Five Alien Elves [Turtleback]

Gregory Maguire (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2001

On the night before Christmas, something is flying over Hamlet, Vermont, but it isn't a sleigh with reindeer. It's a UFO bearing five aliens on a mission: to free this planet from its evil dictator, a fat man in a red suit and a long white beard. Disguised as Earthlings--well, elves--they meet Mayor Grass, fresh from his annual appearance in Santa Claus costume, and capture him. It's up to Miss Earth's students, the Tattletales (all the girls except Pearl) and the Copycats (all the boys), to set aside their differences and concoct a rescue scheme. In this Yuletide sequel to Seven Spiders Spinning and Six Haunted Hairdos, visitors from the Planet Fixipuddle join the familiar folks of Hamlet--Miss Earth, Grandma Earth, and the rival Tattletales and Copycats--in a comic extravaganza that is literally out of this world.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5?This off-the-wall story continues the saga of two rival clubs chronicled in Seven Spiders Spinning (1994) and Six Haunted Hairdos (1997, both Clarion). When five aliens from planet Fixipuddle crash-land in Hamlet, VT on Christmas Eve, they misinterpret a Christmas special on television, and end up kidnapping the town mayor. The Copycats and the Tattletales, aided by their teacher Miss Earth and a dog named Reebok, come up with a wild plan to rescue him and teach the Fixipuddlings the meaning of Christmas. The tone is light and zany, with jokes and puns galore. The characterization is thin as ice and the plot is as improbable as, well, snow in July or aliens in December, but that is beside the point. Kids will lap up this insubstantial but yummy tale as if it were a candy cane.?EM
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This clever comedy, with humor both braod and sly, has the odd combination of hilariously fractious aliens and a generous amount of Christmas cheer, but it works." -- Review

"This clever comedy, with humor both braod and sly, has the odd combination of hilariously fractious aliens and a generous amount of Christmas cheer, but it works." (Kirkus Reviews ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606199705
• ISBN-13: 978-0606199704
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,952,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gregory Maguire received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Tufts University, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He was a professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature from 1979-1985. In 1987 he co-founded Children's Literature New England. He still serves as co-director of CLNE, although that organization has announced its intention to close after its 2006 institute.
The bestselling author of Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Lost, Mirror Mirror, and the Wicked Years, a series that includes Wicked, Son of a Witch, and A Lion Among Men. Wicked, now a beloved classic, is the basis for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. Maguire has lectured on art, literature, and culture both at home and abroad.
He has three adopted children and is married to painter Andy Newman. He lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Parent from Chicago Suburbs, December 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Five Alien Elves (The Hamlet Chronicles) (Paperback)

This is a cute, humorous book but parents BEWARE! This book is NOT for Santa believers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Christmas Book!, January 23, 2007

By 

Celeste C. Vialet - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Five Alien Elves (The Hamlet Chronicles) (Paperback)

My son, 10.5 tore through it! He couldn't put it down. Something really cool, when your child is reading to themselves and they bust out laughing out loud.

5.0 out of 5 stars Kids book series, March 14, 2010

By 

Mary Ann T. Kline "madje76" (Conyngham, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Five Alien Elves (Hamlet Chronicles) (Hardcover)

My niece is into reading these numbered series of books. Anything to get the young to read is worth it.