Customer Reviews

Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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I am a teacher who thought my boys book club for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders would like "Star Jumper". They loved the book from page 1, even the boys who are usually reluctant readers!!! Their parents commented on how eagerly their children read this book. By the way, we were inspired to build our own cardboard spaceship. A real winner!!

Alex got 10 boxes of cardbord. He started to build a star jumper. then he went into the atic and got himself a space suit. then he got into his sta-r jumper and blasted off!

I like this book because it was about space. I would recommend this book to a 7 year old who is an advanced reader. Anyone who is interested in science and space will like this book. review written by a 7 year old boy

Today I read Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius, by Frank Asch. This is a quick and accessible read, which I would put at about a third grade reading level. Alternatively, it could suit older reluctant readers, especially boys.

The book is about a boy named Alex who has a keen interest in scientific invention, a healthy ego, and a pesky six-year-old brother named Jonathan. In order to get away from Jonathan, the bane of his existence, Alex decides to build a spaceship out of cardboard boxes, and travel across the universe. Using odds and ends from around his house, he invents all of the necessary trappings for space travel: the ship, the space suit, the oxygen generator, the atom slider, and the micro blaster (you'll have to read the book for the details). But before Alex can leave town (yes, the spaceship really does fly), Jonathan reveals his own capacity for invention, and throws a wrench into the works.

I think that this book will have considerable appeal for young boys, thanks to the details of the spaceship and the other inventions. I think that for boys who have annoying younger brothers, the book may be irresistible. The sibling rivalry is realistically depicted, as are the caring psychologist parents. I personally found Alex's ego a bit off-putting (he keeps going on about what a genius he is), but I think that the book's target audience will be able to relate to this.

What I love about this book are the illustrations. This is a chapter book, but scattered throughout the text are small black and white illustrations, drawings from Alex's journal. My favorite is a map of the universe, labeled "me" at one end, and "Jonathan" at the other end. Anyone who has ever had a younger sibling will immediately relate to this drawing. There's also a drawing of Jonathan as a baby, saying his first words: "I'll tell Mom". Oh, the joy of younger brothers!

As you might expect in a children's book that addresses sibling rivalry, the book does conclude with some resolution of the conflict between Alex and Jonathan. But it's far from heavy handed, and seemed to me realistic rather than overdone.

So, if you have a child who is fascinated by space travel, or who likes to invent things from ordinary household objects, or who is driven to distraction by a younger sibling, you should give Star Jumper: Journal of a Cardboard Genius a try. You won't regret it.

My 8 yr old is a very good reader but I think has been a bit intimidated by chapter books when I've tried to get him to select some to read. But he dove right into this one (and the rest of the series as well). I think there's just enough small pictures here to make this a great transition book for him.

My 6 year old (1st gr.) is a bit of a reluctant reader, but he liked us reading these books to him enough to give them a shot at reading them himself. There's a number of big science-ey words that are beyond him, but the material seems to keep him interested and trying, a couple pages at a time.

After reading this book, you'll want to go buy a roll of duct tape and get a few boxes. Young genius Alex can tackle any challenge with a little cardboard and that famous tape. A lively story of two brothers: One genius, the other obnoxious. Or is he? Big brother Alex, a math whiz kid, will soon remove himself from the dread of little brother Jonathan, as his Star Jumper spaceship leaps him to another corner of the galaxy. But Jonathan has ideas of his own, and reveals HIS inventive side.

I bought this on the recommendation of the first reviewer and I'm so glad I did. My 8 year-old loved it. When I told him it was about a boy named Alex who has an annoying little brother and likes to invent things, he agreed to pick it up. But the story kept him hooked and I soon noticed him scribbling in a little notebook his own inventions and asking for cardboard boxes. And he asked for the second book. That's quite an achievement.

So, Mr. Asch, please keep them coming!

I know that this is a kids book. And we've loved other books by the same author. I know he was trying to show the frustration of the older brother with the younger brother. But, phrases like "poopy head" and such do not seem appropriate to this age who are still learning to filter what is appropriate. I gave these three books to my oldest daughter (an avid reader) for her birthday. She was more than thrilled to "share" with us the words she found in them. I know she has been somewhat sheltered, but honestly, do we really need to steep our children in the progressive decline in civil language. She is not allowed to speak nastily to her little sister or anyone else for that matter. To say the least, I am disappointed.

My grandson, a highly gifted, engineering-oriented, 5 year-old, kindergartner, LOVES the above books!

I read Star Jumper and Gravity Buster to him in back-to-back fashion in one week this past summer, then decided to save Time Twister for a "rainy day". I can say that these two books were not merely great entertainment, but that they also significantly altered the outward manifestation of the inventor mindset that he has always carried within him. He has been energized by Alex's creativity, and has built several inventions out of cardboard following the reading of each of these books.

I started reading Time Twister to him this afternoon, and I am truly looking forward to seeing the expected burst of creativity that this reading will almost certainly bring about again this time.

I especially appreciate how Alex's imaginary inventions have a great deal of basis in scientific fact and theory. Asch's writings have given the two of us an opportunity to discuss theories that my grandson might otherwise not have been exposed to for several years to come. I like to think that the discussions that we have had centering around Alex's inventions have given him some ideas of where he could focus his inventor's interests later in life.

My only regret is that after reading this book, there is nothing left in this genre to look forward to in Asch's writings. I am heartened, however, by his website that teases that he is writing another science fiction book, though not following the cardboard genius model. I can only say that my grandson and I are anxiously awaiting its release!

PS I also plan to have my grandson read a few pages of Time Twister to me. Up to now, he has been a "closet" reader (i.e., he is able to read most of the words in the books I read to him, but is reluctant to show his ability until he is perfect!). I think his enthusiasm to follow the story might overcome his reluctance to show off his reading capabilities. We shall see!

I just finished reading this with my daughter (almost 5 years old). We both loved it - it was hard to put down after just one chapter a night! There were a few things that I think were a little over her head (like the crush the main character has on a girl at school), but there was nothing inappropriate for her age. As soon as we finished it, she asked to start the next book in the series. I expect to read this series again with my 3-year-old son in a few years.

I thought it was time to introduce my 5 year old to chapter books. He was bored with his picture books at bed time. Now he looks forward to hearing the adventures of Alex, who builds a spaceship to leave this Universe and his little brother Jonathan behind. Alex finds that he keeps needing to build new gadgets (one which accidentaly shrinks his little brother!)for his space adventure. He learns that he may actually love his brother more than he thinks. Great for the space lover and those who know all to well the love hate relationship that exists between siblings.