Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences

by Brian Yansky

Overview

A polite race of telepathic killer aliens, a ten-second world conquest, and one teenage boy collide in this wry, gutsy adventure.

Jesse is in history class when a formidable, efficient race of aliens quietly takes over the earth in less time than it takes him to brush his teeth. Most humans simply fall asleep and never wake up. In moments, everyone Jesse knows and loves is gone, and he finds that he is now a slave to an inept alien leader. On the bright side, Jesse discovers he’s developing telepathic powers, and he’s not the only one. Soon he’s forging new friendships and feeling unexpectedly hopeful. When a mysterious girl appears in his dreams, talking about escaping, Jesse begins to think the aliens may not be invincible after all. But if Jesse and his friends succeed, is there anywhere left to go? Brian Yansky offers a funny, grim novel packed with everything boys and sci-fi fans love: aliens, humor, action, and a healthy dose of triumph.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763658366
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	05/14/2013
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	961,583
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 Years

About the Author

Brian Yansky is the author of My Road Trip to the Pretty Girl Capital of the World and Wonders of the World. He holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College and lives in Austin, Texas, where he teaches writing at Austin Community College.

Editorial Reviews

Nothing if not action-packed, and yet it is provocative, profound, and wickedly funny as well. Yansky takes on questions philosophical, ecological (the Sanginians abhor machines and won't be cutting down any more rainforests; is the Earth better off?), religious, moral, and social. The satire is right on target.
—Horn Book

Effective worldbuilding. Plot is primary here: It’s carefully constructed for maximum suspense and the major literary characteristic in this certifiable page-turner…The climax is exciting and guaranteed to please readers.
—Kirkus Reviews

Yansky ably balances abject horror with grim, sharp humor, illustrating the fact that it is difficult, even in unimaginable circumstances, to be depressed and somber constantly.
—Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books

Filled with thought-provoking topics, including slavery, colonization, technology, religion, and ecology, this short sci-fi read is as rewarding as it is entertaining.
—Booklist

[An] this exceptional, wryly funny, and often very powerful book.
—Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

From the Publisher

Gr 9 Up—When aliens invade Earth, it only takes them seconds to conquer the planet and neutralize most of the people. Some are left alive because of their ability to hear the telepathic commands of the aliens and that makes them prime slave material. Jesse relies on the imagined voice of his father, reminding him to never give up and to always stay alert to ways of gaining advantage over an adversary. Years of wrestling and martial-arts training come in handy when outwitting the Sanginians. When Jesse's powers of communication begin to progress and other abilities manifest themselves, he decides it's time to make a break for freedom, taking the friends he has made along with him. But how do you fight an alien invasion and find hope for a future? Jesse's down-to-earth first-person narration alternates with coldhearted communiqués from the alien conqueror, Lord Vertenomous. Yansky handles a typical sci-fi theme with a sense of humor. The irreverent attitude of youth that distinguishes Jesse and his friends keeps the story from becoming morose and stereotypical. There appears to be a sequel in the making, as the book ends with a beginning.—Debra Banna, Sharon Public Library, MA

School Library Journal

The little green men have conquered the world in ten seconds, preserving as slaves those people receptive to telepathic communication. Four teens meet in the slave quarters and realize that their telepathic talents are growing. One begins to dream-walk, which leads him and his friends to attempt an escape from the compound near Austin, Texas, looking for a rebel force further west. Lord Vertenomous's communiqués and journal entries supplement Jesse's first-person narration and help to provide a full picture of both sides of the story--a technique that produces effective worldbuilding. Plot is primary here: It's carefully constructed for maximum suspense and the major literary characteristic in this certifiable page-turner. Character development plays second fiddle, with only enough information provided to support readers' suspension of disbelief. The climax is exciting and guaranteed to please readers, while the resolution is loose enough to suggest possible sequels. Buy this for readers of Ann Halam's Siberia (2005) and J.B. Stephens's Big Empty series, boys and girls alike, although the male narration may have more appeal for the guys. (Science fiction. YA)

Kirkus Reviews