A review by lovegirl30
The Alien That Ate My Socks, Volume 1 by Brandon Dorman
4.0
Previously posted on The Young Girl Who Loved Books
I have to say that this was the cutest book about an alien that I have read. This book is filled with things any kid would love like whimsy, puns, and pretty lame jokes. There are some laugh out moments and the brothers have quite interesting antics.
The book shares a glimpse into the life of the Hooligan brothers. The boys Henry, Hector, and Hank. The Hooligan boys are quite mischievous and often get themselves into quite a bit of trouble. The book starts out during their last week of summer. The brothers have encountered an interesting, albeit quite large purple alien. This alien loves to devour clothing. Which is something I have never read about in a middle-grade novel, I believe kids will love this quirky detail.
The boys learn that perhaps this Alien really isn't that bad after he saves a neighbor girl from a fire. They protect him from the authorities that are trying to capture him. I really thought their efforts to save him was cute. This part is really fast-paced and action-packed.
I loved this book but I did notice that there were several storylines that seem to never develop and kind of become tangents. I think there was just the possibility for so many different ideas the author got sort of wrapped up in them.
One thing that I did like that unlike most middle-grade novels don't do was that he involved the parents from the very beginning. I also liked that the parents were wholesome and not at all bad or villain like. I feel like this is becoming a rarity in middle-grade novels. I enjoyed the fact the boys felt loved, and like they had a happy family.
Overall this is a great children's books. I would recommend this to parents and teachers with kids in the 2nd to 6th grades. I believe this would be a fun book for boys and girls alike.
Disclaimer: I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All thoughts are my own.