Not worth the time

Aoleon The Martian Girl: Science Fiction Saga - Part 1 First Contact

by Brent LeVasseur

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!)