to the reader is a nice way to incorporate some scientific knowledge into the book without losing the book’s entertainment value. I wasn’t even sure myself of the difference between an amoeba, a paramecium, and a hydra before getting into this series, and it was fun to be reminded by these quirky comics characters. The only thing I do need to admit is that this book isn’t as funny as even the least amusing Babymouse book. Babymouse’s sarcasm really resonates with me, as does her snarky banter with the narrator, but Squish is more earnest, and there is a bit more of a moral to his story. I also recently book talked Babymouse: Mad Scientist to a third grade class, and all of them had read Babymouse, but none had heard of Squish. Squish is cute, and his stories are fun and fast-paced, but they just don’t compare to the excellence of the Babymouse books.

Overall, I think The Power of the Parasite will appeal to kids hooked on graphic novels. Boys who are turned off by the pinkness of Babymouse might find these a nice alternative. I think kids as young as 5 or 6 can appreciate Squish’s more innocent humor, whereas Babymouse’s audience might skew slightly older. Parents who are turned off by Captain Underpants and similar books can feel at ease with Squish, whose only disgusting traits are those given to him by nature. Recommend this book to budding scientists, comic book fanatics, and fans of Megan McDonald’s Stink series.