Book Reviews and More: Generator Rex The Trade - Barry Hutchinson

Generator Rex The Trade

Generator Rex 1

Barry Hutchinson

aka Barry J. Hutchison

aka J.D. Kirk

Egmont Books

Cartoon Network

ISBN 9781405261012

eISBN 9781780310954

ASIN B005DIANP6

Ok I admit I knew nothing about Generator Rex when I picked this up. I only knew the author and figured it would be like his Space Team series but for a younger audience, boy was I wrong. It appears Generator Rex was a cartoon series on the Cartoon Network It appears to have ran from 2010-2013 and the two novels from Hutchison came out in 2011. I am uncertain if they are novelizations of plots from the 5009 episodes or side stores. There also appear to be three early reader books and other novels or novelizations outside the two by Hutchison. There even appears to have been some crossover episodes with Ben 10 which I do recall, but do not think I ever watches.

Several months before reading this I encountered the works of J.D. Kirk I also discovered that Kirk publishes children’s books as Barry Hutchison, and other adult fiction as Barry J. Hutchison. I have read 20 stories published under the Kirk Name and I am now branching out to the ones under the Hutchinson names, this is the 8 under that name. He is coming up on 175 books across the three pen names. If I had known that or I might not have picked up this first one. But I am very thankful I did. Friends call me a ‘completionist’ in that when I find an author I like, I try to read everything they have published. I have enjoyed all I have read from his pen and this one was no different.

A description of the TV Series states:

“Rex Salazar is a sixteen-year-old,[2] amnesiac EVO with the ability to grow weapons and machines out of his body at will. Prior to the Nanite Event, he was one of the initial recipients of a controlled batch of nanites. Unlike a majority of EVOs, Rex has control over his nanites and is the only known being capable of curing other EVOs. Since childhood, Rex was employed as a secret weapon for Providence, a global organization dedicated to protecting the world from rampaging EVOs.”

The description of this story is:

“Rex is kidnapped and forced to trade his nanite data with Van Kleiss, who steals his machine modes, leaving Rex helpless.”

At the end of the book was an 8 question quiz to see how much you could recall from reading the book, a great tool for the classroom or parents reading with their children. The story runs at a breakneck pace. Pretty much from start to finish. It is one battle and conflict after another. Knowing nothing about the characters or the story arc the book starts fast and races to the finish. As soon as I finished I mentioned it to my son and he asked if he could read it after the current book he is on. The characters are fun. The story intriguing even though written for a younger audience. And It leaves you wanting the next volume Mirror, Mirror and has a preview of it at the end.

This book marks the 30th offering from Hutchison I have read in the last 10 months, under the three names he publishes under. They have all been entertaining reads. Many an easy 5/5 stars, this a very solid 4. This story was a very entertaining read, but with the ending it will leave you desperate for the next instalment. A good read from the pen of Barry Hutchison, aka Barry J. Hutchinson aka J.D. Kirk.

Note: I had to track this down through a digital library loan in the UK, it was worth it.

Generator Rex Books:

The Trade - Barry Hutchison

Mirror, Mirror - Barry Hutcison

Evos and Heroes - Billy Wrecks

...

Generator Rex Leveled Readers:

Leader of the Pack - Jason Gots

Riddle of the Sphinx - Sebastian Belle

The Swarm - Billy Wrecks

...

Other Generator Rex Books: