Weirdos of the Universe Unite [Hardcover]

Service (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1992 | Age Level: 9 and up

Dedicated weirdos Mandy and Owen accidentally summon up five mythological beings, who need their aid in defending Earth from space invaders.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-- Mandy and Owen, charter and only members of WEIRD (Weird Entities In Rightful Domination), experience some unexpected weirdness when a bolt of lightning and a mysterious computer glitch turn their English project into reality, introducing the duo to a series of mythological beings. One after another, Hermes, messenger to the Greek gods; Coyote, the Native American trickster; legendary German hero Siegfried; Lung Nu, a Chinese dragon princess; Russian fairy-tale witch Baba Yaga; and the Celtic Horned King appear, ready to do battle, first with one another, but quickly uniting with the children to defend Earth from unexpected alien invaders. Weirdest of all is this enemy, an approaching starship inhabited by sentient, but moldy-looking, greenish, garbage-can-shaped beings totally lacking in imagination and personality, but technologically advanced enough to conquer the Earth. Mandy, Owen, and their mythological champions combine wits, hard work, and some magic to defeat them. This is fantasy/sci-fi in a lighter mood and for a younger audience than Service's Being of Two Minds (1991) and Under Alien Stars (1990, both Atheneum) . It is much more reminiscent of her Stinker from Space (Scribners, 1988) in tone and reading level, combining hair-raising situations with a good dose of humor. However, the much wider range of characters, events, and settings introduced here are not as focused, funny, or compelling as in the earlier title. Nonetheless, readers will enjoy the adventure and the more well-read will also relish meeting familiar mythological characters in the flesh.
- Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Anti-clique Mandy recruits cool Owen from California to form WEIRD (Weird Entities in Rightful Domination) to combat conventionality. Their first ``weird'' venture--to do a top-notch job on an English paper about mythical characters from various cultures--goes awry when the characters come to life and they and the kids are sent to turn back invaders from space. Baba Yaga's chicken house transports Coyote, Chinese Dragon Princess Lung Nu, Siegfried, and the Horned Huntsman to an alien spaceship where it's alien technology against earthly magic and mischief. Harassed by the Wild Hunt and frazzled by Lung Nu's weather havoc and Mandy's rock tape, the aliens call off their invasion on the grounds that earthlings are too weird to be believable--they have too many different creatures, languages, and technologies: ``What you say does not fit in. Therefore it is wrong.'' Somewhat against expectation, this unusual potpourri of characters makes an entertaining story, at least at the level of preposterous slapstick. Mandy is believably rebellious against her giggling gaggle of schoolmates, while Owen has been through so many of his lawyer mother's fads (back to African roots, Tibetan mysticism) that he takes anything in stride. Siegfried is properly brainless and pompous, but he still has appeal--Lung Nu falls a little in love with him. As she should. (Fiction. 10+) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (April 30, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689317468
• ISBN-13: 978-0689317460
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,167,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)