Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow Kate Quealy-Gainer Bransford, Nathan . Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow; illus. by C. S. Jennings. Dial, 2011. [320p]. ISBN 978-0-8037-3537-8 $14.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 4-6. After trading a corndog for a spaceship and zipping off into space with his two best friends, prankster extraordinaire Jacob Wonderbar discovers that there are, in fact, some situations that you cannot joke or charm your way out of. One such situation is breaking the universe, a feat that Jacob manages after only a short time in space when he accidentally sends two missiles into an oncoming planet, setting off an intergalactic catastrophe that blocks the way back to Earth and strands Jacob and his friends in the middle of space. Things go from bad to worse when the trio is captured by the fearsome (and adolescent) space buccaneer, Mick Cracken, a predicament that eventually has the gang hopping from one increasingly strange [End Page 457] planet to the next as means of escape. Sure, the nearly narcoleptic inhabitants of the burp-breath planet of Numonia and the distracted nerdy scientists of planet Archimedes make for plenty of laughs, but the heart of this story lies in the genuine connection shared by Jacob and his friends. Amid all the funny antics, these are three real kids dealing with problems that readers will easily recognize, if not relate to: the driven Sarah is constantly trying to balance her own independence against her parents' desires, worrywart Dexter can't seem to figure out how to stand up for himself, and Jacob is still coming to terms with the contradiction of his anger at and his love for an absent father. Careful to never let the story veer off in the direction of a tearjerker, Branford skillfully counterpoints sentiment with humor, making this a boy-friendly, thoughtful adventure that will leave readers contemplating both the outer and inner workings of the universe. Copyright © 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois