So, My Mom’s from Outer Space–A Sparkling Review from Guest Blogger, Katie Lundeen
Version 1.0.0INTRODUCTIONMonarch Press proudly presents a new out-of-this world science fiction adventure called So, My Mom’s from Outer Space. As a mom of all boys, author Tennille Marie’s novel has middle school boy written all over it! The star of the story is a relatable young man on the cusp of the teen years paired with an alien sidekick. The plotline is chock full of goofy villains, humorous battle scenes and laugh out loud lines.
REVIEWWyatt is about to face the formidable teen years, but little does he know, some out-of-this-world adventure is about to add spice to his life.
He returns home from a visit to a friend’s house one day to discover that his mom is missing without a trace. To add to Wyatt’s shock, a gift from his mom for his thirteenth birthday happens to be a weird orange space creature called a Blairgorx. This creature informs him that his mom is the queen of an intergalactic planet and Wyatt is a prince. The creature’s job is to protect Wyatt and help find the queen before the villainous space monsters called Grools capture and destroy them. The Blairgorx must train Wyatt in space warfare and help Wyatt adjust and use his royal powers that manifest themselves when he turns thirteen. Does Wyatt have what it takes to elude the Grools and find his mom with his trusty space sidekick?
It is impossible to highlight all the humor without giving the plot away. I will list a few of my favorite funny moments. In Chapter Seventeen, a Grool shows up at Wyatt’s school and corners him. Wyatt nabs a burger from a teacher’s hand and throws it at the Grool in self-defense. Nothing seems to happen until the Grool swallows a pickle. The scene reads:
The Grool gulps and closes his mouth. His sharp, pointy teeth snap together. The tomato falls off his eye onto the ground. He looks stunned. His mouth opens and a big, long blue tongue pops out. He grabs his stomach with his four arms. His stomach starts to bubble out in different places. He tries pushing the bubbles back into place with his hands, but the bubbles pop out even more. His face starts to swell and expand. He puts two of his hands on his face, but it keeps growing. In fact, the Grool’s whole body grows bigger and bigger like a balloon being filled with water… The Grool’s body has grown so enormous that its mouth and eyes can barely be made out. “You will pay for this, Prince,” the Grool gurgles. His voice is harsh and deep. Then it happens. POP! The Grool explodes! Green goopy slime splatters everywhere, covering Junior and the doors with a coat of green muck. Although Junior and Mr. Ron couldn’t see the Grool, they sure can see all the green goop that exploded out of it. (pp 91-92).
Who would think that green pickles would cause the demise of space villains?
The Blairgorx adopts the image of a teenage fashion magazine heartthrob to protect Wyatt at school. The Blargorx’s popularity does not faze him as he stands up to bullies with offers like Prince, would you like me to wound him?” (p. 34).
The Blairgorx also calls loud attention to Wyatt’s secret crush because Wyatt admits to liking her. The creature calls for her from across the room and states things like, “I am one hundred and fifty years old. At my home awaits my beautiful Blairgorxa and my twelve Blairgorites. So, I apologize, but I am already taken. But my cousin, Wyatt, has no wife, girlfriend, or children for that matter” (pp.39-40).” Wyatt wonders why in the world his mom would give him such a nutcase for a protector!
The Blairgorx may be humorously annoying in his protection efforts and the Grool battle tactics may be juvenile, but sometimes a little outlandish pretending and laughter is good for the soul! Thank you, Tenille Marie, for writing a fun book for boys in an age when it is challenging to find books for boys and to foster their interest in reading. The book ends on a cliff-hanger and I hope there will be a sequel!
GIVEAWAY FOR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY!Leave a comment by September 3 and I’ll enter your name in the contest. Tennille will autograph it to the reader of your choice!
About Our Guest Blogger
Katie Lundeen is no stranger to this blog. She last reviewed Angels in the Sand. She says,”The Lord’s hand of watchful care and protection blessed my life from my start as a tiny premature infant. Doctors diagnosed me with cerebral palsy from birth complications which mainly affected my legs and motor skills. I also have a learning disability that does not allow me to write down or process thoughts as fast as other people. I am a former homeschooler and obtained an Associate in Arts degree from a North Carolina community college after five years of hard work! I discovered and developed a love for writing in college. Now I pen articles for my local church newsletter and write book reviews. I enjoy my current job as a part-time library assistant in a Christian library in Matthews, NC. I have a servant’s heart and a willing attitude to grow in old skills and develop new ones along whatever path the Lord chooses to take me.”
Check out other great middle-grade books on Greg Pattridge’s blog.
The post So, My Mom’s from Outer Space–A Sparkling Review from Guest Blogger, Katie Lundeen first appeared on Carol Baldwin - Author, Writing Teacher, Speaker.
