The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kedra80's review against another edition
1.0
Read this book with my son as part of a summer reading challenge we have for each other. Both of us agreed, the book was typical Jon Scieszka style, and we just didn't "get" it:( I can't believe it's on the Iowa Children's Choice List this year, but I guess some kids may enjoy the quarkiness, just not us.
librarylisa614's review against another edition
3.0
Such a boy read (true to Scieszka)... it was kind of funny, but I wasn't as into it as I had hoped. I may pick up the second just to see if it moves anywhere interesting.
chadstep's review against another edition
2.0
With lots of pop and local (East Coast) colloquialisms, and a storyline that reminds me of the way young people write stories with lots of silly character names and bizarre plot twists, I feel dizzy after reading this.
neothe0ne's review against another edition
3.0
Too spastic for my tastes, but I can see young boys loving it. The scientific facts sprinkled throughout were a nice touch.
pwbalto's review against another edition
3.0
Any book that name-checks the nastiest old old-man dive bar in Park Slope automatically gains my respect. I was happily muddling through this latest goof-fest from Former Ambassador Scieszka, when the Beset Protagonist and his friendly alien antagonists walked past a building with a sign on it that read "Jackie's 5th Amendment." Jackie's 5th Amendment? Dude. I knew the kids were in Brooklyn, and I even knew they were in Park Slope, but they were on 5th Avenue just down from the Chip Shop? I was just there! And Jackie's 5th Amendment was a bar even *I* was hesitant to go into. Here's what the neighbors and critics say about the place:
"In an otherwise beautiful, friendly and decent neighborhood, Jackie's attracts an awful clientele of alcoholics, alcoholics and alcoholics. Patrons harass the neighbors and wander around the streets like belligerent zombies. Jackie's is a place where the hopeless go to bide time before their deaths."
"How many winos does it take to line up at a bar's door at 7am? It depends: How many stools are inside?"
"If you're secretly harboring a longing for the nightlife of a two-bit hometown, complete with cheap furniture, out of date music, patrons too old to give a crap about irony or the next big thing, then you'll want to seek out Jackie's."
How's the book? The book is fine. It's cute. It's got excellent online ancillaries. Did it make me laugh out loud? Well, no. Sometimes I don't laugh out loud. But it did make me wonder if I ever sat next to Jon Scieszka at O'Connor's, the other old-man bar in Park Slope. I bet Jon Scieszka would do a great impersonation of a belligerent zombie - god knows I do!
"In an otherwise beautiful, friendly and decent neighborhood, Jackie's attracts an awful clientele of alcoholics, alcoholics and alcoholics. Patrons harass the neighbors and wander around the streets like belligerent zombies. Jackie's is a place where the hopeless go to bide time before their deaths."
"How many winos does it take to line up at a bar's door at 7am? It depends: How many stools are inside?"
"If you're secretly harboring a longing for the nightlife of a two-bit hometown, complete with cheap furniture, out of date music, patrons too old to give a crap about irony or the next big thing, then you'll want to seek out Jackie's."
How's the book? The book is fine. It's cute. It's got excellent online ancillaries. Did it make me laugh out loud? Well, no. Sometimes I don't laugh out loud. But it did make me wonder if I ever sat next to Jon Scieszka at O'Connor's, the other old-man bar in Park Slope. I bet Jon Scieszka would do a great impersonation of a belligerent zombie - god knows I do!
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
3.0
SPHDZ are here and they need YOU! Three aliens have come to Earth looking for Michael K., who they believe can help them save Earth. The three aliens come disguised as 2 school children and the class hamster, Major Fluffy. Their knowledge of the planet Earth comes from their viewing of TV commercials. Spouting off different advertisements is pretty comical. Major Fluffy provides some nice entertainment throughout the story. Kids will laugh at the humor and really enjoy this series because of it. As an adult reading a kids book, I found some parts that didn't connect the way I thought it should. Almost like Jon Scieszka, who normally can do no wrong, was under a deadline and had to put this book together quickly. But kids will love the humor and will want to continue the series.
abigailbat's review against another edition
1.0
What the... what?
I was so excited about this book, but now I'm just... confused. Michael K, new kid in school, gets stuck sitting with two very weird also-new kids in his fifth grade class. They keep telling him they're aliens (Spaceheadz, actually) and that they have to get 3.14 million people to become SPHDZ or the Earth will be turned off. Their only knowledge of the Earth is from commercials and television, so that's their frame of reference.
I can get on board with the wacky. That's not my thing, really, but I know some kids go gaga for it. My problem is that it feels like half a story. And I know that it's the first book in a series, but... nothing really happened. We met the characters. They had some hijinx. And then it ended. There's no real urgency, "turning the Earth off" is never explained. I don't even really get what SPHDZ is (is it just shorthand for "Spaceheadz"?).
Kids may still read it - it's got a good cover and an interesting premise and maybe they'll laugh at all the toilet paper, pickle phones, and head injuries. But I'm still just saying "What the... what?"
**Important to note is that I'm reviewing from an ARC without the final artwork. Maybe the art will help me understand it?**
I was so excited about this book, but now I'm just... confused. Michael K, new kid in school, gets stuck sitting with two very weird also-new kids in his fifth grade class. They keep telling him they're aliens (Spaceheadz, actually) and that they have to get 3.14 million people to become SPHDZ or the Earth will be turned off. Their only knowledge of the Earth is from commercials and television, so that's their frame of reference.
I can get on board with the wacky. That's not my thing, really, but I know some kids go gaga for it. My problem is that it feels like half a story. And I know that it's the first book in a series, but... nothing really happened. We met the characters. They had some hijinx. And then it ended. There's no real urgency, "turning the Earth off" is never explained. I don't even really get what SPHDZ is (is it just shorthand for "Spaceheadz"?).
Kids may still read it - it's got a good cover and an interesting premise and maybe they'll laugh at all the toilet paper, pickle phones, and head injuries. But I'm still just saying "What the... what?"
**Important to note is that I'm reviewing from an ARC without the final artwork. Maybe the art will help me understand it?**
ubalstecha's review against another edition
3.0
Jon Scieszka is a children's publishing legend. The former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, he is also the author The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Stinky Cheese Man and the Time Warp Trio, to name a few. He is also the creator of the Trucktown series for pre-school boys. Scieszka has been a one man band when it comes to getting boys to read.
SPHDZ is this the latest edition to his stable of funny, often silly and ridiculous, yet entertaining literature for boys. This book tells the story of Matthew whose first day at his new school turns bizarre when he is adopted by two other new kids who seem to talk in advertising and TV slogans. They also tell him they are aliens who are here to save the earth. Matthew just wants to sit somewhere else.
A funny book that will appeal to the boy with a sense of humour.
SPHDZ is this the latest edition to his stable of funny, often silly and ridiculous, yet entertaining literature for boys. This book tells the story of Matthew whose first day at his new school turns bizarre when he is adopted by two other new kids who seem to talk in advertising and TV slogans. They also tell him they are aliens who are here to save the earth. Matthew just wants to sit somewhere else.
A funny book that will appeal to the boy with a sense of humour.
ubalstecha's review against another edition
3.0
Michael K. is having an interesting Grade 5 year. He has started at a new school and was immediately teamed up with two other new students. To say they are a little wierd would be an understatement. They are, in fact, aliens who have been sent to earth to prevent our destruction, and they have recruited Michael K. to help.
In book two, Micheal has recruited his friends TJ and Venus to help him with the project. They agree to do this, while dealing with a kindergarten play and advancing AAA agents. Can they hit the target set by the aliens to avoid destruction?
Jon Scieszka is in prime silly form with this book. His prime audience, primary boys, will love the silliness of this book. Scieszka has also laid out the threads for the plot continuing in a third book. Fun for the late primary/early junior reader in your life.
In book two, Micheal has recruited his friends TJ and Venus to help him with the project. They agree to do this, while dealing with a kindergarten play and advancing AAA agents. Can they hit the target set by the aliens to avoid destruction?
Jon Scieszka is in prime silly form with this book. His prime audience, primary boys, will love the silliness of this book. Scieszka has also laid out the threads for the plot continuing in a third book. Fun for the late primary/early junior reader in your life.
ki4eva's review
3.0
Cute book. You will be laughing throughout the entire book. If you liked the Wimpy Kid series or the dork diaries, you will like this book.