5 Novels: Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars; Slaves of Spiegel; The Last Guru; Young Adult Novel; The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death [BARGAIN PRICE] (Paperback)

~ (Author), Jules Feiffer (Foreword) "I got off to a bad start at Bat Masterson Junior High School..." (more)
Key Phrases: omega waves, blue garlic, gong crashing, Alan Mendelsohn, Samuel Klugarsh, Uncle Roy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There are many words that could be used to describe Daniel Pinkwater's books. Wacky comes to mind. Outrageous. Lively. Real. Unreal. Comic genius Jules Feiffer, in his foreword to 5 Novels, says, "Pinkwater's thoughts don't connect like yours or mine. His 'tab A' does not fit into 'slot A' the way it's supposed to in a well-thought-out thought. More likely, his 'tab A' will fit into 'slot 14' or 'slot X79,' the kind of fit that might drive you or me crazy if we tried it, but when Pinkwater does it, you read it and say to yourself, 'Why, of course, this is how it should be.'"

Performing chickens, a New Jersey Martian, an orangutan orchestra conductor from Ceylon ... the details are what jump out of his novels. The ice cream dish in Slaves of Spiegel, for example, consisting of an eggplant, two slabs of whole-wheat pizza dough, 16 flavors of ice cream, fresh figs, pistachio nuts, a lobster, and assorted fresh garden vegetables and fruit. (It's served piping hot from the microwave, in a freshly laundered regulation army knapsack, to the accompaniment of Franz Liszt music.) This is what Pinkwater is all about. A junior-high schooler's dream of an author.

In 5 Novels, you can feast upon five beloved and quirky favorites: Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars, Slaves of Spiegel, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, The Last Guru, and Young Adult Novel. And if you still need more Pinkwater novels (and you definitely do), explore 4 Fantastic Novels. (Ages 9 and much, much older.) --Emilie Coulter

Review

"Here, in an appropriately fat trade paperback...is a collection of the Master's greatest works: Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars; Slaves of Spiegel; The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death; The Last Guru; and Young Adult Novel. . .Daniel Pinkwater is so obviously the funniest writer of children's books that he should be made a Living National Treasure." --The Washington Post Book World
-- Review

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (September 30, 1997)
• ISBN-10: 0374423296
• ASIN: B001QCX6IY
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #791,904 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pinkwater... corrupting young minds for twenty years, September 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 5 Novels: Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars; Slaves of Spiegel; The Last Guru; Young Adult Novel; The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death (Paperback)

There is a whole subculture of young people such as myself who met D. Manus Pinkwater at a tender young age and are hopelessly corrupt because of it. I mean that in a good way, I think. Here's a seven-year-old kid in the late 70's reading the Hardy Boys and suchlike, then he reads this thing about lizards and chickens and force-fields and, most importantly, a kid whose parents go on vacation and leave him alone and he's able to Stay Up As Late As He Wants! Or aliens who look like fat guys and come to the earth to eat junk food. Or any other order and permutation of wackiness. Pinkwater is a genius. I suspect that he himself is an alien, sent to perform the opposite task as the pod-implanting creatures. He has been sent to wake us up from our pod-like existences. I love Pinkwater. My friend Max introduced me to him in second grade, and twenty years later I remain Blatzed.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sanest Book I've Read, February 27, 2000

By	Adam Remsen (Memphis, Tennessee) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: 5 Novels: Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars; Slaves of Spiegel; The Last Guru; Young Adult Novel; The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death (Paperback)

I have an M.A. in English Lit and teach at a local University. That said, I can think of no book I enjoy as much, or can read as often with as much undiluted pleasure, as "The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death." Possibly "Lizard Music," also by Pinkwater, or possibly "Hamlet." I give them as gifts often; the typical reaction, for example from someone with a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies, is less than gushing enthusiasm, but I pester and pester and berate if necessary until they begin reading. After this they join the list and begin giving them out too. The multiple levels on which Pinkwater's books function are endlessly fascinating; read it, then give it to a friend, then buy it again.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my favorite book, March 28, 2000

By	jamie stack (san francisco us) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 5 Novels: Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars; Slaves of Spiegel; The Last Guru; Young Adult Novel; The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death (Paperback)

When i picked this book up I was about nine I started reading it. it is really somthing you have to read, alen mendelsohn the Boy from mars is my favorite story you can't explain how good it is you have to read it. if you liked harry potter you will love it if you didn't you'll still love it.daniel pinkwater is a genius when it comes to writing .i just don't know how he does it but he really is good at it and he's got to keep up the good work if he is going to keep us going it should be a sin not to read this EXCELLENT book. i wish i could explain how good it is but you'll have to read it to find out don't hesitate just do it it is the longest book i ever read it is the best book i ever read as well.