Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 2^-5. Ten-year-old Devin can hardly believe his exchange buddy Stan is such a nerdy nosepicker, especially when all the other exchange students are so cool. But Devin's opinion of Stan changes when he realizes that Stan isn't picking his nose all the time--he's actually operating his nose computer. In fact, he's in a race against time to convince the Grand Pant that Earth, not Mercury, is the preferred vacation spot for the inhabitants of planet Pan. If Stan fails, Earth will be relocated beyond Pluto and condemned to a frosty future. This lightweight sf for middle readers will likely delight Korman fans who usually can't get enough of his slapstick humor, frenzied action, and comic characters. --Karen Hutt
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The flippant title of this debut book in the L.A.F. :) series should tip off readers to Korman's fast-fire (if sometimes pat) wordplay and amusingly preposterous plot. Devin Hunter suspects he's in trouble the first moment he lays eyes on his school-exchange buddy, Stan Mflxnys, who enters the airport via the baggage shoot. Sporting a crew cut, a tie and "big thick glasses that made his eyes look like fried eggs," Stan has nerd written all over him and breaks all of Devin's "Rules of Coolness." Devin, who narrates the story, describes his embarrassment at being paired with Stan; his humiliation escalates at school, where this odd fellowÄeasily recognizable to readers as an alienÄspends a good deal of time ostensibly picking his nose, eats a paper plate and napkin for lunch and announces that he's 146 years old. But before long Devin realizes that Stan's special powers, housed in his computerized nose, are mighty useful when it comes to completing household chores in a nanosecond, clinching first-place in field-day events and, as the tale unfurls, saving the earth from a chilling fate. Korman's tongue is in his cheek as often as Stan's finger is in his nose, creating a light and silly caper that will, as the series obviously intends, bring on ample laughs. Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon, illus. by Tony Ross, is also scheduled for publication this month; two more titles are planned for October. Final artwork not seen by PW. Ages 7-10. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-4-Devin's new fourth-grade National Student Exchange Program buddy definitely violates all "Rules of Coolness." Stan has a crew cut, wears a tie, and sticks his finger up his nose in public. Then, Devin notices that when Stan "picks" his nose, odd things happen-suitcases are mysteriously unpacked and after-dinner chores are completed in seconds. A surreptitious mirror check at night reveals that the newcomer's olfactory apparatus conceals a powerful computer, complete with switches, blinking lights, and communication tools. Stan is actually an alien travel agent from the planet Pan. His mission-to determine if Earth is a suitable vacation spot for his fellow Pants, or if it should be moved out beyond Pluto to avoid obstructing the view of the Saturn rings. Devin has to help his new pal "sell" the Earth's advantages before the aliens decide to get rid of the planet entirely. There is lots of elementary-level punning, particularly concerning the aliens-Training Pants rookie agents, Smarty-Pants ruling council, etc. Devin's teacher and classmates are intolerant, negative characters, but Devin himself learns to be more accepting. This is a lightweight story with no pretensions to literary style, but young readers who enjoy Daniel Pinkwater's off-the-wall, absurd humor will get a kick out of it. The black-and-white cartoon illustrations are funny, the chapters are short, and the print is large.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Stan, fourth-grader Devin Hunter's exchange buddy, a visiting student from another state, wears nerdy clothes, eats paper, and picks his nose--but only because he's actually an alien from planet Pan and he has to access his nasal computer. Devin and Stan must save Earth from Pan's tourist development scheme in this nonsensically logical, consistently surprising, very funny farce. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
