Gr. 3-5. In this gently amusing chapter book, the versatile Asch addresses two timeless subjects: the evil of little brothers and the joys of invention. Alex's younger sibling is the biggest pain in the butt this side of Alpha Centauri. But Alex, an immodest kid genius, has a plan: he carefully transforms cardboard boxes and duct tape into a spaceship, a micro-blaster, and a duplicator. He is going to the end of the universe to escape. Jonathan, who thinks Alex is making him a castle, has other ideas. When the duplicator makes too many Alexes and Jonathans, both brothers, upon returning to their single selves, finally find some common ground. Told in Alex's voice, the sf fantasy is extended with informative references to math and science, a subplot about Alex's crush on a neighborhood girl, and many illustrations--primarily sketches of the contraptions. Readers who like to tinker and dream will be the best audience for this tongue-in-cheek tale, in which the lines between imagination and reality are intriguingly blurred. --GraceAnne DeCandido Copyright 2006 Booklist

Play and reality merge (maybe) in this tale of a lad seeking total escape--as in a flight to the far end of the universe--from an aggressive, worshipful little brother. Despite continual interference from his first-grade-aged nemesis Jonathan, Alex crafts a spaceship in his room from cardboard boxes and found household materials, then goes on after a test ride into space to invent a Micro-Blaster (for protection) and a Duplicator (so he'll have agreeable companions on his new planet) from like items. Complications ensue when he inadvertently shrinks Jonathan down to the size of a bug, and later, leaves the Duplicator unguarded--but in the end, Alex's attitude mellows after a rousing bedroom melee, and the discovery that little brothers make useful pretexts for going to a movie that a certain attractive classmate also happens to be attending. Continually whining about his sibling's behavior and congratulating himself on his own genius, Alex comes across as no prize himself, but there's enough wish fulfillment here to put readers on his side--whether or not that Micro-Blaster really works. (Fiction. 9-11) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 3-5-Self-styled genius Alex has had it with his little brother. Jonathan is always hanging around-asking weird questions, messing with Alex's stuff, and generally being a pest. Mom says it's all just normal sibling rivalry, but Alex decides there is only one thing to do-leave Earth-and Jonathan-forever. Using his astounding scientific ability-plus lots of grocery boxes, duct tape, and assorted bits of junk, Alex designs the Star Jumper. This advanced cardboard spacecraft will take him across the galaxy to a brother-free planet-if only he can keep the first grader out of the way until liftoff. The first-person narration is lively and realistic, bouncing between mock scientific jargon and exasperated brother-speak. The short text is illustrated with sketches from Alex's invention notebook, including carefully labeled diagrams of the ship and its high-tech, recycling-bin gadgetry. More gently tongue-in-cheek than Dan Greenburg's irreverent "Zack Files" (Grosset & Dunlap), this early chapter book is a good choice for younger science-fiction fans.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.