Aoleon The
Martian Girl: Science Fiction Saga - Part 1 First Contact
Paperback: 150 pages
Publisher: Aoléon Press (January 31, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 097912851X
ISBN-13: 978-0979128516
Approximate
Lexile: 730
Publisher’s
Blurb:
Mars wants our cows (yes, cows!), and they're sending an invasion fleet
to take them from us. Only Gilbert and Aoleon the Martian Girl stand in their
way! Gilbert always longed for adventure, but now that he has it, he's not sure
that it's everything it's cracked up to be. Ever since the night he met Aoleon
the Martian Girl sitting in the middle of a crop circle in Farmer Johnson's
field, it's been nothing but one wild ride after another. From fighting off
swarms of giant killer robots to dealing with strange aliens from another world
- never mind trekking across the vast Martian desert and skyboarding deep into
the center of a (hopefully) extinct volcano - Gilbert has had his hands full
just trying to keep up with it all. And now it's up to him and his new friend,
Aoleon, to face off against the evil Martian overlord and keep our cows safe at
home where they belong. The launch of this exciting and innovatively
illustrated new series takes the reader deep into the heart of an unforgettable
and out-of-this-world friendship in a story full of hijinks, hilarity, and good
old-fashioned fun. Join Gilbert and Aoleon in this exciting middle-grade
science fiction adventure today!
I
really wanted to like this book, but the author made it very difficult. Looking
at the high ratings on Goodreads, Amazon, etc., I frequently wondered if I was
reading the same book. The writing is often stilted, with an emphasis on
telling rather than showing, and the author lacks a fundamental understanding
of how to use commas. I wondered how it got past an editor in its comma-less
condition. After a little research, it appears that this book and its sequels
are self-published. Any author who self-publishes should invest in a GOOD
editor, not just one who got an A in English that one time.
So
many things that bothered me… the neighbor’s name appears to be Old Farmer
Johnson. Likewise, Airman Buzz. Is Buzz his last name? How trite can we be? And
does the author really think an airman whose job is to monitor the skies for
incoming threats would be playing games on his smart phone while on duty? That
seems to me like a one-way ticket to court martial.
Aoleon
is the only real female character in the book, and she comes off as a little
bit irresponsible.
The
book says it’s aimed at middle grades; the simple language and straightforward
plot make it more suited to grades 2-4. Then the author throws in a lot of
science-speak that brings it back up to middle grades—or even high school. I
get the impression that maybe he doesn’t hang out with many kids, so he’s not
sure how they talk or think.
The
illustrations are pretty—especially the ones of the planets as Aoleon is inbound
toward earth.
It’s
sad—this book had potential, but it remains untapped.
Who
would like this book: Kids grades 2-5 who like stories about space.
Possible
objectionable material: Sneaking out a night. General mischief.
(I
received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review. As you
can see, it’s an honest review!)
