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mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
What I expected: Lots of Junior High, Kelvin trying to fit in, being honest. Oh and maybe a bit of evil scientist.
What you get is 50%-ish school/life and 50% annoying, stupid, frustrating, please throw him into space or burn him evil scientist who was just butt hurt because he didn't get a spot at the station. I am -1 starring for those parts. They were not only boring, but also annoying and I just wanted to kick that dude into space. He was an allround terrible character and he shouldn't have gotten so many chapters.
The school life? I loved those, it was great fun to see what stuff they learned at school, to see Kelvin make friends, and to see the food they ate (hint, it is alive).
I also loved that the book had fun dialogues, illustrations, comics. It really made the book come to life.
So yeah, remove the scientist, or give him just a few small parts (near the end) and voila I would have rated this book a 4.5 stars. But now I will rate it 3.5 stars.
What you get is 50%-ish school/life and 50% annoying, stupid, frustrating, please throw him into space or burn him evil scientist who was just butt hurt because he didn't get a spot at the station. I am -1 starring for those parts. They were not only boring, but also annoying and I just wanted to kick that dude into space. He was an allround terrible character and he shouldn't have gotten so many chapters.
The school life? I loved those, it was great fun to see what stuff they learned at school, to see Kelvin make friends, and to see the food they ate (hint, it is alive).
I also loved that the book had fun dialogues, illustrations, comics. It really made the book come to life.
So yeah, remove the scientist, or give him just a few small parts (near the end) and voila I would have rated this book a 4.5 stars. But now I will rate it 3.5 stars.
raohyrule's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I received an ARC for this book yesterday at NYCC, and I have to say, it was fun to read a kid's book after so much YA.
I can definitely see young readers enjoying this as much as I enjoyed Franny K. Stein when I was in elementary school.
But I do feel like, since the main character is about 12 (7th grade), the projected age of the audience would be 12 year olds, and I feel like this material and writing style is too simplistic for that age group. When I was 11-12, me and the kids my age were reading things like Breaking Dawn and The Outsiders.
Other than that I thought it was a fun adventure for young, unenthusiastic readers, which is what, at the end of the day, it was trying to accomplish. I'll definitely check out the finished copy in February to see the final illustrations.
I received an ARC for this book yesterday at NYCC, and I have to say, it was fun to read a kid's book after so much YA.
I can definitely see young readers enjoying this as much as I enjoyed Franny K. Stein when I was in elementary school.
But I do feel like, since the main character is about 12 (7th grade), the projected age of the audience would be 12 year olds, and I feel like this material and writing style is too simplistic for that age group. When I was 11-12, me and the kids my age were reading things like Breaking Dawn and The Outsiders.
Other than that I thought it was a fun adventure for young, unenthusiastic readers, which is what, at the end of the day, it was trying to accomplish. I'll definitely check out the finished copy in February to see the final illustrations.
deliah27's review against another edition
5.0
My 7 yr old son and I really enjoyed reading this book together and can't wait for the next one. I asked him what he'd rate the book from 1 to 5 and he said, "10".
a_h_haga's review against another edition
4.0
I got a copy of the Norwegian translation of this book for free from the publishing house, but have chosen to review on my own.
I read this book in one day. I don't have any kids or anything, but I still find it fun to read children books every now and again.
This book was a surprising lot of fun.
I liked the whole school idea it had going on, and the mix of drawings and writing it used as story telling. I also liked the plot and the subplot, so rating it wasn't that hard.
I actually want a sequel for this.
I read this book in one day. I don't have any kids or anything, but I still find it fun to read children books every now and again.
This book was a surprising lot of fun.
I liked the whole school idea it had going on, and the mix of drawings and writing it used as story telling. I also liked the plot and the subplot, so rating it wasn't that hard.
I actually want a sequel for this.
maidmarianlib's review against another edition
4.0
Very fun Sci-Fi book, has illustrations and comics as part of it which adds some great fun.
katiespina's review against another edition
2.0
I listened to this audiobook. Based on that, it seems this is a graphic novelization hybrid with more illustrations that a standard MG story. The reading level is 3.9, or the 9th month of 3rd grade, so it's at a level much lower than what I'm trying to write.
The story is simple: parents are making a robot to get this thing that melts people who go near it. Underappreciated scientist who was invited to be a janitor (but nobody told him he was going to be a janitor) is rightfully offended. NOTE: he's the 3rd most brilliant scientist from Earth, so it's not like he's like #97 of the top 100 scientists and it's silly that he would be offended. Anyway, he decides to become an evil scientist because then maybe he'll get some respect. (SPOILER - he doesn't)
The kids are kids. I'm sure the illustrations help a lot in the way of character development. That's something that it has in common with Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
The kids "save the day" except it doesn't really solve the ultimate problem that caused the family to move to the science station in the first place, so I'm not sure it's a "happy ending?" Plus, Kelvin reveals his big secret and there are literally no consequences, so I'm not sure why it was even made into an issue.
And, there's a lot of stress on whether the principal is a he or a she which is completely unnecessary, not handled well, and is mildly insulting.
I didn't expect a lot from James Patterson, and while he didn't write this one, it's his imprint. It's pretty much what I expected. Overall a disappointment.
The story is simple: parents are making a robot to get this thing that melts people who go near it. Underappreciated scientist who was invited to be a janitor (but nobody told him he was going to be a janitor) is rightfully offended. NOTE: he's the 3rd most brilliant scientist from Earth, so it's not like he's like #97 of the top 100 scientists and it's silly that he would be offended. Anyway, he decides to become an evil scientist because then maybe he'll get some respect. (SPOILER - he doesn't)
The kids are kids. I'm sure the illustrations help a lot in the way of character development. That's something that it has in common with Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
The kids "save the day" except it doesn't really solve the ultimate problem that caused the family to move to the science station in the first place, so I'm not sure it's a "happy ending?" Plus, Kelvin reveals his big secret and there are literally no consequences, so I'm not sure why it was even made into an issue.
And, there's a lot of stress on whether the principal is a he or a she which is completely unnecessary, not handled well, and is mildly insulting.
I didn't expect a lot from James Patterson, and while he didn't write this one, it's his imprint. It's pretty much what I expected. Overall a disappointment.
bookedwithsmitty's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book free at fair. I thought it would be an interesting book for my reluctant readers in 4th grade to read. On 1st glance the book looks like it will be a long read. But, the graphics and the story plot should be enough to keep them interested. I took away one star because I thought the ending was a little flat. But, I guess that's what sequels are for.
scaifea's review against another edition
2.0
A boy and his scientist parents move to a new planet and he must adjust to a new school and also inadvertently defeat an evil scientist.
Meh. S'okay but not fabulous.
Meh. S'okay but not fabulous.
whenshanreads's review against another edition
5.0
My. Son. Loved. This. Book.
I was given an ARC thru the Goodreads Giveaway and gave it to my son who thoroughly enjoys Sci-Fi books. He read it within a week. He would carry it around with him wherever we went. To this day he still picks it up and re-reads many parts. I am so glad he enjoyed it and thank you again for the book!
I was given an ARC thru the Goodreads Giveaway and gave it to my son who thoroughly enjoys Sci-Fi books. He read it within a week. He would carry it around with him wherever we went. To this day he still picks it up and re-reads many parts. I am so glad he enjoyed it and thank you again for the book!
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