Area 51 Interns: Alien Summer, Book 1
Plucky tweens battle aliens in funny, action-packed romp.
Kids say
Based on 1 review
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Alien Summer: Area 51 Interns, by James S. Murray and Carsen Smith, is a funny science fiction novel. It follows four tweens on summer vacation as they work to prevent an alien invasion emanating from Area 51 in New Mexico -- a place known in real life for suspected UFO sightings. Violence is limited to slapstick fighting and the use of a "fart gun." Twelve-year-old Viv has a mild crush on Elijah.
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What's the Story?
As ALIEN SUMMER begins, it's the first day of summer, and 12-year-old Viv Harlow wants to go to the lake. Instead, her mom forces her to attend Take Your Kids to Work Day at Area 51. The trip is a total bore -- until real extraterrestrials attack and Viv and her friends are trapped in the facility.
Is It Any Good?
There's something to be said for a high-concept narrative, and this action-packed tale delivers on its promises. James S. Murray and Carsen Smith develop Alien Summer into a likable and thrilling adventure, with lots of laughs and surprises. This is only the first volume in the series, and middle school readers will eagerly look forward to the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Alien Summer: Area 51 Interns makes fun of some UFO mythology. Do you think UFOs are real? Do they come from outer space?
Viv learns some interesting facts about her mother's early years. Why do adults sometimes not talk about their past?
What make a good friend? How can you support friends when they're in trouble?
Book Details
- Authors: Carsen Smith, James S. Murray
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Adventures, Great Girl Role Models, Space and Aliens
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance, Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Penguin Workshop
- Publication date: March 15, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 240
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: April 22, 2022
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