Blast Off!

Written by Nate Ball · Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan

Book #1 in the Alien in My Pocket series

A tiny alien crash-lands, and a boy must protect it from the world.

4.5/7 Bookroo expert·3.6/5 Goodreads · 540 ratings

112 pages· 16,112 words· Est. 3 hour read

$4.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Zack McGee's life turns upside down when a four-inch alien crashes into his room. Expecting danger, he instead finds a ticklish friend needing protection. As Zack hides the alien from the world, he embarks on an unexpected adventure filled with science and surprises. Can Zack keep his new friend safe, or will the world discover the secret in his pocket? Dive into this thrilling tale of friendship and discovery, complete with a fun science experiment to try at home!

From the publisher

2015-2016 Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award Winner!With engaging illustrations on every spread, a page-turning plot, a do-it-yourself experiment on building your own rocket, and fun science facts throughout, this is the perfect chapter book for young readers! And it’s all from the amazing brain of MIT graduate Nate Ball, host of PBS’s Emmy Award-winning Design Squad series.When a four-inch-tall alien crash-lands through Zack McGee’s bedroom window, Zack is sure he’s about to become the first victim in a new War of the Worlds. But when the alien turns out to have weapons that are more ticklish than terrifying, Zack realizes that rather than protect the world from the alien, it’s up to him to protect the alien in his pocket from the world.The adventure begins in this thrilling new chapter book series, complete with a do-it-yourself science experiment!

At a glance

Format
Pages: 112
Words: 16,112
Reading age: 6–10
Audience: Juvenile Reader
Lexile: 690L

Themes & topics

Books about aliens and extraterrestrial beings Books about friendship Books about school Books about technology Books about science

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Potty Humor

This book contains multiple inclusions of references to the boy wearing boxers.

Language

This book includes a couple of instances of implied language, such as the alien saying what sounded like alien curse words (but no profanity actually used).

Violence

This book contains a few instances of name calling, such as "geek," and some violent language between siblings, such as, "Normally, I would have threatened to pound him so hard his grandchildren would walk with a limp. But now, I just stared at him."

Serious Subject Matter

This book includes a scene where Olivia (a friend) is giving a fake excuse to the principal to get Zack out of trouble by saying he has a crush on his teacher. The principal talks about how those feelings are "natural" and nothing to be ashamed of.

What readers & critics say