EARTHBORN

In this weak, talky sequel to Space Race (2000), a child forces her parents to make a heartbreaking choice after learning that they’re aliens from another planet. When events in the prequel draw inquisitive investigators from a shadowy government agency, Nesta’s parents Matthew and Alison nervously announce to her that they have been undercover observers of Earth culture since before she was born, but now, to avoid exposure, must escape with her back to planet Ormingat. Understandably dismayed, Nesta declares that she’s staying, and puts her intentions into practice—and her parents to the test—by hiding out until the spaceship’s rigidly scheduled departure. Will Alison and Matthew stay, or go? In order to make their decision as agonizing as possible, Waugh windily establishes their love for Ormingat and their deep yearning to be there, as well as the certainty of lifelong exile on Earth should they miss their scheduled departure. Though young readers may wonder which way their own parents would jump, given similar circumstances, Nesta is hard to sympathize with. Given no reason to stay on Earth beyond one loyal friend and the fact of being born here, she comes off not so much strong of will as narrow of soul. Not to mention self-centered. The combination of advanced but conveniently arbitrary alien science, a series of encounters with a bully that muddies Nesta’s character rather than clarifying it, and space-filling subplots tied to the prequel further enervate this confusing, illogical tale. (Fiction. 11-13)