Review by Booklist Review
E.T. meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Mars Attacks!, and many other sf flicks as orphaned twins Cypress and Oakley, along with their hard-punching bestie Jasmine (Jaz), discover that a local politician on the take and many of the other grown-ups in their small Georgia town have been taken over by bug-like aliens with bad intentions. Built around saving the planet but also rescuing and being rescued by a cute, telepathic, kudzu-eating alien hatchling, the ensuing romp is packed with heaping helpings of music and movie references ("Like, use the Force, Cy!")--not to mention, on the way to a zippy, last-second save, a string of exhilarating exploits aboard flying skateboards powered by mind-controlled alien tech. The pseudonymous authors fill out their young characters by brushing in some brotherly shoving and loving along the way, but personal relationships definitely take a back seat to riffs, high rides, and awesome aerial action.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When government officials usurp defunct ATLantis Adventure Park on behalf of real estate developer Orion Industries in Owl Rock City, an Atlanta suburb, 12-year-old twin brothers Cypress and Oakley decide to commemorate the loss of their beloved childhood water park by making it the set location of their next homemade movie. Budding director Cy insists they make a horror film, putting him at odds with Oak, who yearns to delve into alien conspiracy theories. While filming a stunt that goes sideways, Oak vanishes, leaving Cy--along with their best friend, Jaz--distraught. Unbeknownst to Cy and Jaz, Oak has been abducted by an alien he dubs Lil Rune, who needs his help. When the trio finally reunite, they realize that Orion Industries is hiding an interstellar secret of cosmic proportions. Moses (Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found) delivers a pulse-pounding adventure marked by epic stunts, creepy extraterrestrial antagonists, and a plethora of contemporary hip-hop references. It's an always-moving tale that balances an out-of-this-world premise with heartfelt ruminations on the importance of friendship, family, and, most prominently, indomitable brotherhood. Cy and Oak are Black; Jaz is Black and Italian American. Ages 10--up. (June)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two brothers team up with their longtime bestie and a peculiar new friend for a high-stakes, out-of-this-world adventure. One day a few years ago, twins Oakley and Cypress Young's parents mysteriously vanished. That summer they met Jaz Demetrio, who'd recently lost her mother. The three Black-presenting tweens (Jaz's father is Italian American) have been inseparable ever since. Aspiring filmmaker Cypress, Oak, who's a wholehearted believer in the otherworldly, and well-traveled military brat Jaz collaborate on shooting movies while also investigating their beloved Atlanta neighborhood. Evil Orion Industries is buying up properties, bringing about sudden changes. While filming at an old amusement park--now an Orion construction site--Oak flies off his skateboard and disappears into a portal on Owl Rock, a large granite rock formation, kicking off an extraterrestrial mystery involving cruel businessman Hancock Orion. The dual first-person narration shifts between the point of view of Cypress, who's desperately trying to find his brother and navigate issues of rapid, world-destroying gentrification, and Oak, who befriends an alien who's reluctant to be part of the world-conquering plot. By the time the brothers reunite to save the day with music and magic meteorites, their understanding of how to be part of a team while still maintaining their individuality is forever changed for the better. Epigraphs featuring quotes from Oak's favorite superhero, the Silver Surfer, drive home the cosmic scope of their discoveries. A raucous romp from twin perspectives with something different to say. (map)(Science fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
