Book Reviews and More: Nose Pickers from Outer Space - Gordon Korman

Nose Pickers from Outer Space

Nose Pickers from Outer Space Book 1

L.A.F. Books

Gordon Korman

Victor Vaccaro (Illustrator)

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN 9780786813438

ISBN 0786813431

Nose Pickers from Outer Space - Gordon Korman - Nose Pickers from Outer Space Book 1

This book was originally published in 1999, with seven different editions publishing that year under a variety of imprints. It is the first in a series of 4 and there is a box set edition available. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read 67 of his books including this volume, a few of them more than once. I set the goal of reading all his books about 2020. I am over half way thorough his canon, and have completed all the stand alone books and am now just working my way through the remaining series. Not counting omnibus editions I believe that as of the summer of 2025 Korman has published 109 books. With each that I read I am entertained and often challenged, and I am always entertained. My son, who is 17 often, reads these books to me or with me, and he still loves them.

The description of this volume states:

“Devin Hunter can't wait to meet his exchange buddy, but when the moment finally arrives, Stan breaks every rule in Devin's "rules of coolness" list, and when strange things start to happen, Devin realizes that Stan may not even be human. Original. 40,000 first printing.”

The description on the back of the edition I read states:

“Help! My Exchange Student Is an Alien!

When Devin Hunter signs up for the notional exchange student program, he doesn't count on ending up with a nerdy kid who eats paper, talks to his dog—and worst of all—can't keep his finger out of his nose! But Stan isn't really a student—and his unhygienic habit may be the key to saving the planet. . .”

About the author at the back of this volume we are informed:

“Gordon Korman is the author of over twenty books for children. Including The 6th Grade Nickname Game, which was selected as one of the New York Public Library's Best Books of 1998, and the Monday Night Football Club series. Gordon lives with his family on Long Island.”

About the illustrator:

“Victor Vaccaro's artwork has appeared in the children's book Knights of the Endless Day by Robert Priest, as well as being featured on several book jackets and in advertisements. He lives on Long Island with his wife.”

I highlighted a few passages that were particularly funny, some of them are:

“I opened one eye and peered over at my exchange buddy. Who would have thought that this harmless-looking, nerdy guy was a spy for an invading army? Pretty soon, we Earthlings could be up to our waists in Pants—and not the kind you wear, either.”

“"The Smarty-Pants can think in six dimensions," he informed me. "They can answer a question even before it's asked; they can program any VCR in the galaxy. They know the meaning of life, the capital of the Crab Nebula, and why manhole covers are round. Their IQs are so large that even they can't count that high. They are the most important citizens of Pan, except for the Grand Pant himself and his assistants, the Under-Pants."”

“I snorted. "Who does he think he is? Shakespeare?"

"Yes," Stan replied.

"What?

He looked at me earnestly. "You didn't think a mere Earthling could write like that, did you?"

"Shakespeare? William Shakespeare? But he's

dead! He died hundreds of years ago!"”

I was surprised by the number of famous people whose success was attributed to their being alien travel testers. Michael, Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and as seen by the quote above even the Bard. Who is apparently alive and on Mars and holds a grudge against earth for a particularly long case of poison ivy. Devin and Stan have quite the adventure in this first instalment in the series. It is a story young readers will love, even reluctant readers will dig this story.

I will be honest the title of this book had almost no appeal to me, but I was down to 3 series by Korman I had not started and picked this as the middle one alphabetically. This book took me by surprise. I laughed out loud a few times. And I was amused and had a smile throughout the reading of this book. If the other three in this series are as good it will great fun to read them.

It’s a great pity this one is out of print!

Books by Gordon Korman:

MacDonald Hall Series:

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall (1978)

Go Jump in the Pool (1979)

Beware the Fish! (1980)

The Wizzle War (1982)

(formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle)

The Zucchini Warriors (1988)

Light’s Camera, Disaster (1991)

(aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)

The Jokes on Us (1995)