I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X (Rod Allbright and the Galactic Patrol) [Paperback]

Bruce Coville (Author), Katherine Coville (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Rod Allbright and the Galactic Patrol

KIDNAPPED TO

DIMENSION X!

When Rod Allbright's cousin Elspeth arrived for a visit the day after school let out for the summer, Rod thought his vacation was ruined. But after they are kidnapped to Dimension X by a monster named Smorkus Flinders, Rod realizes that Elspeth is the least of his problems. After all, what's a bratty cousin compared to cranky monsters, furious aliens, and the discovery that you are stuck in the middle of an interstellar power play?

And that doesn't begin to take into account the horrifying personal decision that Rod will be forced to make before his adventures are over.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-In this sequel to Aliens Ate My Homework (Pocket, 1993), Rod Allbright and his bratty cousin Elspeth are kidnapped by Smorkus Flinders, a huge and hideous monster from Dimension X. Smorkus is holding them hostage to trap Rod's alien friends from the good ship Ferkel. The ship's captain and crew manage to rescue Rod and Elspeth, but getting out of Dimension X and stopping the evil Smorkus proves to be more difficult. After spending time with some shapeshifters and apprenticing to the warrior Tar Gibbons, Rod acquires new self-confidence, and, discovering that Smorkus knows something about his missing father, the enraged boy defeats the giant and saves the universe. Readers will enjoy the trademark combination of humor, nonstop action, and wild characters that distinguish Coville's books. With its bright cover, alluring title, and occasional black-and-white illustrations, this book is guaranteed to be popular with space-opera fans, comic-book readers, and budding science-fiction enthusiasts.
Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. A sequel to Aliens Ate My Homework (1993), this title stands very well on its own. Rod thinks his summer is ruinedÿ20when he hears his cousin Elspeth is coming to visit, but that's nothing compared to being kidnapped by an alien monster from another dimension. Reality quakes, shape-shifting, and martial-arts training keep Rod far too busy to worry about Elspeth, as do his endeavors to save the universes (all of them) with his Galactic Patrol alien allies. In addition, Rod discovers that his father, believed to have deserted the family, is really a missing-in-action member of the Galactic Patrol, making Rod part alien. Coville's comic touch makes a multitude of wildly disparate elements acceptable within the context of the story. Rod, a likable kid with believable actions and reactions, careens through a far-fetched but happily absorbing plot that's bound to entertain. Janice Del Negro --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (May 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416938826
• ISBN-13: 978-1416938828
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #480,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Coville was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1950. His family lived in farm territory, about twenty miles north of Syracuse. Bruce grew up around the corner from his grandparents' dairy farm, where he spent a great deal of time as a child, dodging cows and chores to the best of his ability. As a young reader he loved Mary Poppins and Dr. Dolittle, and still has fond memories of rising ahead of the rest of his family so he could huddle in a chair and read THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE. He also read lots of things that people consider junk (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and zillions of comic books). His only real regret is the time he spent watching television, when he could have been reading instead. (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!)

His first book, THE FOOLISH GIANT, was published in 1978. It was illustrated by his wife, Katherine, whom he had married in 1969. This was followed in 1979 by SARAH'S UNICORN, also illustrated by Katherine. After a long period of working separately, the Covilles began collaborating again with SPACE BRAT and GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE, both published in 1992.

Before getting published Bruce earned his living as a toymaker, a gravedigger, a cookware salesman, an assembly line worker, and finally as an elementary school teacher (second and fourth grades). He left teaching in 1981 to devote himself to becoming a full time writer - though it took another five years to achieve that goal!)

Bruce has published nearly 100 books, which have appeared in over a dozen countries around the world and sold more than sixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, INTO THE LAND OF THE UNICORNS, and THE MONSTER'S RING. In 2001 he founded Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company dedicated to creating unabridged, full cast recordings of the best in children's and young adult literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars smart, witty book, May 4, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X: A Rod Allbright Alien Adventure (Paperback)

Have you ever been transported to another dimension? Do you know what it feels like to be shoved into a forty foot monsters ear and eat kispa-dinka evernight? If not, then i suggest you read this book to find out more about this crazy life. During his adventures, Rod and his bratty cousin elspet are captured by smorkus flinders, a giant alien seeking revenge on Rods alien friends. When rod is reunited with his friends in dimension X, they face a whole new problem. How to get out. Throughout their encounters they meet up with crazy shapeshifters, a ting wongovia, and many other strange things. In the end Rod is enlarged and put up in a battle againse Smorkus Flinders and wins. He then finds out that the reason his dad had left them is because he was an alien. This book is a very good book, but an easy read. it is wild, wacky , and witty. it is well written and should be enjoyed by children of all ages.

The first thing i liked about this book was the overall obscurity and wackiness of the settings and characters. I mean, really, whos ever heard of a ting wongovia? It was characters like these that brought the imaginative aspect to the book. This book really provokes your mind to really think about what some of the things might look like and what it must be like to live there. This as a whole is what makes this book intersting.

Another thing that pleased me while reading this book was the vocabulary that was used to describe the scenes shown. While the settings were vivid, the vocabulary really helped bring alot of the settings to life almost.For example, the author used almost child-like vocabulary to describe this part of dimension X: "The sky looked like boiling purple water, the ground like a pot of overcooked macaroni." Sentences like these are peppered throughout the book, and really bring it to life.

The third and final thing that amused me about this book is the sheer simplicity, but also very complex plotline to the story. The book goes from very high points to very low points, and ends with a wonderful climax and a resolution with a big twist. This book is an easy read, so i dont reccomend it highly for adults, but the average high elementary through middle school age will enjoy its childish charm.

Overall, "I Left My Sneakers In Dimension X" by Bruce Coville is an intersting read, full of surprises, wackiness, and over cooked macaroni. This book should be enjoyed by children of all ages.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very creative book!, July 1, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X: A Rod Allbright Alien Adventure (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book.When I first read it I enjoyed it so much that I read it again.Rod Allbright travels to another dimension in I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X.In this book Bruce Coville once again blew me away with his creativity.I cant wait to read more of Bruce Coville`s funny and exciting science fiction books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Left My Sneakers In Demension X, May 1, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: I Left My Sneakers in Demension X (Alien Adventures) (Hardcover)

I thought this book was very adventurous. All of the characters had their own great personality and unique look. The settings changed through-out the book. All places were mysterious and you never knew what wierd thing would happen to the characters! There were many main characters of the book. The most important character was Rod. All of the CRAZY events happend to either Rod or his little cousin Elspeth. Even if these two kids don't get along....they still get through this scary time together. Since Elspeth is pain (according to Rod), Rod learns that Elspeth can be nice. Also, Rod gets...oh yea, can't tell you!! Do you want to know what happens next? Read the book I Left My Sneakers In Demension X!!! It was a thriller!!!!!~Kerry:-)