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Galaxy Zack #8

Drake Makes a Splash!

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Zack tries to help Drake learn to swim in this chapter book adventure—but is he in over his head?

Zack is surprised when he discovers that his best friend Drake doesn’t know how to swim! With a little patience and some help, Zack has Drake splashing around in the water in no time. But swimming is another matter. Will Drake overcome his fear and learn how to swim in time for another galactic adventure?

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

17 people are currently reading
74 people want to read

About the author

Ray O'Ryan

38 books30 followers

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5 stars
99 (49%)
4 stars
65 (32%)
3 stars
30 (15%)
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3 (1%)
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2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Alex.
708 reviews
November 28, 2017
I enjoyed this book because I like pools. I also enjoyed this book because I like making splashes. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Drake made a splash. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Drake learned how to swim. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Drake and Zack went to Araxie for a trip to swim.
Profile Image for Betsy.
Author 4 books29 followers
December 18, 2016
I've found this series to be wonderful for a kindergarten boy. And I've actually enjoyed the stories of life on another planet as I read them aloud. :)
Profile Image for Andrew J.
113 reviews2 followers
February 15, 2023
Planet hopping
is obviously
a BIG part of this series
because
the Nelson's went on another vacation
via planet hop.

I'm really starting to feel like Zack, Cathy, and Charlotte are spoiled by their rich parents.

It's a very hot, toasty day on Planet Nebulon, and Zack and his Nebulon friend Drake are looking for something to do. Nebulon has vivi-vid theaters that are basically like those indoor theaters at theme parks with moving seats, and it's also in 3D. The movie they're there to see is about 2 Nebulite aliens in a "metal raft zooming through a raging water." Zack thinks Drake is acting very strange because he's hesitant to watch the film, was obviously not enjoying it, and even is hesitant to join the Nelson's on a swimming trip to Planet Araxie. Araxie is a planet of mostly ocean with islands. Drake eventually admits that he's afraid of pools and raging water because he doesn't know how to swim. Zack makes it his mission to teach Drake how to swim.

What spoiled, spoiled children the Nelson children are.

I will hand it to O'Ryan that it is good that this story shows helping a friend without mocking them as a good thing, and as I've said in another review, I know adults who could use a refresher course because of how rude, mean, selfish, and abrasive they are. So, that is a plus. However, I do question how I would've felt reading this series as a child (if I would've read a lot) comparing it to my life back then. Oh, my parents took me on vacations, but goodness, in 8 books, Zack and his sisters have gone on more vacations than I did growing up. It certainly helps that daddy is probably rich... I can't help but wonder how much planet hopping costs daddy, and whether or not all these vacations are having a positive impact on the children... or if the children are enjoying being spoiled to the point that they forget that others don't have it as easy as they do. You don't need to go on vacation just because something came up.

I guess I should say that I don't think the Nelson family are necessarily bad people. I just think the way they've been written makes them look like they're living in unnecessary luxury. I don't even know people who can afford to take a trip as much as this family does.

1 star.
Profile Image for Ariel.
370 reviews5 followers
August 23, 2023
Galaxy Zack Drake Makes a Splash, and it was a super-duper cool book! The story is all about Zack and his friend Drake. They live in this galaxy with a planet that's all covered in water, like a big ocean! The water planet has tiny islands, as small as ants on a huge map, but they're as big as a real house. Imagine that!

Zack really wants to help Drake learn how to swim before they go to the water planet. But Drake is a little bit scared of the water. He thinks there might be sharks or water snakes, which is kinda like the way I feel about the deep end of the pool. I totally get you, Drake!

So, Zack and Drake start practicing swimming in a little wading pool they have. Zack wants Drake to learn fast so they can have fun on the water planet. But sometimes, Zack puts too much pressure on Drake. Oops! That's not so great.

Then, Zack's twin sisters, Kathy and Charlotte, step in to help. They teach Drake to swim in the wading pool. But guess what? They decide to go to the huge pool at Nebu Dome! It's like a super big rectangular pool. Drake gets even more scared because it's deep and big. But they want him to get used to it, just like how the water planet is all water, no land, just water.

Drake learns to swim in the big pool with some help from his sisters. That's awesome! But now there's an even bigger challenge. The water planet's ocean is even bigger than the biggest pool. Drake has to be super brave and use all his courage to face it. The book teaches us that it's important to try new things and not be scared. Maybe we'll even end up liking it!

I really liked this book because it's exciting and makes me think about trying new things, just like Drake did. Zack and Drake are great friends who help each other, and that's really nice. If you like adventures and learning about being brave, you should totally read "Galaxy's Zack Drake Makes a Splash"!

Get the full scoop on this book by watching my review on my YouTube channel.
https://youtu.be/jYrihYdm7zs
Profile Image for Becky B.
9,192 reviews181 followers
May 18, 2020
It's super hot on Nebulon and Zack dreams of nothing other than playing in water. But Drake is afraid of the water. Can Zack and his family help Drake get over his fear and learn to swim so they can visit the water planet, Araxie for vacation?

Zack learns a really important lesson on the power of kindness to motivate over taunting/teasing/shaming. I loved how not just Zack, but his whole family helped Drake get over his fear of the water gently and help him learn how to swim. The planet they finally get to visit is super imaginative. Another fantastic adventure with Zack. I especially liked the message in this one, and I want to visit Araxie for vacation myself now. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Mary T.
1,928 reviews21 followers
May 28, 2022
My library had many in the series, but not the first one, so I tried to pick a title that I thought my 4 year old would connect with. It was okay. It would've been better to read the first one to explain why he was on another planet in the first place. I like other early chapter book series better, but we may try another one someday because my son was engaged.
Profile Image for Zazie.
800 reviews
April 18, 2021
This series is great for any child. I'm an adult and have been enjoying it so far. Recommended.
Profile Image for Jackie.
24 reviews
July 25, 2022
I read this series with my lower elementary students. The books are adorable and helps teach life lessons in a fun way.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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