Norbert, the alien from Jupiter who takes up residence in Allan Dingwall's nose, turns Allan's life upside down with humorous consequences. The entire premise of this novel is so zany that you'd think it wouldn't work, that it would be too unbelievable to be believed. But it does succeed. And it excels on all levels. The characters, and there is a large cast, are original and incredibly real.
Dialogue is crisp and lively, the setting is strong, and the plot's pace never lags.
There's only one glitch in this otherwise charming tale. This reference may jar younger readers but might not be a distraction for Scrimger's more sophisticated audience. Cheryl Archer is Manitoba Officer for the Canadian Children's Book Centre. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.