Star Jumper: Journal of A Cardboard Genius by Frank Asch, Frank Asch (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Self-proclaimed genius inventor Alex is convinced that his little brother Jonathan is evil. The kid never shuts up. He’s a klutz, and he drools on his pillow when he sleeps. Jonathan’s specialty, though, is sticking to Alex like glue — and sticking his nose into his big brother’s business.

That’s why Alex has to leave Earth and fly so far away that no one will ever be able to find him. Using cardboard, duct tape, old odds and ends and his amazing scientific imagination, Alex builds Star Jumper, a spaceship that will deliver him from his rotten little brother forever! It’s a plan only a cardboard genius could ever hope to pull off. But Jonathan has other ideas — and a secret that ultimately brings forth Alex’s most brilliant creation ever!

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-Self-styled genius Alex has had it with his little brother. Jonathan is always hanging around-asking weird questions, messing with Alex's stuff, and generally being a pest. Mom says it's all just normal sibling rivalry, but Alex decides there is only one thing to do-leave Earth-and Jonathan-forever. Using his astounding scientific ability-plus lots of grocery boxes, duct tape, and assorted bits of junk, Alex designs the Star Jumper. This advanced cardboard spacecraft will take him across the galaxy to a brother-free planet-if only he can keep the first grader out of the way until liftoff. The first-person narration is lively and realistic, bouncing between mock scientific jargon and exasperated brother-speak. The short text is illustrated with sketches from Alex's invention notebook, including carefully labeled diagrams of the ship and its high-tech, recycling-bin gadgetry. More gently tongue-in-cheek than Dan Greenburg's irreverent "Zack Files" (Grosset & Dunlap), this early chapter book is a good choice for younger science-fiction fans.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Play and reality merge (maybe) in this tale of a lad seeking total escape-as in a flight to the far end of the universe-from an aggressive, worshipful little brother. Despite continual interference from his first-grade-aged nemesis Jonathan, Alex crafts a spaceship in his room from cardboard boxes and found household materials, then goes on after a test ride into space to invent a Micro-Blaster (for protection) and a Duplicator (so he'll have agreeable companions on his new planet) from like items. Complications ensue when he inadvertently shrinks Jonathan down to the size of a bug, and later, leaves the Duplicator unguarded-but in the end, Alex's attitude mellows after a rousing bedroom melee, and the discovery that little brothers make useful pretexts for going to a movie that a certain attractive classmate also happens to be attending. Continually whining about his sibling's behavior and congratulating himself on his own genius, Alex comes across as no prize himself, but there's enough wish fulfillment here to put readers on his side-whether or not that Micro-Blaster really works. (Fiction. 9-11)

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