(3) YA Five years after their small Ohio town was devastated by a steel mill explosion, a group of teens united by loss and grief find something new to bond over when they witness strange lights in the sky and decide to investigate. The mystery's paranormal elements combine with narrator Franny's introspection to create a rich and rewarding page-turner fans of Stranger Things will devour.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) 4-6 Days after the end of book one, Ken and the EngiNerds are tracking down the final robot from the horde that menaced their town. A girl named Mikaela, who claims she's seen an alien, is a distraction, but Ken refuses to be thrown off his mission. Ample humor, short chapters, and the introduction of a smart, independent girl character make this a worthy successor to EngiNerds.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 In Biedrzycki's third tongue-in-cheek Breaking News picture book, local animals are beamed up to a UFO. TV reporter Chad Newsworthy provides live coverage of the event, complete with eyewitness interviews and a news ticker across the bottom of the dramatic digital illustrations. When the animals return to Earth--"with goody bags?!"--readers learn "we are not the only party animals in the universe!"

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) 4-6 Enduring Mysteries series. Karst explores mysteries that linger prominently in our culture. Have humans been abducted by extraterrestrials? What happens after death? These books present balanced discussions that include modern-day scientific inquiry while still leaving room for kids to use their imaginations. The accessible texts are well punctuated with glossy photos and illustrations. Websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Enduring Mysteries titles: Alien Abductions, Near-Death Experiences, and Sea Monsters.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 1-3 Hilde Cracks the Case series. Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. Nine-year-old "serious reporter" Hilde continues "hunting down the news" in her neighborhood. In these capers, Hilde reports on strange damage from a tornado and investigates a supposed UFO landing. Aspiring reporters will enjoy learning journalistic nuts and bolts from this affable kid-newshound. Pen-and-ink illustrations closely follow the texts, increasing accessibility. "Questions and Activities" are appended. Review covers these Hilde Cracks the Case titles: Tornado Hits and UFO Spotted.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 In 1947 Roswell, New Mexico, a flying saucer crashes in the woods near Mylo's family's ranch. Still grieving the recent death of his brother, Mylo is irresistibly drawn to the site, where he encounters an alien being whom he and his friends--and some sympathetic adults--work to save. This heartwarming novel features convincing characters and a gripping, fast-moving plot. An author's note provides historical context.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) K-3 A spaceship with unknown motives approaches Earth and lands in a neighborhood. Busy, colorful comics-style illustrations depict hysterical adults expecting the worst ("SECURE THE PERIMETER!"; "THE END HAS COME!"), while the voice of reason, ironically, comes from a small boy. The sweet, lighthearted ending teaches a rather heavy-handed (but important) message about not rushing to judgment.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(2) YA Matty meets a "crazy, crazy girl" in the rural-Pennsylvania field where a spaceship purportedly landed in 1965. Priya is from a planet near Gliese 581c, she tells him, and she's waiting to go home. Matty's first-person narrative rings true, and though Priya's real story will likely leave readers in tears, they will be glad to have shared "eight days on planet Earth" with Matty and Priya.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(3) 4-6 Searchlight Books: Fear Fest series. Chilling paranormal tales abound in this series. Each volume focuses on a specific type of paranormal activity and provides accounts from throughout history. The texts wisely ground the series in science by including debunkings and realistic explanations for the stories. Illustrations and photographs accompany the text on each page and help set the spooky mood. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Searchlight Books: Fear Fest titles: Mysterious UFOs and Aliens, Spine-Tingling Urban Legends, Chilling Ancient Curses, Eerie ESP, Spooky Haunted Houses, and Frightful Ghost Ships.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Bolt: Strange...but True? series. This hi-lo series explores the history behind paranormal phenomena and why some people believe in them and others believe they're fantasy or hoaxes; ultimately, readers are asked to decide for themselves. Each slight discussion is illustrated with a jarring mix of photos and computer renderings and includes a short "Believe It or Not?" quiz. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bolt: Strange...but True? titles: Area 51, Crop Circles, Loch Ness Monster, Vampires, and Werewolves.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) K-3 Bolt: Strange...but True? series. This hi-lo series explores the history behind paranormal phenomena and why some people believe in them and others believe they're fantasy or hoaxes; ultimately, readers are asked to decide for themselves. Each slight discussion is illustrated with a jarring mix of photos and computer renderings and includes a short "Believe It or Not?" quiz. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bolt: Strange...but True? titles: Area 51, Crop Circles, Loch Ness Monster, Vampires, and Werewolves.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) 4-6 Mysteries of History series. Theories surrounding Nevada's Area 51 as well as reports of unexplained phenomena and unconfirmed events (mainly UFO sightings) are laid out for readers in clear, concise text with plenty of images. With frequent inserts (and an appendix) of comprehension activities, publisher's links, and writing prompts, the series is more focused on core standards than general research. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) YA Life gets weird for aspiring magician Benji after he shoots a UFO from the sky. The mystery of what it was, and what its destruction will mean, builds on family history and a folksy, middle-American small-town backdrop. The metaphorical underpinnings are clumsy, as are the interpersonal dynamics among Benji and his friends, but the old-school sci-fi elements (when they surface) are engagingly mysterious.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) 4-6 Edge Books: Paranormal Handbooks series. Color photographs, drawings, and "Freaky Fact" sidebars accompany serviceable texts offering historical and recent anecdotes of people encountering two types of paranormal phenomena: UFOs and legendary creatures (Bigfoot, Chupacabra, etc.). The authors repeatedly state there is no scientific evidence to prove the creatures' existence but don't question the credibility of the sightings. Comprehension quiz included. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Edge Books: Paranormal Handbooks titles: Handbook to UFOs, Crop Circles, and Alien Encounters and Handbook to Bigfoot, Nessie, and Other Unexplained Creatures.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 After she's accidentally zapped aboard a spaceship, Red, a feisty ten-year-old foster child, soon finds herself on an abandoned planet with a motley crew of abducted creatures, all struggling to survive. Originally a webcomic, Pittman's graphic novel is funny and fast paced, with bright, action-packed panels featuring sharp dialogue that upends notions about what--and who--is alien.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) 4-6 S.M.A.R.T.S. series. Illustrated by Heath McKenzie. Proud members of "Science, Maker, and Real Technology Students," fifth graders Zoe, Caleb, and Jaden solve mysteries in this energetic, highly appealing series that introduces readers to everyday uses of scientific principles and reasoning to solve problems. Illustrations reflect the cast's diversity, including Jaden's leg braces due to cerebral palsy. Back matter includes further information on high-interest STEAM topics (e.g., 3-D printing, robotics). Glos. Review covers the following S.M.A.R.T.S. titles: S.M.A.R.T.S. and the Invisible Robot, S.M.A.R.T.S. and the Missing UFO, S.M.A.R.T.S. and the Poison Plates, and S.M.A.R.T.S. and the 3-D Danger.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Enduring Mysteries series. Karst explores mysteries that linger prominently in our culture. Could Bigfoot and Nessie be real? Could aliens have visited Earth? Is there something supernatural about the Bermuda Triangle? These books present balanced views that include modern-day scientific inquiry while still leaving room for kids to use their imaginations. The accessible texts are well punctuated with glossy photos and maps. Websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Enduring Mysteries titles: Area 51, Bermuda Triangle, Bigfoot, and Loch Ness Monster.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 With a surprisingly even-handed tone, this book uses an interest in aliens to inspire scientific inquiry. It discusses the history of UFO sightings, crashes, and hoaxes, providing thoroughly researched, factual information while remaining non-judgmental about unexplained phenomena. A fictionalized thread of an alien mission is interspersed with the nonfiction. The author's interviews with experts and witnesses are particularly insightful. Websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(3) YA As he proved in his first adventure (The Joshua Files: Invisible City), Josh, like his father before him, has a dangerous streak. His reckless spirit pushes him to investigate the 2012 Mayan end-of-the-world prophecy and uncover the truth about Dad's mysterious death. Josh's complex and intriguing mission shifts between England and Mexico and entails UFOs, time travel, and a father's sacrifice.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) YA Extraterrestrial Life series. Aliens as fact and fiction and the basis for their existence (or lack thereof) are recounted in painstaking detail in this series. The books are generally accessible. For some (especially Search), strong interest and aptitude in astronomy and physics would help comprehension. Some drawings and photographs, along with sidebars, help liven up these textbooklike volumes. Reading list, websites. Ind. Review covers these Extraterrestrial Life titles: Are Extraterrestrials a Threat to Human Life?, The Search for Extraterrestrial Life, Aliens in Pop Culture, Alien Encounters, and UFOs.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers