Lexie Moon and the Remote-Control Catastrophe by Melissa Garside, illustrated by Lauren Mullinder

Title: Lexie Moon and the Remote-Control Catastrophe

Author: Melissa Garside, illustrated by Lauren Mullinder

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery

Publisher: Riveted Press

Published: 16^th June 2026

Format: Paperback

Pages: 106

Price: $12.99

Synopsis: Kid inventor Lexie Moon has built a scrap-box remote-control car she hopes will win second prize in the local competition—a Mega-Boost signal amplifier she desperately wants. But when her transmitter and the prize disappear, Lexie discovers they’ve been stolen by Connie van Quish, sister of the infamous Gizmo Lightfinger. Connie has combined them into a powerful UniMote, a device capable of controlling any remotely operated machine. With gadgets across town spiralling into chaos, Lexie and Grandad race to track down the UniMote, stop Connie’s schemes and restore order. Along the way, Lexie discovers that teamwork, family—and even little sisters—can make all the difference. A fast, funny STEM-themed adventure filled with invention, problem-solving and remote-control mayhem.

~*~

Lexie Moon is a kid inventor, ready to take part in the scrap-box remote-control rally, and she has her eye on second prize – a Mega-Boost amplifier! She’s built the car and remote with her grandfather, and is excited for the race…until her little sister destroys the remote and decorates the car. Lexie scrambles to get things sorted, despite her little sister’s insistence that everything Lexie owns is hers. Grr!

Things get complicated when everyone’s remote controls go missing at the rally, which is odd. What’s even more odd is the strange shiny jacketed woman with colourful hair that Lexie and her grandfather run into the day before the race. Could she have something to do with it? She is turning up quite coincidentally.

It’s when the prize vanishes that they realise just who this is. Meet Connie van Quish, sister of Gizmo Lightfinger, whom I presume caused mischief in the previous two books which I have not read yet. She’s up to no good, trying to create a remote that can control EVERYTHING!

It’s up to Lexie and Grandad to stop her and save the town from utter destruction.

Children’s books featuring girls in STEM or as inventors are a big thing these days, as people try and encourage all children to explore the things they are really interested in rather than fitting into predetermined holes and slots based on gender and what society deems as appropriate interests for boys and girls.  This is such a joy, because it shows that there really is a book for everyone these days, and children’s books have so much more variety and diversity than they once did.

This series allows girls to explore an interest in inventing with a touch of mystery that leads the characters into a story that explores how we can work together, and benefit our family and community. The third book can be read alone, though I did get the sense that things had happened in the first two books that were connected to what was happening in this book, or at least connected to the characters.

Lexie’s determination to find out what is happening and stop Connie is strong, and the only thing trying to thwart it is her sister, Addy, who demands that everything Lexie owns is hers. I truly felt Lexie’s frustration when things were ruined, and as she was trying to stop Connie. It was very well-written and captures a sense of trying to be in a family and everything that comes with it.

The fast pace of this book will keep readers engaged with short chapters that move between action and plot points effectively. This was a fun book, filled with lots of the things that kids love.