A slight tale of a shapeshifting extraterrestrial cop that enlists the aid of shrimpy seventh-grader Frank Dunn to repair its flying saucer and recapture an escaped prisoner. Appearing as a fire hydrant, a visiting cousin, dogs, and various household objects, the Good Guy checks out likely hideouts, helps with Frank's schoolwork, and scares off bullies; in return, Frank fingers the Bad Guy, who's masquerading as a neighborhood chum. Brittain is just going through the motions here: Both shapeshifters have arbitrary, convenient constraints on their ability; the fugitive barely appears and, though billed as a fiendish supercriminal, displays few signs of intelligence; the spaceship is repaired with janitor's tools plus two bags of coal; several scenes are obvious fillers; and the story ends precipitately after a contrived battle. (Fiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: May 30, 1994
ISBN: 0-06-024238-8
Page Count: 108
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1994
BOOK REVIEW
A clear, visually attractive introduction by the author of several fine nature titles. Carefully describing the special features that help the cacti survive dry environments (e.g., accordion-pleated skin that expands without splitting), Lerner makes a strong plea for conservation and notes that there is at least one species native to every state except Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Her illustrations are detailed and carefully drawn, though scale is not given; scientific names appear in the back. Useful and unusually well written. Glossary; limited index (omitting some species, e.g., night-blooming cereus, described at length in the text). (Nonfiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: Aug. 14, 1992
ISBN: 0-688-09636-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1992
In the ``Earthkeepers'' series, a true hero of the environmental movement gets his due in a simply phrased biography. Mendes, leader of the nonviolent movement to save the Brazilian rain forest, was gunned down by cattle ranchers just a few years ago. DeStefano gives a sympathetic account of his work, covering Mendes's organization of campaigns (as well as his public-relations efforts to attract world attention); the diversity of rain-forest life; its importance to humanity; the destruction threatening it; and the semifeudal living conditions of the rubber-tappers. Although her style plods a bit, she depicts the drama of the conflict fairly; readers who stick with her account will come to appreciate the enormous forces opposing Mendes and the scope of his achievements. Printed in large type and illustrated with b&w line drawings. Glossary; index; but no bibliography. (Biography. 10-12)
Pub Date: March 1, 1992
ISBN: 0-941477-41-X
Page Count: 76
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1992
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