Space Rocks! Series, Book 1

sshans2 - Although it does drag on in the first 5-6 chapters, "Space Rocks" is a hilarious, grasping read with incredible plot twists. Chorkle is part of the Xotonian race living in Gelo, an asteroid that, until a couple of months ago, has never been invaded by anyone, let alone humans. When Chorkle spots some human offspring in Jehe Canyon, little does he know that these four little fur-heads would change Xotonian history forever. Within the next few months, he accidentally causes their mothership to have an emergency take-off (all because of Feeney’s Original Astronaut Ice Cream!) and the four little two-eyed humans are left stranded on Gelo. Chorkle tries to help them out...but what would you do if a five-eyed alien who deserted you in space offers his guidance? On an epic attempt of survival, Chorkle leads Becky, a bossy twelve-year-old who hates Chorkle the moment she lays her eyes on him; Nicky, Becky's identical twin who's obsessed with fungi (although she does have her ways with computers); Hollins, a thirteen-year-old boy who doesn't stop quoting Teddy Roosevelt; and Little Gus, who is simply awesomeness wrapped up in a ten-year-old. With Chorkle's help, these four find a way to keep breathing their beloved oxygen, fight ferocious thyss cats, and hide from the rest of the Xotonians who would surely imprison them if they were to find them. On top of all that, they eventually become oog-ball legends, go to the top of Dynusk’s Column, and even get to ride Usk Lizards!

December 15, 2013
Xotonian Chorkle's home asteroid Gelo is so boring that of course it's going to spy on the iridium-stealing, fur-tufted invaders from Eo. Chorkle's originator allowed it (there is no gender on Gelo) to check out Jehe Canyon for human incursion as long as it agreed to leave if it saw them...but they're so interesting, and they have amazingly fun technology. Xotonians are adept at hiding, so the aliens are oblivious to Chorkle's presence, but it makes off with their hologram device. When the Xotonians decide to unleash the dreaded, destructive Q-sik weapon to chase off the humans, Chorkle wants to warn the humans. It knows the ones it saw in the canyon are young ones. Having learned some human language from the hologram device and human transmissions, Chorkle intends to warn them...but it's distracted by the sugary pink magic of Feeney's Original Astronaut Ice Cream, and the young humans end up marooned on Gelo. Now Chorkle must keep them alive until their originators return for them. When the Vorem, the ancient enemy of the Xotonians, reappear, the fate of the solar system might hang in the balance. O'Donnell's debut is an imaginative, smart and laugh-out-loud adventure. Chorkle is charming, and its alien perspective on the human invaders and the ensuing culture clash never falters. Clap your thol'graz--the open ending begs for a sequel! (Science fiction. 9-12)

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