Party Crashers by Jonathan Roth - ADVISABLE

Party Crashers by Jonathan Roth (Beep and Bob, book 2), 108 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster.), 2018. $17.  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE   

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

In Bob and Beep’s second adventure, they are attending their friend Lani’s birthday party on a 100% guaranteed safe, water- and amusement-park filled spaceship called the Titanic, which happens to be the same name as the ship in the yet unfinished book he’s reading for his historical book report due on Monday. After realizing he forgot to bring a present for the birthday girl, things go from bad to worse when Bob is accused of stealing the guests’ jewelry. With the help of Beep (his alien friend), some desperation moves, and plenty of plain dumb luck, he finds the real thieves, manages to save the Titanic from colliding with the ice rings of Neptune, and is ready for his Monday presentation. 

The story has an episodic plot and lots of humor. There are punny references, such as the Star Words videos that Beep loves to watch that feature robot characters ABCD-2 and C-345; silly interactions, such as with the start cruiser’s steward who calls Bob and Beep “sir” and is always on hand when they need assistance; and plenty of slapstick slaps and slips. Give these to readers who may be too young for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series but like silliness. It will also introduce its readers to the genre of science fiction. An Afterword contains some facts about Neptune. 

P. K. Foster, teacher-librarian