Second I cannot emphasize enough that though the main characters are very young, this is not a book I can recommend for young readers. LOL for example the use of the words like propitious and epicenter rarely make it into the average 5th grader’s vocabulary, it took me a little time to realign my thinking that it was an adult doing the talking and not a 1st person account at the age of the protagonist. The reader must understand the story is being told in this context or it will trip you up thinking no 10-year-old talks that way. The best example of a similar case I can give is Stephen King’s “The Body”. This is important to be aware of because we are hearing the story of the protagonist at the age of 10 but within the scope and language of an adult. Because it is a narrative it is very important to realize that this is an adult telling the story of a childhood experience. This is a different kind of remember when.įirst of all, I think it is very important for the reader to be aware of the context of this story. This book does a throwback to an earlier time, but it brings back a different “Once Upon a Time”, this one does not paint the picture with all roses, sunshine, and sweet tea. How many commercials, and songs do a throwback to earlier times when life was simpler and supposed to be somehow better? To many. It’s not often a book really makes me reflect, I can honestly say, not only did I enjoy the story I appreciate triggering effect that recalled some of my own adventures with friends.

As a carefree kid in the summer of his best years you got down on the ground, eye level, you acted out scenes, made up stories, brought characters to life, set the stage, created adventures, orchestrated epic battles and in the end triumphed, all in confines of a 6 foot sandbox. I could best relate my experience with this book to playing Army men - You didn’t just move plastic pieces around, that is how an adult would play. It was a throw back to my youth and brought a rush of long forgotten memories of how different our perspectives were when we were kids and how exaggerated a child’s mind can be. I don’t recall how I found this book, other then being on a sci-fi hunt but I am glad I did.

There is an element of surprise in something so new and a risk/reward that can go any way. I enjoy trying books from new writers as a break from the mainstream.

The Alien Club by Trel W. Sidoruk