Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox

The Finniverse Series #1

by Michael Buckley

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Sisters Grimm and NERDS comes a new action-packed middle-grade series with aliens, robots, and kids saving the world! “Alien bugs! Laser cannons! Bloodthirsty unicorns! Don’t be surprised if this lunchbox sucks you in, too.”—MAX BRALLIER, New York Times bestselling author of the Last Kids on Earth seriesFinn Foley has a lunchbox, and when he opens it, weird things come out . . . like a seven-foot-tall robot and a strange, blinking device that glues itself to his chest. The lunchbox also opens wormholes--shortcuts through space--that take Finn to the farthest corners of the galaxy. Sounds awesome, right?Not so much. Rocketing through the cosmos attracts the attention of the Plague, a race of gigantic bugs. The thing on Finn's chest belongs to them--it's the most dangerous weapon in the universe--and they want it back.To fight the Plague, Finn will need the lunchbox, as well as an unlikely squad of Lincoln, the bully; Julep, the coolest girl in school; Kate, Finn's unicorn-obsessed little sister; and Highbeam, a robot spy from another galaxy. If they can learn to work together, they just might have a chance, but the bugs are coming, and they'll stop at nothing to get their weapon--even if it means destroying the world.

Genres: Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Childrens, Aliens, Audiobook, Action, Robots

285 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2020

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Michael Buckley was born in Akron, Ohio. He tried his hand as a stand-up comic and lead singer for a punk rock back before attending Ohio University. After graduating with honors he moved to New York City to be an intern on the Late Show with David Letterman which led to stints developing programming for Discovery Networks, MTV, MTV Animation and Klasky Csupo (producers of Nickelodeon’s Rugrats). Today he lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife, Alison, and their son Finn.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: "Well, this got exciting pretty quick," Dax Dargon said to her robot partner, Highbeam.

Premise/plot: Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox is the first in a new action/adventure sci-fi novel for children. From Finn's perspective, it all started when he accidentally took his SISTER'S lunchbox to school instead of his own. His unicorn-obsessed younger sister's lunchbox. Chaos, pure chaos happens when it is opened...

But really it all started in a galaxy far, far away. Dax and Highbeam--as a last resort--use an untested device...and it has unexpected consequences...

It will take a diverse team to save the universe....

My thoughts: It is the first in the series. It has a LOT of characters. It is definitely action-packed and action-driven.

Definitely written for children. I don't mean that in a snarky way. As in...it's good but not that good because it's written for children. I just mean it was written to be ENJOYED by children. There's a difference sometimes between writing to moralize, instruct, inspire, encourage, uplift....and writing to actually be enjoyed. I think adult reviewers can be so focused on trying to find the LITERARY gems that are destined for award season greatness that we are blind to those books that are just fun.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent volume by Michael Buckley. The daughter was especially impressed with the Unicorn names.

[Kimberly Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one makes a hard argument for bringing lunchboxes back in style! Loved the adults in this one--which was refreshing and it was just plain fun. Stranger Things for the younger crowd.

[Amanda]

8/18/21-8/30/21 didn't hold my interest and I couldn't finish it

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn is a typical almost twelve-year-old. He’s got a younger sister who annoys him, he’s struggling to make friends at his new school, he’s being picked on by a bully, and he has a crush on a classmate. His life changes when he accidentally takes his sister’s lunchbox to school one day. When it starts to glow, he discovers that it’s become a portal to another part of our galaxy. On, and this portal is the key to a battle against a race called The Plague that destroys planets. With The Plague now looking at Earth as their next target, Finn is going to have to come up with some kind of plan to save the world.

It’s been a few years since I picked up one of Michael Buckley’s books, so I was thrilled to see he had a new series out. As you might suspect from the description, this is a wild, fast-paced right that I found hard to put down. And I haven’t even mentioned the seven-foot-tall robot yet. I did feel it got a little too apocalyptic for me at times, but that’s a matter of personal taste. The characters are good, although the one that got the most development here was a cliché. The creativity that went into this book is outstanding with lots of details that are fun. Kids will eat this book up and be anxious for the next one when they are done.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this, I kept saying it would make an awesome animated movie. Never a moment passed that this reader was bored. The characters were dynamic and flawed and like any kids’ book, ended with enough hope to feel like you’re satisfied that you’ve just spent the hours reading something so entertaining. I will be recommending this to every middle school librarian that I know!

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one. Our kids pick of the month. Reminded me of a nice blend of the animated movie Planet 51 meets E.T. meets a little bit of Stranger Things and Guardians of the Galaxy. The makings for a good kids series. Looking forward to the next one so I can share it with the young readers in my life.

[Tasha Birckhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic sci-fi middle school novel.

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast and funny

What with "Nerds" and "The Sisters Grimm" and various standalones it's clear that Michael Buckley really knows his way around middle grade and young YA tales. Has he mastered the formula? Well, yes. Is there anything wrong with that? Don't see why.

This time out we have space travel, but the book is mostly an alien chase, save the Earth from invasion, sort of book. Finn accidentally comes into possession of an ultimate weapon, (that resides in his sister's unicorn lunchbox), and he has to avoid alien invaders who want to take the weapon away from him, and he has to work with alien good guys who want the weapon and are willing to help save Earth in order to get it. Let the fun begin.

And it is fun. No dreary or tedious digressions or family drama. Finn has a mysteriously missing Dad, but otherwise the complications and conflict are kept to a minimum. What you get is Finn, who is an earnest, wise-cracking, and relatable hero. You also get a bully who is very funny, (that's a new one), a weirdness obsessed crushworthy girl who is totally into aliens, a semi-oblivious kid sister who is fanatical about unicorns and who has a refreshingly deadpan sense of humor, and a long suffering, glitchy alien robot who is the brains and the brawn of the operation. For a change we also get a tougher than he looks, heroic middle school principal, which I thought was a nice touch. Even Finn's Mom has her act totally together.

The team works well on the page. Everyone gets to shine, and the banter, the throwaway lines, the deadpan bits, and even the weirdness are all upbeat and entertaining. And who doesn't love a warrior unicorn named Deathkick?

So, I got a few chuckles out of this, and appreciated how nicely constructed and written it was. It was breezy, fast paced, engaging, and funny. The book wraps up nicely but leaves an opening and invitation for a followup, and I would be happy to see that.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Greg Barkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never in a million years did I think I would be writing a book review about a boy with an alien teleportation device fused to his chest that coincides with his sister's lunch box. Oh, should I mention the giant locusts invading his planet, to then be beaten to a pulp by blood vicious unicorns!



What can I say about this book?

It's a 5-star book from me. Plain and simple. Don't like it? Too bad. Chew on something else if you didn't like this book. I loved this book. It gave me everything I could ask for from a middle-grade adventure. The growth of a character(s). Some out of this world Sci-Fi elements. Deep themes that both kids and adults can touch on. Family. Humor. It struck me in all the good places. Perfect story.

The main Sci-fi idea behind this story was a reach, but Buckley wrote it interestingly enough to keep me hooked.

I could have honestly read this book in one sitting over a 2-3 hour span if I had the time. The type of story I can, crack open a soda, put on some tunes, and relax.

What hooked me even more; was the themes this book expands on; growth, bullying, anger, family. Lincoln's arc specifically took me by storm. At the beginning of the story, Finn and Lincoln are just two kids who can't seem to stop getting in scuffles. By the end of the story, they understand one another. See the world from the other's perspective. And I love how Lincoln's father chooses his son over his girlfriend.

I'm hungry for the next book in the series. Hoping Finn will get to see his father in the next book. One can hope. Thank you for a great read, Mr. Buckley.

[Eliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Join Finn and his companions for an action-packed adventure as they try to save the planet - and maybe the whole universe! (Content warning: contains violent and potentially upsetting descriptions.) Finn Foley doesn't really have any friends in his new hometown, but he's trying his best. Even so, he can't seem to catch a break, until suddenly he is pulled into trouble on a whole different scale! Finn ends up working with an unlikely team battling a powerful enemy for the future of Earth and beyond. It will take contributions from the whole ragtag bunch to overpower the Plague. Along the way, Finn learns more about friendship, family, and what it means to be a hero. The ending leaves readers anxious to find out what experiences await Finn and his friends in the next book! And this reader also hopes to learn a bit more about the characters as well.
Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox will appeal to many kids, but be aware that it is not a good fit for more sensitive readers. Descriptions of violence and harm may cause anxiety.

[Pete Pardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

And like that my daughter has a team of hero's! I just finished reading Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox by Michael Buckley with Eve and she loved it. Which is to say she LOVED IT! Her words not mine. She loved the robot Highbeam, she loved the space travel aspect of the book, and she really loved the portal used for the worm hole, a pink unicorn lunchbox. ARE YOU EVEN KIDDING! Unicorn. You had her at Unicorn, and then add to that the... wait I think I am putting too much spoiler in this review. Basically, she enjoyed the story immensely. I mean so much so we finished it in two days! That has to be some kind of record for us. A lot of great aspects in this one; robots, giant bugs, worm holes, time travel, a misunderstood bully, aliens, a super smart shy love interest and a unicorn lunchbox! What is there not to love! Here's hoping you have time to read with your little one today and as always enjoy the read!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

For kids who like a little wackiness mixed in with their sci-fi, this would be a good choice. There’s space travel (via a wormhole in a lunchbox), unicorns, aliens, a battle to save earth, and a lot more. There’s also the everyday stuff of school like bullies, friendships, and crushes. One thing I really liked: sometimes teachers and principals get a bad rap in these kind of silly books, coming off as mean, out of touch, or just stupid. In here, there’s a principal who starts off seeming a little out of touch, but I really liked how his story arc went down.

Hand this to your fans of sci-fi and/or action-adventure. They’ll want to pick up the next book to see what happens!

[Dontreadlikethem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this book. The science fiction descriptions were overly complicated which led to me rereading pages more then once. I was also in pure disbelief while reading the dialogue between the children. As soon as I disregarded the ages of the main characters and told myself I was reading a YA novel it became a page turner. The non stop action pauses, sometimes too abruptly, to show character development. Overall, I am glad I didn't throw in the towel and can't wait to catch up with Finn in the next space adventure. I just hope it finds its way into the YA section.

[Brian Hutzell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of adventure, many very funny moments, and…well, that’s about it. But it’s enough to make this a fun read. Even though there are a few passages about family dynamics, bullying, and Middle School love, don’t look for great depth here. Also: do not expect hard science fiction. The point of this book is to provide entertainment, and in that it succeeds. My biggest complaint is the ending. I don’t mind a series, but I still expect a final chapter that is something more than a lead-in to the next book in the series.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reviewing the first chapter, this book seemed to target an older age group. The descriptions were detailed and spoke of complexities that went beyond the maturity level of a middle-grade student (i.e breeding). I elected not to have my son read the book.... maybe in a few years?

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Delacorte Books for Young Readers, and Michael Buckley for an ARC of 'Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox' in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great crew of characters and fun story! We really enjoyed it and the adventure Finn and his supercool lunchbox took us on. Finn and his team fight the Plague, a gang of rowdy bugs, in order to save the universe.

As soon as we finished reading this book, my boys went and made a Robot friend like Highbeam! I love stories that entertain but also that inspire kids to use their imaginations and that’s exactly what this book did.

[Sandra Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ages 8 to 11

As an adult , I really did not like this book: it seemed to be a series of different action scenes that is tied loosely together with a convoluted plot line.

This is why I think elementary students might like this book even though I didn't; It has a male main character (which is hard to find in books these days). And there is a lot of action. Unicorns save the day. The principal is in a beaver suit. Bugs as enemies.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. I think it was the way it was written since it really is a great adventure. I wasn't attached to any of the characters and felt this was way more plot driven than character driven; which is not a bad thing, just wasn't as exciting and captivating as it could have been. That being said, I think that reluctant readers and adventure junkies will enjoy this one.

[Sirah]

I'm not sure how I keep ending up with novels about giant man-eating bugs, but this one was much less horrifying than the last one. Finn is in the midst of detention with the local school bully when a wormhole unexpectedly puts the whole world in a lot more serious trouble. Finn needs to find a way to save the universe with the help of some strange friends and a few wacky gizmos. Filled with humor, friendship, and a lot of explosions, this book is a fun take on a classic alien invasion theme.

[Elizabeth P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this would be a good science-fiction choice for elementary schoolers.
I will say that this book goes at a breakneck pace and the first chapter confused me since it wasn't about the main character (it gets you straight into the action of what is going on in the universe). I think that the characterization suffers from the fast pace. The book doesn't give the reader a lot of time to breathe.
I think this book was okay but I'm not sure if I will read the rest of the series.

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings)]

7/24 DNF Chapter 3.

1. Evil bug aliens who lay eggs in LIVE children that then eat their way out. This is an Ages 10 & up kids book?!?

2. The nice kid that daily gets bullied gets in daily trouble WITH the bully FOR being bullied and will be expelled with the bully because they can't get along? He tries to get along, yet his being bullied is equally his fault?? What kind of school is this?!?

I just can't.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A robot is transported to Earth through a portal in a lunchbox trying to escape an alien invader. Chaos ensues on Earth as the robot and the alien that looks like a giant grasshopper battle it out. 4 children work together with the robot to send him back to his home. With lots of funny moments, and quick pace of events this makes for a great read.

[Vane Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this book in a couple of hours. It’s fast paced filled with action and adventure. The characters in the story are great and it gave me Artemis Fowl vibes. The book is filled with emotions I found myself laughing aloud and also sympathizing with the characters.


I highly recommend this book to everyone and would use this book as a school read.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think The Kid liked this one more than I did. It's got all sorts of crazy characters - locust army, unicorns, aliens, robots - and a lunch box with the ability to produce wormholes. The pop culture references (a school for magical children, a summer camp for children of gods, men in black suits with sunglasses) were fun for The Kid to notice and note. I appreciated the take on unicorns.

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun, fast-paced science fiction romp. Perhaps a little too fast-paced at times. I would have liked a little more time spent on description at certain points in the story. A little more time spent on character development, but honestly, the target audience for this book wouldn't care about all that stuff anyway. Looking forward to the sequels.

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

My nephew loved this book, as did I. Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox is very creative. It makes you think, it makes you laugh, and it makes you want to read more. We look forward to more about Finn Foley.
Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for our copy.

[Sara M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need something light and silly when life is getting you down, and this novel fit the bill perfectly. It was exactly what I needed last week and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for my middle grades reading group. It was fun. I wished for something like this to interest my struggling readers among 5th grade boys. Now there are many sci-fi selections for that age group.

[Lotrfan3000 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about what would happen if your lunchbox were a wormhole generator, and a robot came out of it and wrecked your principal's office. Sounds funny, right? I especially liked the parts with bloodthirsty unicorns. There were some details that seemed random at first but turned out to be for a reason. I would recommend this book for fans of sci-fi and Adam Rex.