ALIENATED

Aliens are real, and eighth-grade journalists Gene and Vince are getting the truth out to humans through their tabloid, The Globe. After exposing the guidance counselor of a local school as an alien, Gene and Vince discover that many of their past subjects are missing. Have they gone deeper into hiding or have they been kidnapped by Vargon, the evil alien overlord? Working from a concept by David O. Russell, Auseon (Jo-Jo and the Fiendish Lot, 2009) adapts his prose for a younger audience well; short sentences, snappy lines and gross-out descriptions will keep any eight-year-old boy rapt. This adjustment doesn’t allow for much character development, though. Gene and Vince have a friendship based on trust and rivalry, and the author leaves the dramatic potential untapped. Most adults are soundly ignored, and the highly sexualized Dr. Jinks doesn’t fit with the rest of the story. Pun-based names add simple humor to the text, and the various wacky alien abilities will engage readers. Simple science fiction that readers can enjoy with little effort. (Science fiction. 8-12)