Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe

by Nathan Bransford, C.S. Jennings (Illustrator)

Overview

Presidential campaigns are all fun and games until someone threatens to blow up your home planet When Jacob Wonderbar receives a message that he's been nominated for President of the Universe, he, Sarah Daisy, and Dexter immediately return to space. But Jacob's archnemesis, Prince Mick Cracken, is running as well, and his campaign tactics involve kidnappings and rogue space monkeys. After surviving corndog-eating contests and insult debates, Jacob discovers the stakes for this election are even higher than he imagined: A military group wants to destroy Planet Earth, and the President of the Universe is the only person who can stop them. Hold on to your space helmet - Nathan Bransford's second book in the Jacob Wonderbar series is packed with planet-hopping adventure, hilarity, and heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780692429778
Publisher:	Nathan Bransford
Publication date:	04/12/2012
Series:	Jacob Wonderbar , #2
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Nathan Bransford is the author of How to Write a Novel, Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow, Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe and Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp. He was formerly a literary agent with Curtis Brown Ltd. and now works in finance. He lives in Brooklyn.

Editorial Reviews

"[Readers] will enjoy the story's gadgets and broad (bodily function-focused) humor."

Booklist

"[Readers] will enjoy the story's gadgets and broad (bodily function-focused) humor." — Booklist

"Bransford's second slapstick space saga is as much fun as the first." — Kirkus

"The breakneck plot zooms from planet to planet and crisis to crisis, and includes berserk space monkeys, trigger-happy SEER thugs, and even bloviating journalists. Along the way, there's some trenchant parody of contemporary electoral politics and sensation-obsessed media, as well as a surprisingly thoughtful reflection on loyalty, friendship, and individual responsibility. The cliff-hanger ending will ensure an audience for the next installment." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Gr 4–6—Even though Jacob blew up several stars and broke the whole cosmos in Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow (Dial, 2011), the middle-school prankster has been nominated to run for president of the universe. With his two best friends, Sarah and Dexter, he rockets off on a wild intergalactic campaign. Unfortunately, the Astral media seems to favor his opponent: space pirate, prince, and all-around brat Mick Cracken, who publicly vows an administration devoted to "corruption and scandal. . .foul tricks and dirty deeds." With Princess Catalina serving as Jacob's running mate so he can get the Astral vote and jealous Sarah recruited to fill the same role in Mick's administration, political chicanery is everywhere. However, after Sarah learns that her candidate has allied himself with the fanatical anti-Earther party, Society for Expediting Earther Rapture (SEER), she realizes that if Mick wins the presidency, Earth may be doomed. The breakneck plot zooms from planet to planet and crisis to crisis, and includes berserk space monkeys, trigger-happy SEER thugs, and even bloviating journalists. Along the way, there's some trenchant parody of contemporary electoral politics and sensation-obsessed media, as well as a surprisingly thoughtful reflection on loyalty, friendship, and individual responsibility. Familiarity with the first book is helpful, but not essential, and the cliff-hanger ending will ensure an audience for the next installment.—Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

School Library Journal

What do you do after nearly breaking the universe? Run for president! Seventh-grader Jacob Wonderbar and his best friends Sarah and Dexter had one wild adventure across space and time last year (Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space KAPOW, 2011). Jacob discovered that his missing dad might be in space among the Astrals, but after he caused the great space kapow, the king of the universe sent the trio back to Earth. Now the king has nominated Jacob to run for president of the universe against Prince (and erstwhile space pirate) Mick Cracken, who hates Jacob. Jacob promises to clean up his act and avoid his signature pranks, but Mick promises corruption and lies. Both candidates must compete in three trials and make appearances and speeches across the cosmos. Jacob also has to dodge Mick's "Earther"-hating soldiers from the planet Valkyrie. When Princess Catalina declares herself Jacob's running mate and Sarah leaves Jacob's campaign for Mick's, it's anyone's game. Who will win? And will the Space Chimps ever get their bananas? Bransford's second slapstick space saga is as much fun as the first. Couched in the space silliness is a surprisingly sharp satire of American electoral shenanigans, making the book especially timely. The final pages definitely set up volume three, so a sequel can't be far... far away. (Science fiction/humor. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews