Eight-year-old Theodore Pharris lives an incredibly boring life until the day he accidentally shoots a spaceship out of the sky with his slingshot. Discovering a crackpot alien plot to blow up the universe, Theodore, his quirky adult friends, and his faithful dogs Balfour and Breck launch out on a mission to save . . . well, everyone. From the local planetarium to the local jail, from the veterinarian's office to the far-flung reaches of space, Theodore's adventures put his wits, his size, and his friendships to the ultimate test. Along the way, important questions are raised: Why is King Marvin called "The Nasty"? Will Edgartina Richards ever get a driver's license? And how much can Jenny Fowler fit in that purse, anyway? Being the good guys, they're almost certain to win. The question is, can they do it in time? Rachel Starr Thomson is also the author of Taerith, the Seventh World Trilogy (Worlds Unseen, Burning Light, and Coming Day), and other novels and short stories.