Pages: 143

The plot: Schoolgirl China Lee forms a firm friendship with an intriguing old man, named Mr Jupiter, who has a fascinating array of futuristic gadgets. Their meeting is the start of an action-packed adventure to save the Earth from destruction.

The characters: China, her dog Staff, her school friend Zak, her make-up-mad elder sister Rose with her slimy boyfriend Nick, and of course the amazing Mr Jupiter.

Highlights: When nasty Nick steals the computers from Mrs Lee's cyber café only China knows he is the culprit. But how can she convince her parents who think butter wouldn't melt in his mouth?

Any weak bits? There are a few cheesy lines, such as when Nick tried to whistle "Walk like a Man. But the way Nick whistled it, it didn't sound like that. It came out like Crawl Like a Worm." But such lines are few and far between and don't spoil the story.

Unputdownable? Yes! The characters are larger than life and you can't wait to see how they will react. Mr Jupiter is as mysterious as the planet he is named after and you keep wondering just who, or what, he is - so much so that you have to carry on reading. It definitely deserves its shortlist for the Whitbread book award.

Have YOU read this book?

It sounds really groovy! Thanks for telling me about it, as I wouldn't have picked it up off a shelf at a bookshop!!!!!
Lou, 11, Milton Keynes

I can't wait to read it.
Alex, 12, London