Features
- Reading level: Ages 9-12
- Cover Type: Hard Cover with 208 pages
- Published by: HarperCollins February 17, 2004
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0060292814
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0060292812
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Book Dimensions:
8.4 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
- Weighs: 13.6 ounces
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8-Intergalactic junk dealer and con artist Tagg Orion has sold warlord Dinn Tauro a defective Dream Ring that produces living nightmares. Now Tagg is on the run, pursued by Dinn and his dreadful dreams-come-true. Meanwhile, on Earth, eighth-grader Sean is searching for the perfect piece of glass. He dreams of studying glassblowing at an exclusive museum high school, but his parents will not pay the tuition. His father especially scorns the "starving artist" lifestyle. Sean hopes to create a sculpture that will impress the judges of the museum's scholarship competition-and his folks. Tagg's spaceship crash-lands on Earth where a quirk of inter-dimensional perception causes it to appear to be very small. Mistaking the transfigured ship for an ornate glass bottle, Sean tries to use it for his project. Tagg offers access to his solar fire link and a supply of off-planet glassware in return for hiding the ship until it can be fixed. Unfortunately, Dinn is still on the junk scavenger's trail, and his nightmare scenarios are getting out of control. As the alien mind phantoms threaten his family, his home, and the fabric of reality, Sean realizes that his art is the only thing that can reshape and restore the normal world. The multifaceted plot includes both raucous adolescent insult humor and thoughtful reflections on the power of art and the nature of dreams. Realistic family relationships and a touch of romance blend seamlessly with Saturday-matinee-style science fiction action. An very perceptive story with a strong message about self-expression and responsibility.
-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-8. Eighth-grader Sean loves the art of glassblowing, and he wants desperately to attend the museum high school, where he can actually learn his craft. But the tools and materials of glassblowing are expensive and dangerous, and his parents are strongly opposed to his spending time at something he can't use to make a living. While looking for discarded glass to work with, Sean comes upon a dumpster and therein a bottle that turns out to be much bigger on the inside than out. Three space aliens come out from that glass bottle to complicate Sean's life: Dinn Tauro, whose dreams become real nightmares; Tagg, entrepreneur of the universe; Squeeto, a flea-size pal. Sparkling, witty language and lots of random asides about art, time, the universe, and the eighth grade make for an entirely engaging and utterly preposterous read.
GraceAnne DeCandidoCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Reader ReviewsMiddle-school student Sean dreams of becoming a glass artist so he is always picking up odd looking glass. He finds a bottle that turns out to be the damaged spacecraft of interstellar junk yard dealer and con artist Tagg Orion. Inside the bottle is much greater than the outside container. Sean sees his amazing find as an opportunity to become closer with the girl of his dreams, stargazing classmate Olivia. However, Sean's stellar find turns nasty as Dinn Tauro comes after Tagg for selling him a non-detachable Dream Ring that animates cretins previously residing in nightmares. Now Sean and Olivia are caught in the middle between an irate customer and a con artist junk dealer. Aimed for an upper elementary school audience, ALIEN IN THE BOTTLE is a fabulous fantasy tale that adults will enjoy too especially those who remember Krypton's Kander. The story line is fast-paced with wonderful fight scenes including classic food fights and skirmishes with gorilla sized rodents. However, the key to this wonderful story is the lead human duet that learns the importance of friendship while struggling to resolve an intergalactic mess. Harriet Klausner
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