Author: Bruce Coville
Published: Pocket, 1999
Suitable for: (Age/Grade level) grade
Length: 164 pp.
Reading Level: Interest Level grades
Need Addressed: humor, being different, relating to the elderly
Genre: science fiction
Plot: Plesket is going to sixth grade in Syracuse, New York. He is the son of the alien ambassador from Hevi Hevi. His best friend Tim appears to be talking to the tabloid press about him. Does Tim only like Plesket because he can sell stories about him? As if things could not get any worse, Plesket takes his grandfathers brain to school and loses it. Yes grandfather is dead of body but his brain can still communicate with his grandson and others.
Characters:
Plesket, an alien boy with purple skin and a knob on the top of his head.
Tim, the best friend of Plesket. He is what many would call a nerd or geek.
McNally, the human body guard of Plesket.
Linnsey, the female friend of Tim and Plesket.
Discussion Questions:
Normally McNally hates the coffee that Shhh-foop (sic) makes but he makes an exception in this story. Why?
Why does Pleskit bring grandfather to school?
What were some of the bad stories in the National Scoop?
Why did Plesket think that Tim was talking to the National Scoop about him?
How is Jordan able to charm Plesket and others?
Why is McNally angry with Jordan?
Who are the two new kids in class? What are they like?
What advice does Linnsey give Tim on page 78-9?
What did Briana do to Tim?
Related Activities
The following quote describes Hevi Hevian education:
"Well there you go. In a culture that truely values children, it would not be tolerable for one school to be inferior to another. All schools would receive an equal share of resources and be required to meet equally high standards." p31
Why does it not describe schools in America? Do some research and ask your parents about the differences in schools.
What are tabloids? What type of stories do they write? How do they get their facts?
Do some research. Find out about people that have sued tabloids for telling false stories. Carol Burnett was one who sued because she was accused of being an alcoholic.
What are the differences between the way Americans treat their elderly and the Hevi Hevi treat their elderly? What are the similarities?
Should children of famous people such as the sons of Princess Diana be sheltered by the Press?
Write a story for the National Scoop on Plesket's eating habits. (page 71)
Related Works:
My Teacher is an Alien by Bruce Coville
Censorship Issues: The reproduction of aliens by in this case eggs, is handled very tastefully but some may not want to use this as a topic of discussion.

I Lost My Grandfather's Brain