Customer Reviews

Stuck on Earth

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What to do, what to do when an alien stuns you, crawls up your nose into your brain, and takes control over your body. Ketchvar III (that nose surfing alien) has to do some recognizance for his planet to see if earth should be destroyed but he/it chose an awkward teenager as his vessel to study earthlings. The alien has to navigate a new world of zits, bullies, and teen love to determine the planet's fate. This chapter book was hilarious at times and poignant at others but readers might be slightly paranoid that falling asleep on a beach chair may lead to an alien nation.

At first glance, this looks to be a typical Alien comedy. I mean, alien comes to Earth to decide if mankind is in fact worth saving, is a story that anyone who has watched Star Trek or follows sci-fi at all has seen or read a zillion times. What makes this story different is that it also includes a story about school bullying, and a touching story about a family on the verge of collapse. Tom, whose body gets taken over by the alien Ketchvar, is 14 years old and is nicknamed "alien" at school because he's so different. It is ironic that only after he gets taken over by an actual alien does he begin to make friends with the "earth girl next door" and begin to find his true place at school, and re-establish his relationship with his father.

This was a good story that I think will be very popular with middle schoolers. Tom's family situation is pretty intense which I think might bother some kids (parts of his interactions with his mother were kind of hard for me to read), but all in all this is a big recommend for any middle schooler. It's not quite as funny as I was anticipating, but the great characters and the effective "green message" make it a read that will appeal to a wide variety of kids.

I found many parts of this book hilarious. I could not help but laugh out loud. Ketchvar, the alien who invades Tom's body is surprised to find out that he is inhabiting a body of a boy who's nickname is "Alien"! Just Ketchvar's luck. Ketchvar tries to blend in but with his formal language people start to wonder why Tom is acting like an alien. Everyday Ketchvar reports to his mothership but when this reports are sent to the entire student body, Ketchvar questions if he is really an alien or is it in his imagination?

This book was a refreshing change from the typical alien invasion story. Teens starting high school will be able to relate to the trials of fitting in at school and having a crush on the girl next door. There is even an environmental message on preserving the planet that fits nicely in the story.

Overall I thought this book was good and would interest both boys and girls.