Alien Superstar

Gr 5-8–Sci-fi lovers will find Winkler’s new book completely out of this world. On Buddy’s home planet, when aliens reach the age of 13, the sensory enhancer that allows them to experience the world around them is removed. To stop this from happening, Buddy’s grandmother plans an escape route for him to Universal Studios on the planet Earth. After he lands, Buddy fits in with the movie studio and theme park crowds by pretending he is in costume. He loves the movies, and with the help of a friend, he lands a job on a popular television sitcom. Buddy must learn to navigate Earth and make friends along the way, all the while trying to keep his alien identity a secret. Upper elementary and middle school sci-fi readers will find Buddy’s alien life engaging. The interesting things that Buddy can do, as well as the technology that he brings from his planet, will charm. The setting of Universal Studios will have many readers making connections to parks they may have visited themselves or movies they have seen with this location.