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candicec's review against another edition
4.0
This book is part of the OBOB reading list for 3-5 grade this year. My daughter and I read it together. It's a good little story with great characters and some science tossed into the plot. We enjoyed it. Super quick read!
ryceejo's review against another edition
3.0
Super cute story – I listened to it on audiobook with my 5yo during our drives. I was disappointed to discover at the end that it is a series, and I'm not sure if she has the attention span to continue it. I love the way science facts are interwoven into the story.
agatha_hopkins's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
mselizabeth87's review against another edition
3.0
I can see why students nominated this book for the Maud Hart Lovelace Award-- it's funny, Zach is a relatable character etc-- but it just didn't hold my attention. Although I believe that adults can enjoy children's books (and I usually do) this is one where the intended audience enjoys it best. Alien in My Pocket: Blast Off! ended on a major cliff hanger, so it will be interesting to see where it goes next.
tami_provencher's review against another edition
3.0
We meet Zack, the main character, after he has fallen asleep at his desk studying for the first science quiz of his 4th Grade career. He spots a shooting star and quickly wishes:
After making his wish Zack realizes the shooting star is NOT fading. It's getting bigger. And coming closer!
Zack is thrilled when his "shooting star" turns out to be a spaceship containing a small, blue alien named Amp from the planet Erde. Until, that is, Amp informs him there is an Erde attack force ready to invade Earth. If Amp and Zack can't fix Amp's ship and get him home in time to stop the invasion Earth and Erde will be at war.
Oh--and Amp figures they need to get this done by 4:40 pm the following afternoon.
Blast Off! has some genius scenes of slapstick humor sprinkled throughout the story. Zack is likeable and his neighbor and sort-of friend, Olivia, shows a lot of promise as a wise-cracking sidekick.
This first book in the Alien in My Pocket series has silliness and science exploding from its pages. This is a perfect choice for a 6-9 year-old-reader who loves science--particularly space and rockets. The book includes directions for building your own rocket after reading about Zack, Olivia and Amp's attempts (both failures and successes). The combination of humor and hands-on interactive ideas make Blast Off! a great companion to a classroom science unit about space travel or mechanics of rocketry.
1) to make the travel baseball team
2) to get better grades; and
3) to avoid detention all year
After making his wish Zack realizes the shooting star is NOT fading. It's getting bigger. And coming closer!
Zack is thrilled when his "shooting star" turns out to be a spaceship containing a small, blue alien named Amp from the planet Erde. Until, that is, Amp informs him there is an Erde attack force ready to invade Earth. If Amp and Zack can't fix Amp's ship and get him home in time to stop the invasion Earth and Erde will be at war.
Oh--and Amp figures they need to get this done by 4:40 pm the following afternoon.
Blast Off! has some genius scenes of slapstick humor sprinkled throughout the story. Zack is likeable and his neighbor and sort-of friend, Olivia, shows a lot of promise as a wise-cracking sidekick.
This first book in the Alien in My Pocket series has silliness and science exploding from its pages. This is a perfect choice for a 6-9 year-old-reader who loves science--particularly space and rockets. The book includes directions for building your own rocket after reading about Zack, Olivia and Amp's attempts (both failures and successes). The combination of humor and hands-on interactive ideas make Blast Off! a great companion to a classroom science unit about space travel or mechanics of rocketry.
violets_mom's review against another edition
3.0
Another MHL candidate for the year. This was a fun story with engaging pictures, though the writing falls flat in places. While I understand - and appreciate - the science references, it felt forced at points. That being said, it's still entertaining to read about tiny aliens invading Earth and devising ways to help them leave.
catinthelibrary's review
3.0
*I read this book for my Around the Children's Section Challenge which can be found here: www.undeniablylibrarian.wordpress.com
Nate Ball’s Alien In My Pocket: Blast Off! is a lighthearted story about how fourth-grader Zach McGee deals with an alien life form whom crashes it’s spaceship into his room! Luckily for Zach, the invading alien named Amp is only the size of a hamster, and is actually pretty nice once you get to know him. Amp reveals that he is a scout from his home planet, and that his race plans on taking over the Earth! In order to stop them from destroying humanity (or maybe not, since Amp’s weapons tickle more than everything) Zach and his friend Olivia must find a way to send Amp back up into space within 24 hours.
I found this book to be charming and would recommend it for children from grades 1-5 depending on their reading level. (This book has an AR level of 4.5 and a Lexile score of 690.) I also could see this book being used as a read aloud since the chapters are relatively short and funny. I would suggest this book for fans of science fiction, or for students who enjoyed the My Weird School series by Dan Gutman.
Nate Ball’s Alien In My Pocket: Blast Off! is a lighthearted story about how fourth-grader Zach McGee deals with an alien life form whom crashes it’s spaceship into his room! Luckily for Zach, the invading alien named Amp is only the size of a hamster, and is actually pretty nice once you get to know him. Amp reveals that he is a scout from his home planet, and that his race plans on taking over the Earth! In order to stop them from destroying humanity (or maybe not, since Amp’s weapons tickle more than everything) Zach and his friend Olivia must find a way to send Amp back up into space within 24 hours.
I found this book to be charming and would recommend it for children from grades 1-5 depending on their reading level. (This book has an AR level of 4.5 and a Lexile score of 690.) I also could see this book being used as a read aloud since the chapters are relatively short and funny. I would suggest this book for fans of science fiction, or for students who enjoyed the My Weird School series by Dan Gutman.
mclent's review
3.0
Fun, learning experience for wee ones. Slightly dated sensibilities (i.e., school-sanctioned party where grade school kids eat a lot of junk food and drink liters of soda).
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