What do you think?
Rate this book
Journal of a Cardboard Genius #2
Gravity Buster: Journal 2 of a Cardboard Genius
In Alex Archer's previous journal, Star Jumper, he revealed how his amazing cardboard spacecraft was tragically destroyed during a pillow fight with his little brother Jonathan. Alex knows that all geniuses encounter a setback now and then, yet this setback has only spurred him on to even greater achievements. Alex's new spaceship is twice the size of the old one and is equipped with many astonishing features, such as a telescope that can see around the universe and an electromagnetic shield stronger than Superman's cape! But will Zoe Breen want to be Alex's co-pilot when he leaves Earth and goes galaxy-hopping? And what about Alex's rotten little brother? Does Jonathan really want to drive Alex stark-raving mad? Or is he just looking for some big brother attention? Find out the answers to all these questions and more as the cardboard genius unleashes his brainchild -- the Gravity Buster -- and defies the laws of physics! But who will bring him back down to Earth?
- GenresChildrensScience Fiction
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Frank Asch
112 books101 followersFrank Asch is an American children's writer, best known for his Moonbear picture books.
Asch published his first picture book, George's Store, in 1968. The following year he graduated from Cooper Union with a BFA. Since then he has taught at a public school in India, as well as at a Montessori school in the United States, conducted numerous creative workshops for children. He has written over 60 books, including Turtle Tale, Mooncake, I Can Blink and Happy Birthday Moon. In 1989 he wrote Here Comes the Cat! in collaboration with Vladimir Vagin. The book was awarded the Russian National Book Award and was considered the first Russian-American collaboration on a children's book.
Asch lived in Somerville, New Jersey where he and his wife home-schooled their son Devin.
He currently lives in Vermont with his wife, Jan.
Asch published his first picture book, George's Store, in 1968. The following year he graduated from Cooper Union with a BFA. Since then he has taught at a public school in India, as well as at a Montessori school in the United States, conducted numerous creative workshops for children. He has written over 60 books, including Turtle Tale, Mooncake, I Can Blink and Happy Birthday Moon. In 1989 he wrote Here Comes the Cat! in collaboration with Vladimir Vagin. The book was awarded the Russian National Book Award and was considered the first Russian-American collaboration on a children's book.
Asch lived in Somerville, New Jersey where he and his wife home-schooled their son Devin.
He currently lives in Vermont with his wife, Jan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 23, 2008
NO for black-eyed susan.
NO for our school library.
In this apparent sequel a young, obnoxious boy and self-proclaimed scientific genius creates inventions that transcend the greatest of our technologies and are constructed from simple household appliances, salvaged parts from the neighbor's trash and, of course, cardboard. What could have been a fun, light-hearted book about the inventive imaginations of children was smashed by Alex, our story's narrator and, as aforementioned, resident obnoxious child. He's terrible to his younger brother, twice referring to him as the brother "from hell". (in a children's book?! ...come on!)
His parents, both psychologists, have no apparent involvement in their children's lives, never once venturing into Alex's room to discover what inventions he's hiding (including a "quantum" sword, capable of splitting molecules). Alex keeps his door locked at all times (would patents really allow this?) and constantly threatens his little brother and calls him names.
But why stop there? During a particularly eyebrow-raising moment just 40 pages into the book, Dad receives a phone call from an 8-year-old client whose dog has recently died. We hear the phone conversation as Dad says "Hello, Derek... yes... yes... I understand. Well... let's start with how you're feeling... Suicidal? Mmm... that's an excellent place to begin." (In a CHILDREN's book!! ...why would you do that and then leave no explanation at all?! Why did it even have to be that extreme!? What parent is going to look forward to THAT teachable moment when their young reader asks what it means to be suicidal?!).
What a flop.
NO for our school library.
In this apparent sequel a young, obnoxious boy and self-proclaimed scientific genius creates inventions that transcend the greatest of our technologies and are constructed from simple household appliances, salvaged parts from the neighbor's trash and, of course, cardboard. What could have been a fun, light-hearted book about the inventive imaginations of children was smashed by Alex, our story's narrator and, as aforementioned, resident obnoxious child. He's terrible to his younger brother, twice referring to him as the brother "from hell". (in a children's book?! ...come on!)
His parents, both psychologists, have no apparent involvement in their children's lives, never once venturing into Alex's room to discover what inventions he's hiding (including a "quantum" sword, capable of splitting molecules). Alex keeps his door locked at all times (would patents really allow this?) and constantly threatens his little brother and calls him names.
But why stop there? During a particularly eyebrow-raising moment just 40 pages into the book, Dad receives a phone call from an 8-year-old client whose dog has recently died. We hear the phone conversation as Dad says "Hello, Derek... yes... yes... I understand. Well... let's start with how you're feeling... Suicidal? Mmm... that's an excellent place to begin." (In a CHILDREN's book!! ...why would you do that and then leave no explanation at all?! Why did it even have to be that extreme!? What parent is going to look forward to THAT teachable moment when their young reader asks what it means to be suicidal?!).
What a flop.
August 13, 2017
Alex improves his Star Jumper and it is bigger and better than ever. But he knows he still has a few more inventions to make to ensure success as he goes into space, hopefully with Zoe as his co-pilot. He needs an anti-gravity belt so the gravity differences between planets can be handled by his body. He also needs a way to restrict Jonathan's spying and getting in the way.
I love this series. Alex's asides and explanations as he tells the story have me laughing out loud. He is a riot. The drawings that illustrate what he means are great. Alex and Jonathan are so realistic. I cannot wait to read book 3. This is so much fun!
I love this series. Alex's asides and explanations as he tells the story have me laughing out loud. He is a riot. The drawings that illustrate what he means are great. Alex and Jonathan are so realistic. I cannot wait to read book 3. This is so much fun!
May 4, 2021
5 stars from both Soren and Calvin :)
July 4, 2016
Less enamored by this series than I was initially, and it is due to several behavior issues that the author sort of glorifies. First, Alex is extremely full of himself, sees himself as better than everyone else (with perhaps the exception of his parents). He is mean to his little brother Jonathan, and since he views Jonathan as beneath him, he either ignores him or treats him terribly. Granted, Jonathan is a snotty little brat - a smart, snotty little brat - and he has a mean streak. He also has a passive aggressive trait, and uses it to manipulate his parents. The parents, both psychologists, are utterly oblivious to the real dynamics at play between the kids, and actually encourage the brattiness in 6-year-old Jonathan. In truth, Jonathan behaves in some ways like a two-year-old, and in some ways he is smarter and more clever than his big brother. All in all, what puts me off is that there is no judgment made, no discipline of, nor consequence for inappropriate, mean behavior between the brothers. The parents rattle off psychobabble, but really do nothing, and that makes them look inept as parents.
These are bad books. They're funny and clever, but I believe warrant a conversation with my own son about how neither brother exhibits acceptable behavior, and most parents (me included) would not allow many of those behaviors. Further, there would be consequences for the mean things they do to each other. It doesn't matter if it is normal sibling rivalry or not (and it very well may be), the fact that the parents are painted as largely incompetent and incapable of putting a stop to some of the ugliness between the brothers is very off-putting to me.
These are bad books. They're funny and clever, but I believe warrant a conversation with my own son about how neither brother exhibits acceptable behavior, and most parents (me included) would not allow many of those behaviors. Further, there would be consequences for the mean things they do to each other. It doesn't matter if it is normal sibling rivalry or not (and it very well may be), the fact that the parents are painted as largely incompetent and incapable of putting a stop to some of the ugliness between the brothers is very off-putting to me.
August 25, 2008
This looked like a book that my son might like, so I checked it out from the library and gave it a quick read.
I liked the idea, but not the execution.
A young boy-inventor, creating great magical (scientific) devices from ordinary household items, including cardboard boxes, is genius. What boy hasn't done this?! But there was too much focus on the sibling relationship and the hope of getting the girl ... a friend, not a girl-friend! ... to join him.
For such a short, quick book (144 pages, but large type and plenty of illustrations) it tried to do too much.
My son said it was "okay" and I agree.
I liked the idea, but not the execution.
A young boy-inventor, creating great magical (scientific) devices from ordinary household items, including cardboard boxes, is genius. What boy hasn't done this?! But there was too much focus on the sibling relationship and the hope of getting the girl ... a friend, not a girl-friend! ... to join him.
For such a short, quick book (144 pages, but large type and plenty of illustrations) it tried to do too much.
My son said it was "okay" and I agree.
October 19, 2009
this is the best book in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 6, 2013
I like that these books encourage using the imagination and becoming hands-on with creative projects. However, if this kid was mine he would spend a lot of time in time-out. His disrespect is completely unacceptable and horrible role-modeling to children reading this book.
December 24, 2008
Science interesting, parents are supposed to be psychiatrists but totally clueless about genius son, not that inspiring
Currently reading
May 23, 2009so far so good
July 19, 2016
H could. not. put. this. down. Read in a day and loved it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews