Stuck in the Stone Age (Story Pirates Present #1)

by Story Pirates, Geoff Rodkey, Hatem Aly (Illustrator)

Overview

Cavemen! A saber-toothed tiger! And . . . a Rockball tournament? This laugh-out-loud time-travel adventure (inspired by a real kid's idea) doubles as a creative writing guide for young writers!

Tom Edison (no, not that Tom Edison) is a hopeful janitor who dreams of becoming a scientist—and Dr. Morice is a shy scientist who dreams of making friends. When an accident at the lab sends them back in time to the stone age, Tom and Dr. Morice must work together to face down cavemen, saber-tooth tigers, and other B.C. hazards, with only one problem: Tom isn't very good at science, and Dr. Morice isn't very good with people.

"Changing kids' lives, one story at a time" is the motto of the Story Pirates, a group of performers who bring kids' writing to life through sketch comedy. Stuck in the Stone Age is an action-packed adventure based on an idea from a real kid! Teaming up with New York Times bestselling author, Geoff Rodkey, the Story Pirates present this hilarious story, which doubles as an introduction to the basics of creative writing. With the help of Story Pirate Captain Vincent Rolo and the Story Creation Zone, readers can use this novel as inspiration to create their OWN great adventure!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593123782
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	02/11/2020
Series:	Story Pirates Series , #1
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	413,128
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

The Story Pirates are a nationally respected media and education organization founded in 2004 to celebrate the words, ideas, and stories of young people. Their motto: “Changing kids’ lives, one story at a time.” They’ve been featured on NBC Nightly News, TODAY, and Sesame Street, and are endorsed by Jon Stewart, Conan O’Brien, John Oliver, and more.

Geoff Rodkey is the New York Times bestselling writer of the Tapper Twins and Chronicles of Egg books, as well as the hit films Daddy Day Care and RV. He lives and works in New York City. Visit him at geoffrodkey.com.

Hatem Aly is an Egyptian-born illustrator whose work has been featured on television and in multiple publications worldwide. He currently lives in New Brunswick, Canada, with his wife, son, and more pets than people. Find him online at metahatem.com or @metahatem.

Vince Boberski writes short stories and funny songs, plays saxophone in his school band, and likes to play basketball, and his favorite Grizzlies player is Mike Conley. He lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with his mom and dad, a little sister who sometimes gets on his nerves, and two dogs named Daisy and Lucy who don't.

Editorial Reviews

"Funny, and entertaining....A must for young writers...and a fab, fun writing manual for writing teachers everywhere." —Kirkus Reviews, **STARRED REVIEW**

"Jam-packed with both writing advice and jokes... this two-for-one tale is as smart as it is entertaining." — Publishers Weekly, **STARRED REVIEW**

"What an amazing read, full of bizarre kid logic and fun, and brought to life with the usual care & empathy that the Story Pirates always show to young writers!
— Patton Oswalt, Emmy and Grammy award winning actor and stand-up comedian

"Do you want to laugh? Or get yanked into a nonstop, page-turning adventure? Or be inspired to write your own story? Or maybe you want to eat a double stack cheeseburger with onion rings? Okay, if it’s any of the first three, then this is the bookfor you. If it’s the last one—sorry, we can’t help you there."
— Adam Gidwitz, best-selling author of A Tale Dark and Grimm and the Newbery Honor-winning The Inquisitor’s Tale

"So zany and imaginative, it's no surprise an actual kid inspired it. You'll laugh a lot—and learn a lot, too."
— Tim Federle, author of Better Nate Than Ever

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
Gr 3–6—A scientist wannabe and an introverted genius are stranded in 12,000 BC when their time machine leaves them behind. Now they must outwit not only the local cavemen but a saber-tooth tiger and other dangers. Meanwhile, back in the 21st century, the villainous CEO of CEASE (the Center for Extremely Advanced Science Experiments) is working to steal Dr. Morice's revolutionary solar cell technology. Rodkey's simple story, based on an idea supplied by an 11-year-old reader, is presented by the Story Pirates and accompanied by a guide for student writers placed at the back of the book. The guide is frequently referenced throughout, so interested readers can get an idea of the story-making techniques being employed. It's an interesting concept, and the writing guide, although basic, is snappy and just right for a middle grade audience. The only disconnect is the story itself, which would actually appeal to a younger crowd than the intended audience for the writing guide. However, given the ongoing popularity of other stories illustrated with stick figures, this may not be a deal breaker. VERDICT Buy where Greg Heffley is popular, or where a group of aspiring writers awaits.—Elizabeth Friend, Wester Middle School, TX

School Library Journal

★ 2018-01-13
Time travel, cavemen, laughs, and a perfectly paced manual on story creation.Children's performing group the Story Pirates chose 11-year-old writer Vince Boberski's idea for a book and handed it to Rodkey, who turns it into the tale of a janitor named Tom Edison (not that one) who dreams of becoming a scientist (despite an H in Physics). After a time-machine accident, Tom and shy, brilliant scientist Dr. Marisa Morice are trapped in the Stone Age with saber-tooth-tiger-worshipping cavemen. How will they get back to their own time? At key points in the tale, cartoon versions of a Story Pirate and Boberski break in with a question about a story element. Readers can continue with the story or flip to a specified section of the "Story Creation Zone" that makes up the final quarter of the volume. The narrative of Tom and Marisa's adventure is sarcastic, funny, and entertaining enough to interest on its own, and the short (and also funny) instructional lessons on character creation, story setting, plot twists, climax building, and story endings are pitched to pique interest and get the creative juices flowing. Aly's cartoon illustrations (final art not seen) will add a giggle or two or three. Marisa appears to be black and Tom white, and naming conventions point to a diverse supporting cast. A must for young writers (even those not interested in sci-fi) and a fab, fun writing manual for writing teachers everywhere. (Science fiction/nonfiction hybrid. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews