The Orphan Army: The Nightsiders, Book 1

Milo and his friends and allies are in almost constant danger, and The Orphan Army does have its fair share of violent scenes. But the characters suffer very little permanent damage, and much of the mayhem happens off-page. A teen is badly shocked with a stun gun. Milo undergoes something like a near-death, out-of-body experience. A wolf attacks various members of the Swarm in aid to Milo and his crew.

Milo seems intrigued by the shape-shifting Evangelyne, but he has neither the time nor the inclination for any kind of romance.

One character mentions that a situation "sucks."

Parents need to know that The Orphan Army is the first volume in a science-fiction trilogy. Set in the bayous of Louisiana after Earth has been invaded by the Dissoterin (aka the Swarm), the story follows 11-year-old Milo Silk as he struggles to save himself, his friends, and what's left of his family from merciless, insect-like extraterrestrials. Milo has strange dreams about the future, but he isn't ready at first to accept that a group of shape-shifting individuals might be able to wield magical powers and aid him in his quest for sanctuary. Milo and his friends and allies are in almost constant danger, and The Orphan Army does have its fair share of violent scenes. But the characters suffer very little permanent damage, and much of the mayhem happens off-page. A teen is shocked by a stun gun. Milo undergoes something like a near-death, out-of-body experience. A wolf attacks various members of the Swarm in aid to Milo and his crew. There's mild romantic interest between two characters.