"To find out what a story's really about,' the Librarian said,

'you don't ask the writer. You ask the reader."


- SNOW & ROSE by Emily Winfield Martin


Friday, March 8, 2013

A "Nobel Beehive Award" Review: THE FELLOWSHIP FOR ALIEN DETECTION by Kevin Emerson


I am so happy to finally be able to share my review today!
And a giveaway too!!!


by Kevin Emerson
Release date: February 26th, 2013
Published by: Walden Pond Press
Genre: Middle Grade - Fantasty, Sci-Fi
Format read: ARC

SUMMARY

Two kids from opposite sides of the country find themselves on a road trip to save the world from an impending alien attack - and bolster their middle-school transcripts in the process. 

First came the missing people, missing time events, and untraceable radio signals. Then came Juliette, Arizona, a town that simply disappeared from existence. Suffice it to say, something strange is going on. Enter Haley and Dodger, two kids from opposite sides of the country who both think they can prove that these unexplained phenomena have a very real cause: aliens, and they are about to discover that their fledgling theories about extraterrestrial life are one-hundred-percent accurate.

Having each been awarded a Fellowship for Alien Detection (a grant from a mysterious foundation dedicated to proving aliens have visited earth), Haley and Dodger and their families each set off on a cross-country road trip over summer vacation to figure out what is happening in towns across America. They soon realize that the answers to many of their questions lie in the vanished town of Juliette, AZ, but someone, or something, is doing everything in its power to ensure they never reach it. If Haley and Dodger don't act quickly, more people may go missing, and the world as we know it may change for the worse.

MY REVIEW

The Fellowship for Alien Detection is a suspenseful, fast-paced, mysterious, alien adventure!
The first sci-fi that I have ever read that is based in the present and highly believable.
If you are not a believer, Haley and Dodger will definitely make you into one!!!

The story starts with Haley trying to figure out a way to keep the majority of her fellowship a secret from her family. If they knew half the things that were going on, they would not let Haley go on with her investigation. And Haley is determined to follow through; she wants all the credit she can get to build her resume, her dream is to become a newspaper reporter.
So far, Haley has figured out that there has been a pattern of missing time coinciding with missing persons. Every time a Missing Time Field goes off, everyone within a 16 mile radius experiences a loss of 16 minutes and then 'wakes up' disorientated, confused and with similar stories of what they experienced and saw.
The closer Haley gets to putting the pieces together, the closer she gets to finding out why the aliens are here and what they have been doing.

Dodger lives 3,000 miles away from Haley. He's also won a fellowship. But Dodger's reason's for applying for the fellowship and investigating the possibility of aliens is quite the opposite of Haley's:
Dodger has been receiving a radio frequency through his head from a town called Juliette; a town that does not exist on any current map, a town that no one has ever heard of.
Dodger knows that he's always been different from other kids and has never felt like he's ever fitted in anywhere, not even home with his parents. He is determined to find out why - why can he hear this radio station in his head? Why is he so different from everyone else? Why does his father always glook at him like something is not right?

When Haley makes a new discovery, the fellowship tells her she must go home, she's in danger now. But Haley insists on going forward and getting to the bottom of things. The Alto is sent to help her - he works for the fellowship and knows about the aliens, how they work and what they are capable of. But, how does he know so much about them?

Soon after, Haley and the Alto catch up with Dodger -  and things start to really pick up!
Discoveries are made!!! Many!!!
You will not be disappointed!

What really stood out to me the most is even though both Haley and Dodger had some frustrations with their families, in the end, family is what matters the most. Sacrificing and keeping them safe was their top priority.

Kevin Emerson's writing is so kid friendly, interactive and picturesque - which makes up for the length of this book. Seriously, do not be intimidated by 428 pages! The book is hard to put down once you get started and it just flies by!
I highly recommend this book to all sci-fi and E.T. fans! And even those who aren't - it is a great book to introduce those who have always been interested but wary of the sci-fi genre.


FAVORITE QUOTES

"Keep count, and you might start to think you have enough. Numbers are outlaws - bandits. 
They make rules in your mind."
~ Vee (Violet), The Fellowship for Alien Detection, ARC page 236


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Kevin Emerson

Kevin Emerson has never been abducted by aliens, at least not that he remembers. He has been to Roswell, but all he found there was a cool key chain. Kevin is the author of a number of books for young readers, including the Oliver Nocturne series, Carlos Is Gonna Get It, andThe Lost Code, the first book in the Atlanteans series. Kevin is also a musician. His current project is the brainiac kids’ pop band the Board of Education. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two children.



1 comment:

  1. What a great lesson to include. I like the sound of this book already. Great review.

    ReplyDelete

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