The Alien Next Door 1

January 1, 2018

Gr 2-4-An enjoyable new early chapter book series. Harris has a new neighbor and he just knows there is something different about him. Zeke eats strange foods and doesn't use his hands to type on his tablet. No one else, especially Harris' best friend Roxy, notices anything weird about Zeke. Readers know, however, that Zeke is actually an alien from the planet Tragas. He has come to Earth with his parents who are research scientists studying the planet. They are supposed to keep their alien identities a secret, but Zeke doesn't do a good job keeping his alien ways under wraps. A humorous and charming start to a new series. VERDICT A solid purchase for most collections in need of heavily illustrated chapter books.-V. Lynn Christiansen, Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, NC

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2017
Second-grader Harris Walker's sure something's odd about the new kid at school, whose family has just moved in next door. Harris has seen Zeke do impossible things, but no one else has. Meanwhile, Zeke, or Zekelabraxis, is unhappy to be starting over in a new school on a new planet. Due to his scientist parents' research, the family moves around a lot, and Zeke misses everything about his home, Tragas. It's hard making friends while hiding your true self. Harris' best friend, Roxy Martinez, feels sorry for Zeke and includes him when she can, urging Harris to do the same. After a successful play day at Harris' house, Harris is ready to be friends with Zeke...but not ready to give up trying to prove Zeke's not of this world. Newton's first in a series of easy chapter books is largely occupied by setup, simply establishing characters and relationships with very little plot. Mild humor is found in Zeke's attempts to conceal his true nature, but the alternating third-person focus between Harris and Zeke blunts much of its potential. Human diversity is signaled (Harris may be black; Roxy is evidently Latina) but not explored; in his human form, Zeke appears to be white, though he's actually fairly squidlike. Sarkar's cartoon illustrations on every page pair well enough with the text. (Final art not seen.)This series spin on the alien-next-door trope gets off to a slow start. (Science fiction. 5-9)

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January 1, 2019
Harris suspects Zeke, the new kid, is not quite of this world: Zeke's lunch is totally weird, he can balance on his fingertips while upside down, and he's never eaten pizza. As Zeke tries to fit in, a wary new friendship with Harris develops, presumably to be expanded on in future volumes. Black-and-white illustrations on every page enhance this humorous early chapter book.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)