Mr Browser and the Brain Sharpeners

Mr. Browser #1

by Philip Curtis, Tony Ross (Illustrator)

When Mr Browser, Class 8's teacher, wishes for a brain sharpener for his pupils, he doesn't really expect his wish to be granted. So imagine his surprise when the Brain Sharpeners arrive on the school field in their space craft in answer to his call. To his delight, Class 8 is transformed by contact with the Brain Sharpeners into the cleverest children the school has ever known.

But one of the children, Michael Fairlie, has refused to be brainwashed, and he alone knows what the Brain Sharpeners have in store for Class 8. How can he save them from their fate?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction

1 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

UK teacher and author who is best known for the Mr Browser sequence of Young Adult sf novels, beginning with Mr Browser and the Brain Sharpeners (1979; vt Invasion of the Brain Sharpeners 1981), which comically, though sometimes pedantically, engage teachers and others with various challenges, some of them instigated by Aliens. The eponymous villains of Mr Browser and the Space Maggots (1989) are for instance responsible for the environmental deterioration of planet Earth towards the end of the twentieth century.
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/...

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book when I was in the third or fourth grade (circa 1998/1999) and the school librarian let me keep it (shhh...!) because I loved it so much. I had completely forgotten about this book until I was watching the X-Files the other day and a scene visually reminded me of the cover of this book. Thinking back, this book was one of the first sci-fi books I read, and between this and many viewings of Star Trek: TNG as a child, probably led me to growing up into being a real-life Mulder now. I want to believe.

[Spencer Baum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first "chapter book" that I read start to finish non-stop. When I was in 3rd grade, circa 1984, I found a paperback copy of this at my library, took it home, went in the empty space between the back of the couch and the wall, and read the whole thing. The 3rd grade me would have called it one of the best books ever, so the thirty-something me gives it 5 stars.

I wonder what happened to the guy who wrote this? I'd love to know what he's up to.

[Stacy Cashmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful brief trip back to my childhood! I can't wait to introduce my son to the Braun sharpeners once he's old enough :)

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 5 out of 5]

42 WORD REVIEW:

A perfectly pitched middle grade adventure, pitting 10-year-old Michael Fairlie against egg-headed aliens who want to smarten up and then abduct his classmates. The foggy school oval and pepper-pot spaceships lend an eerie imagery to what otherwise is a fast, fun tale.

[Irune · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorites as a child. I read it numerous times. It is lots of fun! Simple good v. bad story where good wins.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book series as a kid, it was my first introduction to science fiction.