New York Times bestselling author Wendy Mass
Reading age 6-10 years ( )

Beginning chapter book for young reader. Main character is eight year old boy who helps his dad navigate a taxi through outer space with some surprises along the way. ( )

When Archie reached 8 years 8 months 8 minutes his life changed forever. He accompanies his father to work which he anticipates being a boring taxi driver day, must to his surprise he find out his father is a space taxi driver. Space travel goes back 5 generations in his family. Today was arches first day on the job, co pilot for his father reading 3-d intergalactic maps. He helped capture a fugitive, restoring peace to the universe. Adopts a cat, pockets, who happens to actually be a Intergalactic security force officer, and together they are going to continue to fright crime. This book was defiantly a age turner for me. It kept me on the edge wanting to know what is going to happen next, i cant imagine the excitement it would bring to a child. ( )

Archie has been waiting a long time to be able to follow his dad along to his work as a midnight taxi driver, but little does he know his dad is in fact an interstellar taxi driver and Archie is his soon to be co-pilot. Great bridge chapter book for a younger reader, fast moving and engaging.

Recommended Ages: Gr. 2-4

Plot Summary: Archie has always wanted to accompany his dad at work, and it's finally time. He "wakes" up at midnight fully dressed and ready to go. His mom hands him and his dad a paper bag of food, kisses them goodbye, and stops herself before she says anything more. Then they head off. Buckling up in the taxi, Archie listens excitedly about their plan to stop by the depot and get their assignment. They pull up into a diner and Archie keeps thinking he sees weird things, like a woman with two heads but he brushes it off to him being tired. Archie's dad chats with everyone, they get tuna sandwiches to go, and get back in the car. Archie is slow to realize that their taxi is lifting off into space and thinks he's dreaming. Archie's dad asks him to navigate, and although Archie doesn't know how, he figures out how to read his 3D map and they successfully get to their destination to pick up their first client. When they deliver him to his destination, things are funny.

Setting: major city into space

Characters:
Archie Morningstar - 8 years, 8 weeks, 8 days old, in disbelief about everything that happened
Mom - wakes up Archie for his day, holds back saying something as if she knows what's going to happen to him
Dad - drives a taxi, had a co-pilot until the day before but never mentions what happened to the co-pilot, can't navigate himself, drives a clunky taxi that turns into an amazing top-of-the-line spaceship
Pockets - AKA Pilarbing Fangorious Catapolitus, white cat that Archie sees in tree outside Mr. Fitch's place, part of the Intergalactic Security Force, about same age as Archie
Mr. Fitch - their client they pick up, allergic to cats

Recurring Themes: space, coming of age, navigator, aliens, intergalactic peace

Controversial Issues: none

Personal Thoughts: I thought this was a well-written book. It had enough action and a bit of character development to keep the story moving quickly. The surprise action at the end with the police was very exciting. My only complaint is that is has so many exclamation points!

Genre: science fiction

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