Overview

Sammi and Zak are thrilled when Chad takes them on a trip to explore a new planet. Then disaster strikes and they are stranded, surrounded by deadly spear plants! If only they could get back to their ship. The only problem is that their ship has left without them. Are they trapped in space forever?

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9781598894493

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Reviews

"At first, Jak and Sammi are thrilled when their friend Chad invites them to take a trip and explore a new planet. But when their ship goes down and they are stranded, they are not so thrilled anymore. Chad sets out to explore the area, but when he doesn't return, Jak and Sammi decide they need to go out. They encounter plants that throw spears with poison and are both struck. They are taken in and cared for by some intelligent beings with three horns. When they are well enough to leave, the beings help them get back to their ship. There they find Chad and use their new knowledge to help him. This is an interesting story that readers will enjoy.-- ""The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews"" Sammi and her brother, Jak, lived on a huge spaceship called the Titan. Their mother and father were scientists. The ship explored new planets, looking for worlds for people to live on. Chad was a pilot He had been sent off on a jet-powered helicopter called a buzzer. His job was to find some plant samples. He had asked Jak and Sammi to come along to explore this new planet. Disaster strikes when they are stranded. Deadly spear plants that are intelligent beings and communicate primarily through shared feelings surround them. They need to get back to their ship but it has left without them! Are they trapped in space forever? It is an appropriate mystery for the science fiction reader, the space stories reader, and for anyone who likes a mystery. The rather crude but appropriate and interesting illustrations will also pull in readers. Good additional material consists of an ""About the Author,"" ""About the Illustrator,"" a Glossary, Internet Sites, and for the teachers--Discussion Questions and Writing Prompts. It is part of the ""Shade Books"" series where each book cover is appropriately illustrated to the topic presented. They are somewhat small sized and could fit easily into school backpacks.-- ""Children's Literature"" Stone Arch Books' Shade Book series are high-interest, low-level readers for middle school students. The four books reviewed cover spooky, scary, and mysterious reading for English Language Learners and others reading at the second-to-third grade level. These attractively bound and well-illustrated volumes will appeal to middle school students because they do not talk down to them. Although advanced readers may be drawn to the plot, they will quickly spot the clichés, minimal character development, and predictability. Reluctant readers may find these aspects pluses instead of minuses. The company seems to have worked hard to incorporate reading research (paragraphs end at the bottom of the page, for example). They also include glossaries and study questions, making the books an easy addition to literature circles or genre studies. This series is a welcome addition for lower middle school readers who are notoriously difficult to please. Recommended-- ""Library Media Connection"""

Author Information

David Johnson taught school for 18 years before becoming a full-time writer. He has written over 200 books about tornadoes, orangutans, soccer, space travel, and other topics. In his free time, David enjoys taking his granddaughter, Sarah, on adventures, climbing nearby mountains, and visiting city graveyards. He lives in Hampshire, England, with his wife, Helen, who is also a writer. Sonny Liew was born in Malaysia, but he now lives in Singapore. He has worked on comics, computer games, and illustrations for many different comic and game publishers. He has been a featured illustrator in the critically acclaimed Flight series.

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