Earthling!

March 12, 2012
In this lighthearted SF tale, nine-year-old Bud moves to a new home with his father and is about to start his first day at a new school. He boards the bus—or what he believes to be the bus—and finds himself in a vehicle full of young aliens. Bud and the aliens are taken to Cosmos Academy, a school in the far reaches of outer space that’s home to all different sorts of species, but no one else from Earth. Earthlings are hated and reviled, so Bud has to keep his identity secret. He does share his true nature with Gort, an alien he befriends. But even if Gort is understanding, others aren’t. While trying to stay under the radar of Earth haters and figuring out a way to get home, Bud becomes involved with the extraterrestrial sport ZeroBall. Fearing’s sketchy, cartoony art is ideal for the story and keeps the action easy to follow. The idea is fairly straightforward (facing prejudice, getting home), but the treatment of aliens gives it extra appeal. Ages 8–12.

September 1, 2012

Gr 3-7-This graphic novel takes the school story into outer space with humor, a bit of action, and a cast of unusual characters. Fish-out-of-water Bud catches the wrong bus and ends up far, far from home at Cosmos Academy, where Earthlings are not welcome. He befriends lime-green alien Gort, who shows him the ropes of the school. Posing as a Tenarian, Bud must figure out how to get back to his home planet while avoiding the wrath of Principal Lepton, a Lanthornoid fearful of Earthlings. The tone of the book stays on the lighter side while still touching on themes of fitting in and fear of the unknown. Bud's quest to return to Earth is full of secrecy, adding a splash of tension to the story. The book looks great, with vibrant, full-color artwork rendered in pencil drawings that have been digitally inked and colored. The panel layouts are basic and clear, adding to the inviting package. Fans of UFOs and aliens will enjoy this one.-Travis Jonker, Wayland Union Schools, MI

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2012
Grades 3-6 What's worse than being the new kid at a new school? Being the new kid at an intergalactic school where everyone views earthlings as enemies! When Bud accidentally gets on the wrong bus, he finds himself transported to one of the best schools in the galaxyCosmos Academy. There he discovers that earthlings are the most feared beings in the universe. To avoid detection, Bud pretends to be a Tenarian exchange student. Unfortunately, Tenarians are known to be awesome Zeroball players, and Bud is more of a sports fan than an athlete. Bud needs to keep up appearances, though, to avoid suspicion. How will Bud deal with bullies, survive his new school, and, most of all, return to earth in one piece? The bright colors, bold strokes, and fun dialogue will appeal to budding fans of science fiction and readers of the growing body of zany, space-caper graphic novels, such as Ben Hatke's Zita the Spacegirl, Dave Roman's Astronaut Academy, and Mike Deas' Dalen & Gole: Scandal in Port Angus (all 2011).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
This series stars budding seventh-grade journalist Samantha Martone, who has taken on an anonymous advice column, "Dear Know-It-All." Throughout the first four books, Samantha encounters various dilemmas including having her advice backfire on her, enduring cyber-bullying, disagreeing with a love interest, and hating her BFF's crush. Sam is a relatable heroine, and this enjoyable series should have wide appeal.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)