My Review: I’m a huge fan of Rebecca Stead’s writing and this unusual MG science fiction book was a delight. At the start of the book we meet Nathan, an 11 year old alien living a double life. His life at school is that of any normal American child. At home his attentive parents are running him as part of an ‘experiment’ that they are all part of, constantly recording and reporting observations about him. When Nathan suddenly grows a tail with a consciousness of its own the stakes are increased. Other child ‘experiments’ have mysteriously disappeared and both Nathan and his parents are fearful about what the future might hold.

Nathan’s relationship with his best (human) friend Victor is tenderly portrayed, it’s refreshing to see boys’ friendships depicted this sensitively. The plot has lots of twists and is so unconventional that it keeps you hooked. As usual Stead packs a strong emotional punch with some deeply contemplative but subtle themes about goodness, love and redemption. It’s an intelligent, contemplative book and deserves to be read widely.

Suggested For: Science fiction fans but also readers who like coming of age stories or stories about friendship.

If You Like This You Might Enjoy: Sputnik’s Guide To Earth by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge, A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle (there’s a gorgeous graphic novel version of this classic sci fi novel by Hope Larson- I’d recommend reading both!), Nowhere On Earth by Nick Lake

Blurb: Nathan never understood what was ‘fun’ about secrets, probably because he’s always had to keep a very big one.

Although he appears to be a typical boy, Nathan learned at an early age that his family is from another planet. Now, their time on Earth may be coming to an end.

Nathan and some others are part of an experiment that suddenly seems to be going wrong. Some of them are disappearing without a word. After his family is called back to the mothership, Nathan begins to question everything he’s been taught to believe about who he is and why he’s on Earth.

Thanks to Anderson for the review copy via NetGalley.