About the Book
Josh Higgins loves to make up stories about other planets. At least he thought he was making them up. After Josh publishes his first book, sinister blue aliens visit Earth! Josh quickly learns that the worlds he wrote about in his stories are way too real.
The outer space thugs take Josh and his kid sister Maggie all the way to the desert planet Yastol. And when Josh and Maggie refuse to aid the blue guys, a chase begins across Yastol's harsh landscape.
Will the help of the planet's brave Prince Izor be enough to save Yastol from the bad blue aliens? Or will the planet's many dangers finish off Josh and Maggie first?
-- "Journal"
About the Author :
Born in Berkeley, California, Pamela F. Service grew up loving to hear, read, and tell stories--particularly about weird stuff. Pamela earned a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley followed by an MA in history and archaeology from the University of London. She spent many years living in Bloomington, Indiana, writing, serving on the city council, and being curator of a history museum. She has a grown daughter, Alex, who is also a museum curator. Pamela is now living in Eureka, California, where she writes, works as a museum curator, and acts in community theater. Mike Gorman is a seasoned editorial illustrator whose work has been seen in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Entertainment Weekly, and other publications. He lives in Westbrook, Maine, with his wife, three children, a dog, a cat, two toads, and a gecko.
Review :
Josh loves to write stories about aliens and weird planets. His latest effort--'Danger On Yastol'--has even won the county Young Author's contest, and the 11-year-old figures that his writing career is really taking off. However, he has no idea how far off things are about to go. A gang of extraterrestrial thugs zeros in on the tale. Certain humans, they explain, have the ability to tune in to other worlds. When authors think they're writing science fiction, they are actually describing extraterrestrial reality. Yastol, in other words, is quite real--and it is a prime source of a rare mineral that the space gangsters need to further their plot to take over the galaxy. They kidnap Josh and his sister and haul them off to aid in the search. The kids realize that once the aliens get what they want, human hostages will be expendable. The only guide they have to getting home alive is Josh's story. The dangers he imagined are all too true--and the planet holds other perils that his text never mentioned. The fast-moving plot is an affectionate homage to the old-time SF pulps. The action zips from one crisis to another-hidden temples, evil slave traders, bizarre monsters, and treacherous minions menace the heroes on every side. Comic-book-style black-and-white cartoons add to the fun. There is also an interesting subplot about authorship and the creative-writing process. This lightweight, lighthearted adventure will appeal to middle-grade science-fiction fans, particularly reluctant readers. --School Library Journal
-- "Journal"
Josh Higgins, boy author, finds out what happens when he really lives in the world he created. After winning a local young-writer award, Josh is struck with writer's block and loses hope that he can be a two-time winner. Adding to his misery, kids from school make fun of him, and his little sister Maggie has to step in to protect him. When aliens invade Maggie's play rehearsal and drag the siblings to Yastol, Josh realizes that the planet he invented is both all too real and filled with something these blue, stick-of-gum-shaped, noodly-armed aliens want: aafth, a purple stone, flecked with silver. This stone fuels their weapons and spaceships, and these greedy aliens come equipped with a machine that forces Josh and Maggie to take them to Yastol. A quick pace--punctuated with the siblings' spats, creatures with polka dots, slavers, deserts, bird droppings and Josh's frequent references to his original story--moves this volume along nicely. Every time Josh faces a new villain or challenging environment, he wishes he has written his story differently, allowing young readers to ponder the act of making a story. Readers ready for longer chapter books will enjoy having some science fiction to choose from and welcome further adventures. --Kirkus Reviews
-- "Journal"
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. --The Horn Book Guide
-- "Journal"
This first title in the new Way-Too-Real Aliens series is an adventurous story about a boy who winds up living in his own science fiction book. Filled with twists and turns, it is a fun-filled, fast-paced tale. Josh Higgins likes to make up stories about other planets. He discovers that his stories are all too real as he finds himself being chased by aliens across the planet Yastol. With a story that will capture middle school readers and text that is not overly challenging for younger readers, this book will be enjoyed by many. --Library Media Connection
-- "Journal"
