Pod vs. Pod

Squish #8

by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm (Contributor)

* Duration: 30 minutes *

Uh-oh! Squish’s friend Pod just hasn’t been himself lately. One minute he’s happy-dancing; the next he’s sobbing in his soup. What’s going on? (Hint: “mitosis” is the process that splits single-celled organisms. That’s right, splits.) It is truly pod vs. pod—and may the best pod, umm, win?


©2021 Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (P)20201 Listening Library

Genres: Graphic Novels, Science, Humor, Comics, Childrens, Graphic Novels Comics, Friendship

1 pages, Audible Audio

First published August 23, 2016

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

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something has happened to Squish's best friend Pod. One minute he's crying, the next he's angry, then he's happy, then he's evil, then he's good. What could it be? One word, and yes it has to do with science. Will Pod ever be himself again? Find out for yourself!

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squish is back with triple the trouble as he deals with his friend’s mysterious behavior. While I like the books, I feel the series should end soon.

[tony dillard jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Squish is an amoeba. He loves comic books and twinkies. His best friend, Pod, is also a type of single-celled organism that claims to have opened a hole in the space-time continuum. At first Squish doesn't believe him. But when Pod starts having really bizarre mood swings for unknown reasons, maybe there really is something to this time anomaly thing...

Meanwhile, Squish's favorite comic book hero, Super Amoeba is starting to feel his age. In order to help save the people of Small Pond, the mayor creates a drone program to do most of the grunt work for Super Amoeba. With the drones a success, it appears that there's very little for the hero to do. Is retirement in the works for Super Amoeba?

I found that Squish was a rather fun book. Taking place in the microscopic recesses of a pond is not a story setting you see everyday. The characters were enjoyable and the writing rather humorous. I can really sense the spirit of Babymouse in this series and I thought it was really clever having Babymouse and Squish interact in the other books you might enjoy section in the back of the book. (In fact, I've love to see a crossover between the two characters and their franchises) However, I did think that one element of this book was a tad inappropriate- the subject matter of mitosis.

I'm going to go ahead and spoil it. This is a 6-year old book and for parents' sake, I need to talk about a major plot point. Pod's mood swings are the result of cellular mitosis. Mitosis is the process in which single-celled microorganisms reproduce. Should a grade school child really be reading about an elementary school aged protozoa having literal babies? The mysteries over why one of the characters seems to have 4 different personalities all of a sudden is an interesting read. I just think having children have children in a children's book for readers aged 7-10 isn't a proper thing. Even if the characters are just amoebas.

Using mitosis as a plot device does have one thing going for it. It's educational and that's something writers Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm does quite well; make books for kids fun and informative. Adding to the educational fun is a science experiment kids can do with the characters in this book (and supervising parents) as well as an activity page.

If the young reader in your life loves Babymouse, Squish is required reading. It's fun, entertaining and educational. There just happens to be a possibly controversial element twist to the story. I'm not saying to skip Squish. Just be ready to answer some potentially uncomfortable questions about reproduction.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pod, Squish's best friend, is acting oddly. More oddly than usual, given that Pod thinks himself a genius and believes that the world will end if Squish doesn't give him Twinkies. Like the previous volume, it's more substantive in terms of the science. It also gives kids a character they can relate to, in the concern Squish feels for and also the fear he has of Pod as his behavior spirals and swings.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and kind of funny with the actual explanation of what is happening to Pod - "mitosis". ;)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 7 year old and I are huge fans of the Holmes siblings. This was another great SQUISH.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

E: I think it should be called Pod vs. Pod vs. Pod vs. Pod

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel read this series in 2nd grade

funny comic books

[Paula Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in this series. I really enjoyed this series. I would like to see more. It was fun reading about Squish and friends.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids love this series. Not my favorite but I’ll oblige when they ask me to read one to them.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the eighth volume in this popular graphic novel series by the sister and brother team of Jennifer and Matthew Holm. In this volume, main character Squish is confronted with what seems like newly emerged multiple personalities of his best friend Pod. We learn later of the reason (mitosis) which makes it a fun novel to introduce this concept. The clever thing about this series is the story within the story since Squish is always reading his favorite comic about his super hero Super Amoeba. The authors always add a few fun asides (drawing tips, science experiments, and links to their other favorite graphic novel series Babymouse.)

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story: 3 stars
Art: 4 stars

This eighth installment of the Squish series has some flawed logic. If the amoeba can split using mitosis, then why aren't they dividing all the time? What stimuli causes this to occur and why are the replicas of Pod not exact personality matches as well? What exactly does Pod do to eliminate his extra selves, and why don't they check the locker?

Another graphic novel series by the Holm siblings, aimed at chapter book readers, but the Squish series doesn't have the magic of the Babymouse books. All the characters in this series are microorganisms. The color scheme is black, white, and green, since this series targets boys. Squish, an amoeba, loves comic books, especially his favorite superhero, Super Amoeba. It's a strength of this series, and a tribute to the power of literature in children's lives (yes, comic books are children's literature, too), that the issue of Super Amoeba that Squish is reading parallels whatever is going on in Squish's own life. As in the Babymouse series, there is an off-screen narrator who comments on what is happening in the Squish books.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squish needs to figure out what's going on with Pod. One minute Pod is all sunshine and happiness, and the next he's all doom and gloom. In the comic world, Super Amoeba tries to get more efficient with tech help, but something doesn't seem quite right.

The whole thing going on with Pod provides a little opportunity for someone to suggest it's just hormones as he's growing up. Of course, it isn't that, but it is good that some lit aimed at the preteen group is giving them a little, tiny heads up that that can be a side effect. The Super Amoeba comic maybe possibly could be read as a commentary on the lack of heart in automated tech that replaces human interaction. Overall, it's entertaining. Not my favorite Squish, but definitely not bad.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. In the Super Amoeba comics some bad critters get blasted. No other violence (though Pod threatens some).

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this eighth title in the Squish graphic novel series, Squish's friend Pod has been acting mighty strange lately. One minute, he's friendly and affectionate, and the next minute, he seems ready to eat Squish. After spending much of the book being terribly confused, Squish realized that there are four versions of his friend, and mitosis can be blamed--or credited--for the changes and the doubling. What a fun way to learn about an important science concept! I laughed at the image of three versions of Pod being held captive in a school locker. Let's hope no one ever opens that thing. Fans of Squish will want to own this one for their very own, and those who love Babymouse will certainly want to give it a try. I promise that you won't be disappointed.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, fun!!

[Sophia W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each book added seems to cover another aspect of amoebas. Very cool.

[Holly Letson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25*

I didn't care for Pod's attitude in this volume.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Squish must face his friend in this wacky time!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon gives all the squish books except #7 5 big stars!! This would have been better/perfect without the gross worm.

[Jingyu Yuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of the series which talking about the pod that could split into so many "pod"s. Squish has a friend named Pod and he just hasn’t been himself lately. He changing his mood real quick; one minute he’s happy and then another time he's angry and the next he’s sobbing. Finally Squish found out that Pod could split into so many "Pod"s because he is the one that could mitosis.

The book has strong characterization because we could see the different between the main character and many different "Pod"s. The themes related to the young reader because it happens in school. The book engaging to the plot, and simple sentences with direct dialog because it is explaining "mitosis" though a story in school and there's a little story in the whole book which is the book that Squish read and it is cute for us to read about.

The color in the book is light which shows the mood in the book is happy and peace. And the lines in the book most are vertical which showed us the stability, and separate elements are going on.

[Jenna Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun graphic novels with engaging pictures and fun sound effects for reading aloud. I wish it had some jokes in it, though. Maybe it's just social conditioning, but whenever I see a comic strip layout, I expect a few funnies.

There's not really a strong message at the end of the book either, it just continues as if you need to pick up the next book in order to come to a conclusion of any kind.

Love the science facts and the experiment at the end of the book; they make it a 4 star instead of a 3 star. We'll keep reading these.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the strongest Squish, but there is a cliffhanger that could be interesting.

[Milo O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good