Tank & Fizz – The Case of the Battling Bots

Liam O'Donnell's The Case of the Battling Bots is a monster detective story for 9 year olds about proving that the school bully is a cheat.

What happens

Fizz Marlow is a fourth-grade goblin who talks like a detective in an old film. His best friend and partner, Tank Wrenchlin, is a troll who builds gadgets (most of them work). Together they take on cases at Gravelmuck Elementary.

This time their clients are the Troll Patrol, three older trolls who build the best battle bots in school. They're sure Rizzo Rawlins has bought his robot and its computer code instead of making them himself, which is against the rules. Rizzo is a kobold whose rich dad pays for half the school, and he cheats at everything.

Proving it is the hard part. Fizz nearly gets flattened by Rizzo's bot. He's dangled off the back of the bleachers by a pair of ogre twins. Then he's hauled into the office of Principal Weaver, a giant spider whose rule is three strikes and you're lunch!

Before long it's bigger than a school contest. There's a brand-new stadium, a very rich company and a hacker hiding behind the face of an ancient demon.

Fizz's voice is the best part. He freezes like a midwinter booger on a bike rack. He'd much rather be at home with his video games and a plate of choco-slug cookies. You can really hear him.

The monster world is great fun too, with glowshroom patches, adverts for fangpaste and a harbour full of goopy slick.

It's a proper mystery with a clear sense of right and wrong. Rizzo gets away with things because the grown-ups like his dad's money. Isn't that something most children have seen at some point (and had strong feelings about)?

A few American school words turn up, like fourth grade and bleachers, but they won't slow anyone down.

What to read next

For another case with the same two detectives, try The Case of the Slime Stampede, which begins with cleaning slimes eating the principal's car.