Earthfall

Gr 6–10—When giant flying saucers begin hovering over the world's major cities, people are not sure what to think. Unfortunately, they do not have long to worry about it; soon the alien artifacts awaken, sending the world's inhabitants into a coordinated trance. These zombielike slaves walk, work, and sleep in cold calculated rows monitored by squidlike biomechanical drones. Sam, the only member of his family unphased by the alien broadcast, joins a resistance group. The teenagers, with the help of a few surviving adults, maintain their lucidity and gear up to fight the invaders. Even with the expert training they receive from mysterious underground benefactors, it may not be enough to stop the biomechanical army that has taken the world hostage. Though light on character development, this is a fast-moving story with nail-biting tension. The dystopian London is gritty and well described, with the novel's only real fault being some confusing action sequences. While the book lacks the depth of character, plot twists, and broad appeal of Rick Yancey's riveting 5th Wave (Putnam, 2013 ), fans of aliens and/or dystopian futures will be more than satisfied with this offering.—Devin Burritt, Wells Public Library, ME