Aliens Ate My Homework (Book)

Coville, B. (1993). Aliens ate my homework. New York, NY: Pocket Books.

Interest Level: Ages 9 to 12
Genre: Science Fiction
Subjects/Themes: Aliens, Criminals, Bullying, Lying/Honesty

Plot: Rod Allbright has enough trouble keeping his 3 year old twin siblings occupied and dodging bullies.  Now an alien spaceship has landed in his room right smack in the midldle of his science project unloading 5 aliens on a mission to locate and capture an inter-galatic criminal named BKR.  Unfortunately the alien's ship got damaged during landing and both it and the aliens are stuck being the size of small toys.  Rod has been recruited to help and has sworn to keep the alien's presence a secret at all costs, but there's one other problem, Rod's incapable of lying.  Good thing everyone thinks Rod's joking when he says that aliens ate his homework, everyone except the alien criminal their after that is.     

Personal Thoughts: A nice introductory science fiction book about aliens.  The book's main character, Rod, is a typically nice and well-behaved eleven year old boy.  He plays with his siblings, doesn't lie, and tries to follow the rules.  But Rod has a big problem with bullies.  It doesn't help that one of the bullies is also an inter-galatic criminal.  We learn that Rod's dad left, leaving Rod's mother struggling to support them.  Rod's mother isn't a very strong character in this book.  At one point she suggests that Rod give the bullies what they want in order to keep the peace.  She quickly takes back what she said but her reaction might be why bullying has gotten so out of control.  The aliens are extremely varied in forms, strengths and weaknesses.  They each offer Rod a different view on his life and the world in general.  The book contains a nice balance of action and humor that tween readers will enjoy.

Series Info: Book One of the Rod Allbright Alien Series
Sequel: I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X (1994)

Author Website: Bruce Coville Website

Awards:
Grand Canyon Intermediate Level Reader Award [Arizona] (1996)

Other Books by the Author: Moongobble and Me Series; Sixth Grade Alien Series; Magic Shop Series; My Teacher is an Alien Series; Unicorn Chronicles Series;

Note: To view the booktalk for Aliens Ate My Homework, where I read an excerpt from chapter 1, visit my website Medina's Must Reads.