Space Brat

Space Brat #1

by Bruce Coville, Katherine Coville (Illustrator)

Space Brat is Bruce Coville's first installment in the Space Brat series, illustrated by Kathrine Coville.

After running off, Blork loses his way and lands in a strange place ruled by a grumpy man named Squat, a creature who, Blork discovers, is nastier and brattier than Blork.

Genres: Science Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Young Adult, Fiction, Chapter Books, Juvenile

68 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1992

About the author

Bruce Coville was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1950. His family lived in farm territory, about twenty miles north of Syracuse. Bruce grew up around the corner from his grandparents' dairy farm, where he spent a great deal of time as a child, dodging cows and chores to the best of his ability. As a young reader he loved Mary Poppins and Dr. Dolittle, and still has fond memories of rising ahead of the rest of his family so he could huddle in a chair and read THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE. He also read lots of things that people consider junk (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and zillions of comic books). His only real regret is the time he spent watching television, when he could have been reading instead. (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!)

His first book, THE FOOLISH GIANT, was published in 1978. It was illustrated by his wife, Katherine, whom he had married in 1969. This was followed in 1979 by SARAH'S UNICORN, also illustrated by Katherine. After a long period of working separately, the Covilles began collaborating again with SPACE BRAT and GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE, both published in 1992.

Before getting published Bruce earned his living as a toymaker, a gravedigger, a cookware salesman, an assembly line worker, and finally as an elementary school teacher (second and fourth grades). He left teaching in 1981 to devote himself to becoming a full time writer - though it took another five years to achieve that goal!)

Bruce has published over 100 books, which have appeared in over a dozen countries around the world and sold more than sixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, INTO THE LAND OF THE UNICORNS, and THE MONSTER'S RING. In 2001 he founded Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company dedicated to creating unabridged, full cast recordings of the best in children's and young adult literature.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to help my son read this because he decided to pick it up from the school library. The cover is what made him pick up the book because it had green alien's.

When he usually picks up a book he is intrigued by it and sits there entrapped by the words, but this story just didn't do that for him.

I agree with a few other viewers stating that Space Brat seems to give excuse after excuse for bad behavior. If I was in a bookstore looking at this book, I but it back on the shelf because of the behavior fact and the slight bullying. I get it came out in 1993, but these issues are very well presented in everyday school, my son doesn't need to read about tantrums, bullies not being stopped and being excused for bad behavior.

[Weathervane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming book; loved this one when I was younger. The illustrations really make it come alive. And the names are fantastic: Blork, Lunk, Moomie Peevik, etc.

[Ginger Vampyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh the delightful nostalgia of going back and reading a book from childhood. A cute story about a boy who would do anything to protect his dog, which leads to some crazy adventures. All set on a planet that has some ridiculous standards for children's behavior and grossly unfair punishments.

[Brent Ecenbarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my boys first Bruce Coville book, and they had a lot to choose from since he was my favorite author as a kid. Space Brat is definitely one of Coville's books most geared toward early readers. There're only 7 chapters, and Katharine Coville's beautiful illustrations frequent about every other page.

The story is that Blork is a troublemaker because of an eggshell that got stuck to his head as a baby and ever since then he's been labeled as a brat. Afterwards, since everybody expected him to behave like a brat and blamed him for trouble he figured he might as well live down to their expectations. When Blork takes his giant pet poodnoobie to cause trouble at school though, he finds his only real friend in danger of being destroyed. Blork and Lunk (the poodnoobie) fly into deep space where he meets a real brat named Squat who's ruling otherwise gentle giants.

The moral of the story seems to be that either a kick in the pants will cure temper tantrums or that tantrums aren't a good way to behave. Maybe not everybody in that respect. Either way, my boys enjoyed it. No real objectionable content here for the young ones, as we didn't have to censor anything and the threats of danger are never particularly close or scary.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Huh. 2.5 stars. At best.

Good lessons learned? But honestly? I'm not a big fan of the space brat. It feels like there's too many excuses for being bad, and the reasoning for getting him to be better behaved is a good swift kick in the seat of the pants? Yeah, it's meant to be funny, and it IS after a fashion. But as a parent I'm not a fan of this.

I'll give the next book a try, but honestly am not really inclined to recommend this when there are better books out there.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Space Brat is the story of a boy (alien) and his podnooble (pet). Through the story Blork learns some valuable lessons about responsibility and respect, but Bruce Coville does this in a very un-preachy way. This isn't my favorite Bruce Coville book, but it's certainly a fun story and great conversation starter for younger readers.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a little alien kid named Blork who was falsely labeled as a brat by the robots who were supposed to take care of him as a baby, and so thinks that he is a brat and acts like one. This whole plot line and character arc could have been avoided if the robots taking care of Blork knew what an eggshell was. Another loss for AI.

Edit: Ew this was JD Vance’s first chapter book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember picking this book out while at my elementary school book fair one year. As a child, I was in somewhat of fearful awe of these- pardon the pun- alien customs. :P Now, I respect how this book encouraged me to look at universal matters of childhood in a creative way. Yay for sci-fi!

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child I went nuts over this book

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book back in the third grade. I liked it at the time, but now its just plain childish. I really don't understand da story line.

[Kressel Housman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce Coville for the younger set, the ones just beginning to read chapter books. My kids still enjoyed it, but I wonder if it'll really teach them to conquer their own brattiness . .

[Stephanie Otte]

Bruce Coville is HILARIOUS and this is proof!

[Mick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it because blork finds a poodnoobie, but the big pest squad comes & takes lunk.

[Nene Jermz]

Very sad and introsting book

[Lori Lee-Rouadi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hmmmm...

[Bryce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved these as a kid. . . I'm not sure how I'd feel about it now, but they were fun.

[Sarah]

I love this book
its sad when blork loses lunk