A sequel to Aliens Ate My Homework (1993), this title stands very well on its own. Rod thinks his summer is ruinedÿ20when he hears his cousin Elspeth is coming to visit, but that's nothing compared to being kidnapped by an alien monster from another dimension. Reality quakes, shape-shifting, and martial-arts training keep Rod far too busy to worry about Elspeth, as do his endeavors to save the universes (all of them) with his Galactic Patrol alien allies. In addition, Rod discovers that his father, believed to have deserted the family, is really a missing-in-action member of the Galactic Patrol, making Rod part alien. Coville's comic touch makes a multitude of wildly disparate elements acceptable within the context of the story. Rod, a likable kid with believable actions and reactions, careens through a far-fetched but happily absorbing plot that's bound to entertain. (Reviewed January 15, 1995)

Gr 4-6-In this sequel to Aliens Ate My Homework (Pocket, 1993), Rod Allbright and his bratty cousin Elspeth are kidnapped by Smorkus Flinders, a huge and hideous monster from Dimension X. Smorkus is holding them hostage to trap Rod's alien friends from the good ship Ferkel. The ship's captain and crew manage to rescue Rod and Elspeth, but getting out of Dimension X and stopping the evil Smorkus proves to be more difficult. After spending time with some shapeshifters and apprenticing to the warrior Tar Gibbons, Rod acquires new self-confidence, and, discovering that Smorkus knows something about his missing father, the enraged boy defeats the giant and saves the universe. Readers will enjoy the trademark combination of humor, nonstop action, and wild characters that distinguish Coville's books. With its bright cover, alluring title, and occasional black-and-white illustrations, this book is guaranteed to be popular with space-opera fans, comic-book readers, and budding science-fiction enthusiasts.-Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library