Time Twister: Journal 3 of a Cardboard Genius (Journal of a Cardboard Genius)
Grade 3–5—In this addition to the series, Alex, scientific genius and creator of the world's first cardboard-box spaceship, has hit a developmental snag. His partner in crime, Zoe, tells him that, due to the theory of relativity, any interplanetary space travel will return them to Earth 50 years older than their friends and relatives. Alex decides to create a time machine to compensate, but gives up after he accidentally transforms his pesky younger brother into a baby. A cliff-hanger ending indicates that a fourth volume is planned. The plot-driven story contains a solid base of scientific fact that will please children who like astronomy or science fiction. While there is not much character development, Alex's accounts of his antagonistic relationship with his younger brother will resonate with many readers. The story is presented in a straightforward manner, but the vocabulary and subject matter are more challenging than similar books of this length, suggesting that this title will find its audience with older, reluctant readers. Asch's occasional black-and-white drawings break up the text. Try selling this one to fans of Jon Sciezka's "Time Warp Trio" (HarperCollins) or Dan Greenburg's "Weird Planet" series (Random).—Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.