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My Teacher Fried My Brains by Bruce Coville
The story is told from the class bully's perspective. Duncan is having a terrible first day in junior high. He has a fight with his brother, his father hits him in the head, he gets lost looking for his classroom, Susan saves him from being hit by a bully; Mr. Black makes him stand out in the hall for being late and talking. Duncan is bored so he pulls the fire alarm. He realizes too late that the purple ink will give him away so he hides in the dumpster where he finds a glove made of very human-like skin. Duncan realizes that there must be another alien pretending to be a teacher. His science teacher uses a machine that generates electricity. Duncan volunteers to be a subject and finds an unexpected benefit -- the machine has stimulated his brain and made him smarter. He even begins to enjoy reading books! He sneaks into the school to give himself additional treatments. However it turns out to be the sympathetic home economics teacher that is the alien and she needs Duncan's brain as a communication device. As a human radio, Duncan can communicate with Peter on the alien ship. Duncan, Susan, Peter, Broxholm, decide to work on saving the Earth from the aliens that want to destroy it. These aliens that dislike humans are upset over the humans being so war-like and harming the environment. Discussion Questions: Why was Duncan so mean to everyone? What was Duncan's horrible, terrible, no good, very bad first day at junior high like? How do poots reproduce themselves? Why did Duncan suspect the science teacher was an alien? How did the "brain fry" change Duncan? Why did Mr. Thomson think Duncan was Peter's best friend? Where did Mr. Thomson think Peter was? Where was Peter really? Describe Kreblim. What did she look like without her mask? Why should Duncan have guessed it was the home economics teacher as the alien -- not the science teacher. Why are aliens so interested in the human brain? Describe Duncan's parents. Why did Duncan say his life was not like "Leave it to Beaver"? Why did Duncan talk to the reporter? Why did Kreblim need Duncan's brain? Why did she choose Duncan over other kids in the school? Who is going to make a report on the Earth Question? Do you think this team will make a fair report?
My Teacher Fried My Brains
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