The Fellowship for Alien Detection

by Kevin Emerson

Overview

Author Kevin Emerson channels Frank Cottrell Boyce in this tween sci-fi adventure about two kids from opposite sides of the country who find themselves on a road trip to save the world from an impending alien attack.

Haley and Dodger have nothing in common. But that was before they learned about the strange, unexplainable phenomena in Juliette, Arizona. Before they both received summer research grants from a mysterious foundation and discovered their theories about extraterrestrial life were correct. Now Haley and Dodger do have something in common: they're the only ones who can figure out what's happening in towns across the country . . . and stop it.

The Fellowship for Alien Detection has it all: an inventive premise, fantastic voice, cinematic tone, and high appeal for both boys and girls.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062071866
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/04/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.60(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kevin Emerson is the author of the The Last Day on Mars and The Oceans between Stars, The Fellowship for Alien Detection, the Oliver Nocturne series, the Atlanteans trilogy, Breakout, and Carlos Is Gonna Get It. A former science teacher, Kevin is also a drummer and singer, most recently with his bands Northern Allies and The Board of Education. He lives in Seattle, Washington. You can visit him online at www.kevinemerson.net.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 5–8—Haley's an eighth grader in Connecticut with a theory about the mysterious disappearances she discovers on the Internet. On the opposite coast, Dodger is a confused boy who gets radio messages from the past in his head. Both kids win an "alien detection" fellowship and travel with their families to conduct field research and do deeper investigation into extraterrestrials. When it turns out that their projects point to an actual alien invasion, the two finally meet and join forces. Intriguing brief interludes describe another girl who is trapped in an endlessly repeating day, which is also part of the aliens' secret scheme. Details of the aliens' malicious mission emerge carefully and sometimes subtly, drawing readers in. Dates and times are given at the beginning of each chapter, but the year is withheld, a clever touch as it lets readers realize that the repeated day sections actually take place in the past. The pacing slows at times, especially in Haley's opening section, which takes up the first third of the novel. The abrupt shift to Dodger's story stalls momentum for a bit, but the action accelerates as he discovers he has amazing powers and finally unites with Haley. There's more to both protagonists than their alien-hunter roles. Dodger feels like an outcast from his family and Haley has ambitious career goals. However, ultimately neither one resonates as a truly memorable figure, and the supporting characters are generally two-dimensional. Still, the premise is engaging, and final revelations about the invasion are mostly satisfying and surprising.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

School Library Journal

Two middle schoolers might be Earth's only defense against an alien takeover. Haley, a slightly neurotic overachiever, wants a summer of adventure that will look good on her college applications. Dodger, a misfit who hears a phantom radio station in his head, hopes to finally find a place where he belongs. Haley and Dodger are brought together when they each receive a grant to study extraterrestrial activity. Their research could give them both what they desperately desire, but only if they can avoid being abducted. Assisted by the mysterious Alto, whose memory seems spotty at best, the two young investigators find themselves at the center of a global conspiracy. Unless the three unlikely heroes can figure out how to thwart the alien threat, Earth is scheduled to be turned into a zoo with mankind as its primary exhibit. Despite the looming takeover, Haley and Dodger face universal questions: Where did I come from? Where am I going? And are pancakes the perfect fuel for adventurers? Quirky characters and an intriguing mystery elevate this story above many other alien encounters. Overwritten inner monologues and a plot that sometimes meanders for no discernible reasons make pacing an issue. Alien surprise with a side of early-teen angst makes for a decent read. (Science fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

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