My Teacher Flunked the Planet

Rating:
Summary: My Teacher Flunked The Planet by Bruce Coville
Review: I have all four books in the My Teacher Is An Alien series, and all of them are great, but this climactic conclusion to the series is the most deep, touching, and downright SCARY of the series. In it, the aliens take down the three kids on an expedition to Earth to check out what should be done about the planet, which is the only planet EVER to be smart enough to achieve space travel, but dumb enough to have wars. Some of the places where they go chilled me to the bone, learning more about the evils of human nature.

In short, this is not the book to read if you're looking for a nice, cheerful book. In fact, it shouldn't be read at all without first reading the first three books in the series, which start out much simpler, and eventually build up to this one. However, it's still a great book, it's just that you'll be halfway through it and you'll say out loud "Geez, the human race sucks!"

Rating:
Summary: A little disappointing but certainly worthwhile
Review: I have to admit I was a little disappointed in this concluding story in Bruce Coville's My Alien series. This is a much more serious book than its predecessors, conveying a strong message about human society today. While it addresses important issues such as war, poverty, starvation, and other social ills, it comes off as a tad preachy in places. The fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, and it is up to the series' three young heroes to convince a worried Interplanetary Council that the planet should be spared. Susan Simmons, Duncan Dougal, and Peter Thompson come together as a complete unit for the first time, each having previously narrated his/her own account of the events and discoveries leading up to the ultimate final challenge. Susan has exposed her new teacher as a reptilian alien on a mission to "kidnap" five students for study, Duncan has gone from slow-witted bully to a nice, highly intelligent young man after having his brains "fried," and Peter has traveled into the depths of space and met all manner of alien creatures. With the help of a few human-friendly aliens, they now face the largest challenge conceivable: proving to the leaders of the galaxy that all hope for humanity's mending its wicked ways is not lost. If they fail, the Earth will be destroyed in much the same way harmful bacteria are eradicated before they can spread their harmful influence beyond the localized area in which they are currently festering.

Things aren't looking very good for life on Earth; traveling in disguise back on their home planet, our team gets a close-up look at many of mankind's worst ills, and even the kids are often at a loss as to how to defend a people who do such terrible things to one another. All of this is well and good (albeit a little too preachy), but the conclusion of the story (and thus of the whole series) was a let-down. The big climax is more of a hit-and-run than a well-executed denouement, leaving me looking down for the rug that Coville pulled from under my feet at the last minute. It's still an impressive final book in a very entertaining series, but I just expected something more. While this book is by far the most important of the series, incorporating issues that some young readers may not have a full grasp on yet, it is far less entertaining and amusing than the first three books. For a youngster ready to make the move to more serious children's fiction, though, My Teacher Flunked the Planet stands as a gateway to a world where learning takes its place alongside pure entertainment.

Rating:
Summary: The World Isn't That Bad
Review: Pro: this was an exciting, interesting book. I enjoyed reading it and re-reading it.

Con: Bruce Coville can get very preachy at times. In this book we look at the worst of humanity, and he makes it sound like all of humanity is a terrible violent monsters. But while there are horrible things in the world, you must realize they are showing us the worst-there are better! And with all the no doubt millions of alien races, we're the worst of the worst? Yeah, right. I especially hate it when he talks about the television as if it serves to purpose other than to turn our brain into swiss cheese.

If you can get over the self-righteousness and the pessimism about the human race, this is a lovely book.

Rating:
Summary: How low can humanity go?
Review: This eye-opening book is a great grand finale for the "MyTeacher Is An Alien" series. Three teens are intrusted with amission that could litteraly be the differance between life and death for the planet Earth. Somehow they must find a way to convince thousands of aliens not to blow up the Earth. They take you into the depths of the human heart trying to find hope for the human race. But what they find is both heart-wrenching and unbelievable but saddly real. This book will open your heart to the truths of this world that many try to deny. But don't take my word for it. Read it and see how you feel when you've finished.

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Summary: What a world we live in.
Review: This the climactic, heart-wrenching, chilling story in the "My teacher is an Alien" series is the most biting one. An unfogiving suspenseful look on how life is, and how the human race can be downright inhumane with eachother. This book gives you the downright truthful message to "Wake up" and do something. The minutes count down to the fate of Earth, as three earth students Peter thompson, Susan Simmons and Duncan Dougal are brought in to speak for their planet... to keep it from destruction. The Aliens point out the Earth's self destructing ways, so why not destroy it? Read the book and find out... the Spine tingling, cataclysmic, enjoyable and extremely intelligent final part to the series.. trust me read the three predecessors (My teacher is an alien/ My teacher fried my brains/ My teacher glows in the dark.) before this one. A book that does not treat its' readers as fools. It is all worth it. I recommend to everyone! -Alex M.