I Was A Sixth Grade Alien #1 (Hardcover)

by Bruce Coville (Author) "I just wanted to have a friend..." (more)
Key Phrases: Senator Hargis, Geembol Seven, Personal Needs (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-Coville mines much of the same territory here as in his "My Teacher" books and "Alien Adventures" series (both Minstrel). Given that familiarity, this is a fun, light read. Aliens make contact with Earth and decide to place their worldwide embassy in Syracuse, NY. The alien ambassador brings his son, Pleskit, who ends up in the same class as Tim Tompkins, an avid science-fiction buff. The story is told alternately by Tim and Pleskit, a device that helps readers understand both characters and their perspectives. The plot moves along at a brisk clip. Coville develops a sustained mood of excitement and suspense after Tim and Pleskit are captured by unfriendly aliens who plan to take control of Earth and exploit it for themselves. The mystery element works well-the identity of the "bad guys" is not obvious. Coville's characters are sympathetic, especially Pleskit, who is endearing in his desire to get things right, but never quite succeeding. The school scenes are dead-on, and the treatment of politicians and the media is also adept. Coville presents the theme of accepting those who are different without detracting from the action or being overly didactic. Unfortunately, the black-and-white pencil illustrations are weak; the action looks staged rather than natural and the facial expressions seem fake. Nevertheless, reluctant readers will devour this breezy read.
Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
He came from the stars -- and sixth grade will never be the same!

How would you feel if the new kid in your class was from another planet?

How would you feel if you were that new kid -- the one from the other planet?

Tim Tomkins (from Earth) and Pleskit Meenom (from the planet Hevi-Hevi) answer those questions in this hilarious new alien adventure from the author of My Teacher is an Alien and Aliens Ate My Homework, telling their stories in alternating chapters that let us see aliens through the eyes of an Earthling -- and Earthlings through the eyes of an alien!

This wildly inventive tale from the master of alien humor, Bruce Coville, seamlessly weaves comedy, adventure, and social satire in a tale that takes the idea of multiculturalism to a whole new dimension.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671036513
• ISBN-13: 978-0671036515
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,678,649 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 1 in The I Was a Sixth Grade Alien Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly amusing, written like a 10 yr. old would think., August 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: I Was A Sixth Grade Alien #1 (Paperback)

Very comical, the author has the ability to think like a kid, yet write with the sophistication of an adult. The illustrations are a superb match, funny, yet sophisticated and highly detailed. The combination succeeds where most works wouldn't, as art gives way to speed in the mass-market system that is publishing. The characters are believable, and quickly develope personality and style, and the setting lives in 50's alien pop-culture while adding a modern twist. The story is also kid-friendly, no blood and gore, just the occasional burp (for communication purposes, of course!). A wonderful way for a kid to learn that friendship between two uniquely different people can be a fun and educational experience for both.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Was a Sixth Grade Alien, July 10, 2004

By	Theatre Kidd "princessofmirkwood" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Was a Sixth Grade Alien (Audio Cassette)

One thing that I really liked about this book was that it had a language different than the other lanugages that you see in sci-fi. The language in question used bodily functions other than the standard speaking.

It's about a young, purple alien named Pleskit that is taken along by his father to Earth as part of a trade mission. Pleskit is enrolled in a public school, and, thanks to some wrong information about how Earthlings always speak the truth, Pleskit succeeds in making most of the kids at school hate him.

Except for Tim Tompkins, that is, resident alien enthusiast. He's psyched out of his mind to see a real, live alien and wants to make friends with Pleskit, but something always comes up- like, Pleskit seemingly attacking another boy at school, for example.

So Tim forms a plan to meet Pleskit by hiding in his 'personal needs' room (a.k.a. bathroom) and hoping to make a good impression. Surprisingly, he does, and is invited to Pleskit's house.

Tim's excited, of course, and Pleskit is outraged to hear that his database was tampered with (the whole Earthlings lie thing). They decide to scope out their number one suspect's room, but they see him coming and quickly duck into Mikta-Makta-Mookta's room (Pleskit's father's secretary). There, they discover that she has something that shouldn't be in her room...

I really liked this book, and it's great for kids that are in fifth and sixth grades.

5.0 out of 5 stars Purplish Friend, February 9, 2009

By	Norliza Ismail "The Librarian" (Seria, Kuala Belait Brunei Darussalam) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've picked up this one due to curiousity of the title and the cover itself. I never thought I ended up liking this book instead!

When the new kid in school happens to be an alien and almost everybody discriminate him, Things get worse when everything seems to go wrong and mean for our alien hero just because he is an alien. or is it? in all of this mess he found a human friend, Tim.

As much as I like this book, It's pretty much annoying to know the slow movement of this book! It takes a long time, regardless the funny and the interesting parts of the first 3/4 of the book is, to get to the real adventure to begin. Nevertheless, that was a very absorbing book.