Journal of a UFO Investigator

Socially awkward Danny Shapiro, age 14, is writing a novel about UFOs. His father is a brute, and his mother is dying. Danny has a crush on a beautiful girl, gets involved with a group of paranormal enthusiasts, stumbles across galaxies, and clashes with and is "probed" by aliens. What starts out as a brooding coming-of-age story veers sharply into over-the-top silliness. Sean Runnette brings what life he can to the principals, but David Halperin's characters are empty and contrived--more set decoration than believable people. Also, Runnette doesn't sound 14. He's a wonderful reader, but the combination of adult voice and gloomy adolescent protagonist doesn't work well. However, Runnette's professional narration keeps the plot moving and will keep teenage sci-fi fans happy. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

November 22, 2010
Set in the mid-1960s, religious studies professor Halperin's gripping debut is less about aliens than alienation. Danny Shapiro, a 16-year-old UFO geek living in Philadelphia, grows estranged from his normal school friends. His dark fantasies lead him to hook up with a crew of teen UFO investigators who are as hardcore as they are precocious. As his seriously ill mother grows worse, Danny encounters the legendary Men in Black, flies a disk, gets lost in the middle of the earth and on the moon as well as strapped down on an alien operating table. A Jewish kid who doesn't believe in God, he studies the Bible and explores his religious heritage. Strange twists abound as Danny becomes the caretaker of a half-alien female child and gets ensnared in regional hostilities in Israel. While the science fiction talk may put off some, this heartbreaking coming-of-age story of a boy losing and finding his way in this and other worlds will resonate with many readers.