With his fantastical imagination, Tony Diterlizzi makes reading fun and appealing with his references to future technologies and using his characters to enhance the meaning of life. The main character is a human, Eva Ninee, 12 or 13, who has lived underground her entire life and has been cared for by a robot named Muthr (Multi-Utility Task Help Robot). They live in an undrground Sanctuary but are forced to flee after a huntsman destroys the Sanctuary. Once she is above ground, she meets some unlikely friends and journeys out across Orbana in search of other humans. Many challenges confront Eva Nine and Muthr, expecially the huntsman. (Won't he ever go away?) This book is the first of a series of three. Can't wait for the next one!

Reviewed by: cjones

Date read: 11/22/2010

ISBN-13: 9781416983101

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Life is perfect in Suburb HM1. The people live inside domes that protect them from pollution and weather. Yard work consists of changing your window decorations each season. When you want a child, you simply order one from the government. But the newest 'Wonder Babies' are starting to grow up. They are so smart that as soon as they start school, they run their own classrooms. However, they also ask questions that nobody wants to answer. The Wonder Babies are finally recalled, like a faulty product. When a rail car comes to take the children away, 13-year-old Martin decides he needs to find out what happened to them. After all one of those children is his own sister.

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 11/30/2010

ISBN-10: 1416924221

ISBN-13: 9781416924227

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Commenter: Scpl Reader, grade 7

Blork has discovered that throwing tantrums is an easy way to get what he wants. Then the Big Pest Squad seizes his pet poodnoobie, and even a tantrum won't help. Soon Blork has taken flight with his pet, and he discovers a new land with strange creatures under the rule of a temperamental king. Will Blork and his pet be stuck here forever? This entertaining read is one of many chapter books featuring aliens by Bruce Coville.

Similar books: Space Brat 3: The Wrath of Squat by Bruce Coville

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 12/10/2010

ISBN-10: 0671745670

ISBN-13: 9780671745677

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Eleven-year-old Thomas has lived a quiet life with his father in an English village for the last five years. Much to his surprise, his father tells him that they are leaving to return to their real home, the planet Ormingat. The plan is for them to return to their golfball-sized spaceship before Christmas, but everything seems to go wrong. Will they make it home? This book focuses on the very human relationships between Thomas, his father, and his friends. The writing is gentle and low-key, and the aliens are benevolent beings. Though a bit slow to get started, once the story takes off, this has an intriguing plot.

Reviewed by: msp

Date read: 12/2/2010

ISBN-10: 1849410976

ISBN-13: 9781849410977

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Alex has a pesky little brother named Jonathan who is always getting into his things. Alex decides that the obvious solution is to build Star Jumper, a spaceship made out of cardboard boxes and duct tape, and fly into outer space far away from Jonathan. After testing the spaceship, Alex realizes that he must return to Earth to create a Micro-blaster. What happens when he accidentally blasts Jonathan, and some other inventions go awry, too? Read this hilarious book for a new view of sibling rivalry and cardboard inventions. Look for the sequels: Gravity Buster and Time Twister.

Reviewed by: msp

Date read: 11/8/2010

ISBN-10: 1553378865

ISBN-13: 9781553378860

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