Meanwhile
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this fun and action-packed comic book contains a deadly invention: the Killitron 2000, Professor K's untested doomsday device. A few of the choose-your-own path stories end with Jimmy setting off the Killitron 2000 which results in the entire world being killed. No blood/guts are shown, but people are shown seemingly passed out on the ground. Sometimes Jimmy has the chance to try and reset the Killitron 2000 by using Professor K's time machine and sometimes the story ends with the death of everyone on Earth.
Community Reviews
Not healthy
Report this review
Not healthy
Report this review
What's the Story?
With just one choice -- chocolate or vanilla ice cream -- Jimmy is thrust into a world of puzzles, adventures, and inventions. After Jimmy picks a flavor he meets \ Professor K, who introduces Jimmy to his three unbelievable inventions: the Killitron 2000, an untested doomsday device; \ a time travelling machine that only goes back seven years in time; and \ SQUID, which transfers memories from one brain to another. As readers \ make choices for Jimmy -- sometimes as mundane as deciding whether or not to look in a \ medicine cabinet -- Jimmy moves along in many different stories \ where he uses all three of Professor K's inventions to sometimes disastrous, \ sometimes happy results.
Is It Any Good?
Through an inventive series of tabs and colored tubes, readers make their choices and skip all over this fun 80-page book -- 3,856 story combinations in all! Kids will get hooked both by the novel delivery of the "choose your own adventure" idea and the engaging series of story combinations. The colorful and comical illustrations make it an even bigger draw -- the perfect take-along on long trips.
The illustrations by Jason Shiga are endearing and quirky all at the same time. Beautiful and colorful, they really bring the exciting adventures to life. Also, when Jimmy goes to different places and time periods they are colored differently -- a great way to show readers the change in scenery and time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Professor K's inventions. Which invention would you most like to try out if you were Jimmy: the Killitron 2000, the Time Machine or the SQUID?
On the cover of the book, it says that there are 3,856 story possibilities! How is that possible? Did you get close to reading that many of the stories? What was your favorite story and ending?
Create your own "choose your own adventure"-type story. What scenarios would make your readers go back to the beginning? Which would be the happy endings?
If you were in Jimmy's position, would you have chosen chocolate or vanilla ice cream?
Book Details
- Author: Jason Shiga
- Illustrator: Jason Shiga
- Genre: Adventure
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Amulet Books
- Publication date: March 1, 2010
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 80
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook
Smart kids, no violence; great pick for kids new to comics.
-
Babymouse Series
Quick, lively graphic novels pack in the positivity.
-
The Adventures of Captain Underpants: Captain Underpants, Book 1
Gross potty humor, funny pranks will hook reluctant readers.
For kids who love puzzles and adventures
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate