Author Bruce Coville was born in Syracuse, New York (where he lives) on May 16, 1950 and writes young adult fiction. His father was adopted by his aunt and he adopted her last name of Coville. He realized that he was bisexual in his teenage years, while growing up, in what he called, farm country. He was first published in the year 1977, and since then, has published well over hundred books. He finds that it is getting harder to write with each book he completes, because he does not want to repeat himself and also wants to make the currently thing he is writing to live up to something already completed.
His love of reading began at a young age, when he would read many comic books, Tom Swift, Nancy Drew books, and the Hardy Boys. Bruce read books that made him shiver with terror, but also laugh, too. He wanted others to feel these things, and from this, gained a love of writing. Writing was something that he wanted to do from when he was in the middle of his teens, and by nineteen he never looked back from it. While trying to get his first book published, he worked different jobs like: cookware salesman, gravedigger, elementary school teacher of second and fourth graders, and worked on an assembly line.
He is married to Katherine Dietz (who is an artist, with whom Coville has worked on some books with), they got married when he was nineteen. The couple has three kids; two sons (named Orion, born in the year 1970 and Adam, born in the year 1981) and a daughter (named Cara, born in the year 1975).
He was the 23rd person to be given the Empire State Award for Excellence in Literature for Young People, and was given to him by the New York Library Association.
Of the many books that Bruce Coville has written, he has written many series. Some of which include: the “Nina Tanleven” series, the “Magic Shop” series, the “I Was a Sixth Grade Alien” series, the “Shakespeare retellings” series, the “The Unicorn Chronicles” series, the “My Teacher is an Alien” series, the “Space Brat” series, and the “Moongobble and Me” series.
“I Was a Sixth Grade Alien” is the first novel in the “I Was a Sixth Grade Alien” series and was released in the year 1999. The aliens have made contact for the first time. Finally! The first ambassador from a planet other than Earth comes here, he firmly states that his son (who is named Pleskit Meenom) needs to be treated just like all the other people on Earth. Pleskit becomes the first purple child in Ms. Weintraub’s sixth grade class.
Tim Tompkins is living a dream, after always wanting to meet an alien. Pleskit asks Tim to the embassy, and they come across a plan to ruin the alien’s mission. The dream that had come true for Tim, is now a nightmare that could take his life.
The toilet humor that is in the book does not overpower the more serious material that is found in the book. Fans of the novel found this to be quite fun to read, and surpassed their expectations. Full of action, funny, and the characters are close enough to real life for some readers. Some felt that this would make for good reading material for some kids who are not into reading.
“The Attack of the Two-Inch Teacher” is the second novel in the “I Was a Sixth Grade Alien” series and was released in the year 1999. Pleskit and Tim are fed up with Jordan Lynch (who is a bully); they use a molecule compressor (which is a toy that belongs to Pleskit’s father) to teach him a lesson.
The plan goes wrong. They shrink both Jordan and their teacher, who is not the least amused. And that is putting things mildly.
Some found this a worthy follow up to the first book in the series; it has all the fun and humor that book one had and tells another interesting story. Fans of the novel found that this has one hilarious lesson about physics in it. You will be able to learn something and enjoy the reading experience the story gives you.
“I Lost My Grandfather’s Brain” is the third novel in the “I Was a Sixth Grade Alien” series and was released in the year 1999. Pleskit has lost his grandfather’s brain. Of all the rotten luck, especially since some lose things like a math book, their lunch, sneakers, or their homework.
He has another problem. He has been feuding with Tim, his best friend. He thinks that Tim is leaking stories concerning him to a sleazy tabloid sold in supermarkets. Sixth grade is starting to be tougher than navigation through different planets.
If he is unable to find the brain, none of these problems will matter for him, because his life will cease to be worth very much.
Fans liked the real life and the relevant subject matter this to this story, and felt that it was stuff that kids should read about. Some like reading these stories with their kids, and find that for some, this is the best way to get them to read stories. Like the way the two kids fight it out in the book, it shows how silly kids can be when they fight, and hopefully can see a way to talk things out.
“Peanut Butter Lover Boy” is the fourth novel in the “I Was a Sixth Grade Alien” series and was released in the year 2000. Pleskit is on a journey to sample everything earthling, which includes the foods of Earth. Which leads him to peanut butter. He simple adores it and cannot get enough. There is only one problem with it. He has an allergic reaction to it that makes him feel very romantic.
He chases girls around the playground and tries to kiss them. He gets slapped in the face, and that is enough to get him back to reality. The damage has already been done. The principal is ready to kick Pleskit out. Unless, that is, Tim and Pleskit can figure out a way to make Principal Grand that his romantic spells are not his fault. He may have to find another school to go to. On another planet.
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