MOLLY AND THE MUTANTS

Molly McQuirter and her newly rebuilt superbike, Pink Lightning II, are back to save Far Flung Falls, Ohio, from Oldsmobile-eating mutant frogs.

In Molly and the Machine (2022), 11-year-old Molly and an unlikely assortment of heroes rescued her younger brother from a giant robot. Now Molly’s cat, Crank, and several other neighborhood pets have gone missing, and Molly and friends Arvin, Leonard, Margo, and new kid Finn are on the case. As they uncover the root of the disappearances—a combine-size, three-headed, many-legged frog they call Frogzilla and its slightly smaller siblings—they find unexpected allies in Number One, the robot head from the previous adventure; their punk rock bus driver, Ronda; and a multigenerational band of bootleggers. Pink Lightning II, with new and improved rescue contraptions, and Molly’s Great-Uncle Clovis’ Zap-O-Matic ray gun, help the kids stay ahead of the ravenous amphibians. The action is nonstop, and the breath-holding moments are plentiful. Periodic chapters from the elderly, ailing cat’s point of view fill in gaps in the story and add poignancy. Navigating first crushes and first kisses brings relatable elements to the story, as does the death of Molly’s great-uncle and the changes in her family structure. The 1980s setting is developed through plenty of pop culture references and a special nod to Ozzy Osbourne’s infamous bat incident. The characters present white.

An action-packed romp with heart.