Margot and Mateo Save the World

by Darcy Miller

Overview

A hilarious—and slimy—alien adventure (set on Earth) that the bestselling author of Zombie Chasers, John Kloepfer, calls "fast paced, out-of-this-world fun!" Selected by the Wisconsin Library Association for Outstanding Achievement in children's literature.

When Margot Blumenthal removes a bright blue slug alien attached to Mateo Flores’s back, the school play co-stars know it’s definitely not going to be a regular day at West Cove Middle School.

They reluctantly team up and soon discover that the mayor and countless other adults, including Mateo’s dad, are infected—which means that West Cove, and possibly all of Earth, is in danger.

What will they (and their new scientist friend) do? Ditch class and protect humankind, of course—because one unexcused absence doesn’t matter when the world is at stake!

This stand-alone middle grade novel is fun, silly, and full of adventure. Young readers will speed through it…if they can stop laughing long enough to turn the page.

LITA Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable List / Eleanor Cameron List Selection * 2020 Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominee

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062461315
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/03/2018
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Darcy Miller is the author of Margot and Mateo Save the World and Roll. She lives in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, with her two children and librarian husband. Their cat, Jeffreys, deserves his own sentence. Their kitten, Stompy, does not. You can visit Darcy online at www.darcyamiller.com.

Editorial Reviews

Margot and Mateo Save the World is a nonstop, action-packed race to halt an alien invasion, like Robert Rodriguez’s The Faculty, but for middle schoolers. Fast paced, out-of-this-world fun!” — John Kloepfer, author of The Zombie Chasers series and the Galaxy’s Most Wanted trilogy

“[An] offbeat and highly enjoyable read...likely to entice even reluctant readers.” — School Library Journal

“The end of the world has rarely been quite this much fun....[S]ure to appeal to both avid and reluctant readers. A most enjoyable apocalypse.” — Kirkus Reviews

“The genuine rapport the two middle-schoolers develop along the way gives this story a surprising amount of heart...The book’s wacky humor and explosive action will appeal to fans of quirky science fiction, and even non-SF readers will appreciate the charming young heroes.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“A suspenseful, thoroughly entertaining comedy...delectable.” — Booklist (starred review)

From the Publisher

The genuine rapport the two middle-schoolers develop along the way gives this story a surprising amount of heart...The book’s wacky humor and explosive action will appeal to fans of quirky science fiction, and even non-SF readers will appreciate the charming young heroes.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A suspenseful, thoroughly entertaining comedy...delectable.

Booklist (starred review)

Margot and Mateo Save the World is a nonstop, action-packed race to halt an alien invasion, like Robert Rodriguez’s The Faculty, but for middle schoolers. Fast paced, out-of-this-world fun!

John Kloepfer

The genuine rapport the two middle-schoolers develop along the way gives this story a surprising amount of heart...The book’s wacky humor and explosive action will appeal to fans of quirky science fiction, and even non-SF readers will appreciate the charming young heroes.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

2018-04-25
The end of the world has rarely been quite this much fun.White, blue-haired Margot Blumenthal is a recent arrival to West Cove and has not had much luck making friends at her new middle school despite participation in extracurriculars such as the school play. Latinx Mateo Flores, on the other hand, is a real people pleaser who has grown up in West Cove. When a parasitic tentacled slug begins to take control of Mateo's behavior, Margot happens to be just the person to detach it, in an operation that is delightfully gross. Mateo's parasite is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though, as our heroes soon discover patient zero may be Mateo's own father. He and many other adults from the town conservation club also seem to be infected by these alien invaders, compelled to serve the will of a life force not of this Earth and spread its spawn across the globe. It is up to Margot and Mateo to save the world despite their own inner struggles and their conflicts with each other. The pod-person plot is nothing new for sci-fi, but it's rare in middle-grade fiction, and Miller's spin keeps it fresh. Short chapters keep the pace moving, with just the right amount of humor and ick factor, sure to appeal to both avid and reluctant readers. The end comes too soon, and readers will hope for more adventures with these unlikely friends.A most enjoyable apocalypse. (Science fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews