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115 pp.
| Darby Creek
| April, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7613-7919-5$15.95
(3)
4-6
Way-Too-Real Aliens series.
Illustrated by
Mike Gorman.
In this second installment, Josh and his younger sister, Maggie, use alien technology to transport themselves to a planet he dreams up--but terrifying unicorns, hideous mermaids, and other scary surprises await them. Over-the-top silly and brimming with cliffhangers, the fast-paced sibling adventure demonstrates problem-solving, kindness, and teamwork. The kids and monsters look amusingly similar in Gorman's black-and-white art.
107 pp.
| Darby Creek
| September, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7613-7920-1$15.95
(4)
4-6
Way-Too-Real Aliens series.
Illustrated by
Mike Gorman.
After the last two troubling adventures, Josh and his sister Maggie vowed to never use their alien gizmo that allows them to visit other worlds again. But when Josh's favorite fantasy author comes to town they are tempted to try one more excursion--with predictably dire consequences. Familiar plot devices are becoming creaky, but this third volume continues to be entertaining.
171 pp.
| Darby Creek
| April, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7613-5364-5$16.95
(4)
4-6
Alien Agent series.
Illustrated by
Mike Gorman.
Undercover alien Zack is just trying to enjoy Halloween. But trouble's brewing, and Zack and his friends (human and alien) are needed. Zack, evading old enemies, must travel through space to secure Earth's place in the Galactic Union. Like the preceding five episodes, this volume's convoluted but lighthearted adventures have enough humor and action to satisfy fans.
102 pp.
| Darby Creek
| September, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7613-7918-8$15.95
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7613-7921-8$5.95
(3)
4-6
Way-Too-Real Aliens series.
Illustrated by
Mike Gorman.
This first book in a new series by the Alien Agent team is still about extraterrestrials, but with a different twist. Young (human) Josh has been writing stories about an imaginary planet, Yastol, and its alien occupants. Now those creatures have become real, and they want to bring Josh to their planet. Funny, quirky, and action-filled, the story will hold reluctant readers' attention.
139 pp.
| Darby Creek
| September, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7613-5363-8$16.95
(4)
4-6
Alien Agent series.
Illustrated by
Mike Gorman.
Zack is recalled to duty when his boss, Sorn, goes missing. With his parents' blessing, along with the support of a flying alien cat and a new human friend, Zack must evade enemy aliens and Homeland Security, find Sorn, and keep humanity from realizing aliens exist. The author manages to keep Zack's fast-paced adventures relatively fresh in this fifth installment.
151 pp.
| Carolrhoda
| April, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8225-8873-3$16.95
(4)
4-6
Alien Agent series.
Illustrated by
Mike Gorman.
More alien assignments await Zack in this fourth series installment. This time he's, fittingly, off to Roswell, New Mexico, to locate a young alien who's searching for his father, a suspected survivor of the Roswell crash. Danger mounts when Zack's own father is kidnapped. Similar to its predecessors in plotting and humor (sometimes forced), this volume remains light, intergalactic fun.
159 pp.
| Carolrhoda
| April, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8225-8656-2$16.95
(4)
4-6
Alien Agent series.
Illustrated by
Mike Gorman.
Alien-in-disguise Zack (My Cousin, the Alien) is looking forward to a normal, human-kid summer camp experience. But things get complicated when the Galactic Patrol calls on him to help retrieve one hundred stolen Duthwi eggs. Despite some flat characters, the story's humor and fast-paced action, shown in black-and-white cartoon illustrations, will entertain readers.
160 pp.
| Carolrhoda
| September, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8225-8870-2$16.95
(4)
4-6
Alien Agent series.
Illustrated by
Mike Gorman.
It's aliens versus...other aliens in this third book in the series. Undercover boy/alien Zack is sent with his parents to Mongolia to help fellow alien-agent Vraj. Vraj's colleagues have been searching for fossils from creatures they believe to be their original ancestors, captured by enemy aliens, the Kiapa Kapa Syndicate. Oddities abound in this convoluted but humorous adventure.
152 pp.
| Carolrhoda
| September, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8225-7627-3$16.95
(4)
4-6
Alien Agent series.
Illustrated by
Mike Gorman.
Zack's cousin Ethan--who thinks himself an alien--moves to town. Zack tries to humor his odd relative and keep him from getting beaten up at school. Despite some two-dimensional characters, shown in similarly flat caricature illustrations, the story holds a surprise or two (aliens aren't real, are they?), moves at a brisk pace, and portrays a complex friendship between the cousins.