Little Green Men at the Mercury Inn

April 14, 2014
In this gleefully absurd tale, Smith (Chronal Engine) unfurls a series of alien-inspired hijinks at a space-themed motel on Florida’s Space Coast. Almost 13, Aidan is used to the eccentric visitors and long-term residents who stay at his family’s Mercury Inn, but even he’s caught off guard when a UFO sighting turns the area into ground zero for alien enthusiasts, conspiracy theorists, and crackpots. When Aidan discovers a real alien masquerading as a guest, one who needs help staying undercover until she can contact her people, Aidan and his best friend Louis are the only ones who can help. In an adventure that borders on the slapstick, Aidan learns that the universe is a large and very strange place, while discovering some unexpected truths about his own life. Arnold’s skillfully drafted spot cartoons give this offbeat story a lively layout and match Smith’s light and breezy tone, grounded by the occasional serious moment. The result is an engaging, humorous look at humans learning that they’re not alone in the universe. Ages 9–12. Author’s agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown.

May 1, 2014
Twelve-year-old Aidan's life at his family's motel gets a whole lot more interesting when aliens arrive.Living in a quirky space-themed motel only a few miles from Cape Canaveral might be a dream come true. But the reality for Aidan includes skimming leaves, picking up trash and managing difficult guests. Despite this, his life is far from bleak. He hangs out with his best friend, Louis, helps throw epic launch parties, and meets new and interesting people. Among the latter is Dru, a strange but compelling new guest. Aidan is skeptical about the existence of extraterrestrials, but the arrival of a spaceship and the revelation that Dru is actually an alien turns him into a true believer. Dru needs Aidan and Louis to help her complete a rescue mission. But there might be more to Dru's story than she is letting on. The interesting motel setting is unfortunately populated by lackluster characters. And while the second half of the book holds surprises for persevering readers, they are not enough to make up for the surprising overall lack of energy. Arnold's grayscale cartoons flesh out the narrative.A close encounter that fails to engage. (Science fiction. 8-12)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 3-6-Aidan helps his parents run the Mercury Inn, a remodeled 1950s hotel on Florida's Space Coast. The media begin to descend when an alleged UFO interrupts a rocket launch, and soon after Aidan meets his first alien, disguised as hotel guest Dru Tanaka. As Aidan struggles to keep Dru's secret, he begins to see connections between UFOs and a car crash he was in two years ago. Aidan's best friend Louis lost his leg in this accident, and the details of the crash may upset younger readers. Otherwise, the action is mild, the language simple and direct, and the text is interspersed with cartoon-style illustrations and satirical Twitterlike feeds. The quirky setting and diverse characters add originality. An accessible and whimsical read, this should have wide appeal.-Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

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