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chaosbooked's review against another edition
5.0
This book is just fun. I honestly don't know why it doesn't have a higher rating. It is perfect for upper elementary school. Great read-aloud. It is a quick read and my kids kept asking to read "one-more-chapter". The title pretty much explains the plot, so what would you do if your teacher was an alien?
bookwormerica's review against another edition
5.0
I came across this book again and remembered it from adolescence . Still cute. But not the book I thought it was lol
inthecommonhours's review against another edition
3.0
Right now Aidan is trying to convince us HE is the alien, so I know he'd love this. Will probably wait a few years (otherwise I imagine his teachers getting really sick of his belief that they're aliens)...
katereads2much's review against another edition
4.0
Kid me definitely gave this story 5 stars but the book is just a touch too "young" to have quite that much crossover appeal to an "adult". It ended differently than I remember, which is interesting.
In reading this now, I wonder if I had already started to be a feminist when I read this or was this part of what shaped my young mind.
In reading this now, I wonder if I had already started to be a feminist when I read this or was this part of what shaped my young mind.
twiinklex's review against another edition
4.0
If I enjoyed this book this much as an adult, I would have probably loved it as a child. Such a fun, interesting and gripping read! Definitely a timeless classic.
jaclynhyde's review against another edition
5.0
Hints at spoilers for the whole series.
Possibly my favorite book series as a kid, and definitely the one that got me into science fiction. This is a great start to a great series; perhaps my favorite aspect of it is how well-rounded the characters are. The kids are multi-dimensional, and even in the book narrated by Susan, we catch glimpses of Peter and Duncan's home life that hint at why they act like they do. And Broxholm is clearly not pointlessly evil, even now when he's the antagonist--even Susan recognizes there's more to his mission than they thought. And Peter running off to travel to the stars at the end is just perfect--a lot of young readers will see some of themselves in him. I'm definitely not objective about these books, but I'm glad to see they're still a great read in adulthood!
Possibly my favorite book series as a kid, and definitely the one that got me into science fiction. This is a great start to a great series; perhaps my favorite aspect of it is how well-rounded the characters are. The kids are multi-dimensional, and even in the book narrated by Susan, we catch glimpses of Peter and Duncan's home life that hint at why they act like they do. And Broxholm is clearly not pointlessly evil, even now when he's the antagonist--even Susan recognizes there's more to his mission than they thought. And Peter running off to travel to the stars at the end is just perfect--a lot of young readers will see some of themselves in him. I'm definitely not objective about these books, but I'm glad to see they're still a great read in adulthood!
bick_mcswiney's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad. Some good character development, and an interesting plot arc. Good very readers around a fifth grade level.
rebecita's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of my favorite books as a kid and I’m pleased to see students continue to check it out, as well as Coville’s newer books. It held up on re-read much better than expected – it’s really a suspenseful and well crafted story. Good use of the evil teacher trope. Mr. Smith has some very creepy standoffs with Susan as he stays in character as their teacher. Trying to balance supernatural threat with the pressure of daily life is always a great lens for the experience of being young - I like the way that saving the world and doing a clarinet solo are equal pulls on Susan here. This is a solid entry in the “wacky-school-life” genre or it could be a gateway to harder sci-fi.
rawanmanjal's review against another edition
2.0
Was a fun little children's book, nothing too great tbh. Mannnnyyyy plot holes Most of the plot points were lacking and the characters weren't exactly developed. Nothing about this was amazing, but it was readable and didn't make me want to die. So 1.75-2 stars.
Spoiler
like why tf did Peter not want to stay on earth? What's his backstory? GIVE ME SOMETHING!emsoukup's review against another edition
I sort of want the old covers back for these. Those were great, really captured the essence of aliens. Good ol' 80s and 90s.