October 15, 2024
A whiz-kid inventor and his ragtag crew must save the world from aliens...again. It's unclear why Ferrous City is a "hotbed of alien activity," but Ethan Fairmount knows that he can't tell his parents about any of it--especially not about another potential alien attack just a few months after the last. And even as he turns to his friends instead, he still doesn't initially tell them the whole truth about his beloved and now-missing guinea pig, Nugget. Ethan is scared and in over his head when he reaches out via walkie-talkie to the squad--his oldest friend, Kareem, inventive Fatima, creatively inclined Jodie, siblings RJ and Di (the latter of whom Ethan has a huge, not-so-secret crush on), and loyal new friend Juan Carlos. The narrative jumps right into the adventure as the ranks of aliens grow--both the good guys accompanying small, purple, six-eyed Cheese and the world-destroying reptilian light-thieves. Ethan eventually needs to add his big brothers to the hero squad, a move that draws attention to his habit of keeping secrets from those closest to him. Ultimately, the bumbling, one-dimensional alien villains who seemingly barely understand their own nefarious goals and technology stand no chance against an abundance of clever, sometimes snarky, and increasingly tight-knit young Black and brown humans and their alien companions. The path to a happy ending relies just as much on realizing how invaluable friendship is as it does on sheer luck. A solid trilogy closer for returning fans.(Science fiction. 8-12)
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December 1, 2024
Gr 3-7-Ethan and his friends face the challenge of defeating an evil force to save one of their own, Ethan's guinea pig, as well as an entire species from a different planet. The dynamics of Ethan's friend group are realistic and provide a model of how to navigate relationship stresses, even under extreme and outlandish circumstances. A classic tale of good vs. evil with a fair bit of concern for the planet thrown in for good measure. A lovable space alien named Cheese, and his family with adorable nicknames like Popcorn and Jellybean, bond with Ethan's group while they all face a common enemy: the light thieves. Through their struggle, they learn the value of teamwork and building on the strengths of each individual. The action is fast paced even if some of the plot points are a stretch. Young readers will enjoy the high jinks while imagining the possibilities of forging extra-terrestrial friendships while saving the planet. VERDICT STEM enthusiasts and techies will love this book.
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 1, 2025
Aliens have invaded and plan to leach all of the energy from planet Earth. Even worse, they have kidnapped Ethan Fairmont's guinea pig, Nugget. In this final installment of the trilogy, middle-school tech wiz/inventor Ethan and his squad of friends try to protect their six-eyed, tentacled alien friend, Cheese, and his family from the reptilian light-thieves who have destroyed Cheese's planet. Led by Krawq from the planet Terylya, the light-thieves will return Nugget if Ethan hands over Cheese. Ethan, knowing he cannot stand up to an alien invasion and save his planet on his own, learns to rely on his loyal friends. "None of this would have been possible without the whole team," he says. Brooks's first-person narrative emphasizes action and dialogue. Ethan and his squad are believably drawn middle schoolers, with squabbles and a bit of romance that lend humor to their serious business. With echoes of Men in Black and E.T., Ethan's exploits are all good-natured science-fiction fun. Spoiler alert: be prepared to get teary-eyed during the final scene between the boy and his alien pal. Dean Schneider
(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)