e-Audio, 05:18:06
Narrated by: Giordan Diaz, PJ Morgan, Matt Haynes, Beth Hicks, Stephanie WIlling, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Erin DeWard, Cary Hite
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Published by: Dreamscape Media (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR))
Read from: July 18-22, 2025
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received a free e-ALC from the publisher and Netgalley. This did nothing to influence my review. Thank you to the publishers for the free ALC copy.)
Content Warning: Racism, Xenophobia, Bullying, Torture
For Readers Interested In: Action/Adventure, Audio, Sparkly Covers, Middle Grade, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Latinx), Sci-Fi, Texas Local Reads, HistoricalAn out-of-this-world middle grade adventure, based on true historical events. All Pineda Matlage wants is to get through the school year and maybe pull an epic prank or two with his friends Junior, Ernesto, and Patsy. But class is disrupted when a slew of American soldiers descends upon their rural Texan town of Lariat. They’ll be carrying out a training exercise and taking over everything, from Pineda’s school to the local government. But Pineda knows why they’re really here. For days he’s hidden the strange creature who fell from the sky in his parents’ barn. He promised her he’d find her family and help them return home. But with soldiers now on every street corner and armed checkpoints across every road, reuniting his new friend with her missing parents seems an impossible task. Especially when they realize that the army’s presence is really a coverup for capturing his alien friends—being observed in a laboratory by the US government for reasons of their own. Enlisting the help of his friends, a Black soldier adjusting to a newly integrated army, and townspeople tired of the military’s destructive presence, Pineda and all of Lariat will embark on an adventure none of them could have ever expected.
*MY THOUGHTS*
When I picked this one up to read I was not expecting to love it like I did. I am not a sci fi person, so this was very much a throw it to the wall and hop it sticks kind of read. Especially when I had just read another alien story. But let me just say, I’m glad I didn’t stop and wait to read this.
Ok so the best part of this book was obviously the messaging. This book mirrors real life in so many ways. And it was despicable. But I hope it opens the eyes of some people and I hope it shows kids more of what’s right and wrong. There’s an alien that the govt is looking to take them for their own musings, and they are bullied and called names across the whole town, including at school. This is very much what’s happening in the world today, down to the “Aliens.” I can’t lie, I was hella impressed with this part of the book. If this doesn’t win some kind of MG award from somewhere, I’m going to be hella mad lol
The action was good, but I wished there was more. But given the nature of the book, I can understand why there wasn’t more. The soldiers in this one were terrible and made my eye twitch. How could they do that to some kids? It was gross. They were basically terrorizing the people that lived in that city. As I read it, I absolutely applauded the way those kids were dodging and being menaces towards them too. It gave me a bit of hope to see them taking charge and doing things for themselves. The adventure was cool too. And I loved that they met so many interesting people along the way. One of which even surprised me lol I remember saying, “WHAT?!” lol It was so funny and so unexpected.
The characters were so cute! BUT I can tell I’m getting old now. I was yelling at these kids like I was their own personal auntie librarian. This is the second middle grade book in a row that had the kids damn near give me a heart attack. Other than that, I loved that they were so smart and so sweet when no one else was. And they learn so much from each other. From small things like names to huge things like who to trust.
I did think the ending was too abrupt tho. They find the thing they’ve been looking for, and then it was over. I wanted to know if the characters ever talk to the alien again? If they reached out once they got back to their planet or what. I always just want to make sure people are ok. I know they were obviously trying to hide, but I am worried lol (Such an auntie)
This was a cute and informative book. I can truthfully say middle grade readers are sure to get a lot out of this book. I hope y’all read this and take it to heart. Because this book might be the thing to help change some minds!
Overall, I give this
