Sputnik's guide to life on Earth

Author

Frank Cottrell Boyce

Call Number

• J COTT (CEN)

Edition

First U.S. edition.

Publication Information

New York, NY : Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2017.

Physical Description

321 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Audience

Ages 8-12.

Summary

The Blythes are a big, warm, rambunctious family who live on a small farm and sometimes foster children. Now Prez has come to live with them. But, though he seems cheerful and helpful, he never says a word. Then one day Prez answers the door to someone claiming to be his relative. This small, loud stranger carries a backpack, walks with a swagger and goes by the name of Sputnik. As Prez dithers on the doorstep, Sputnik strolls right past him and introduces himself to everyone in the household. Prez is amazed at the response. The family pat Sputnik on the head, call him a good boy and drop food into his mouth. It seems they all think Sputnik is a dog. It's only Prez who thinks otherwise. But Prez soon finds himself having to defend the family from the chaos and danger unleashed by Sputnik, as household items come to life - like a TV remote that fast-forwards people: 'Anyone can do it, it's just that people don't read the instructions properly'; and a toy lightsaber that entertains guests at a children's party, until one of them is nearly decapitated by it -- and Prez is going to have to use his voice to explain himself.

Notes

Originally published: London : Macmillan Children's Books, 2016.