I Know What UFO Did Last Summer
In Kevin Garone’s zippy novel I Know What UFO Did Last Summer, an alien-obsessed boy tries out his survival skills when a “spaceship” appears in a cornfield near his house.
Twelve-year-old Marv, who lives in suburban Delaware, has just about memorized his guidebook on surviving an alien invasion (quotes from which precede each chapter). He communicates via walkie-talkie instead of a cell phone, as the latter could be tracked by interstellar visitors. He also wears a tinfoil hat to prevent aliens from reading his mind. He has code names for his family members and friends—“Super Skeptic” is his fifteen-year-old sister; his best friend Jace, or “Baller One,” plays along with Marv, though he would rather be shooting hoops.
One day, the boys come across a mysterious machine. They also meet Nora, a girl with mechanical skills whose single father, Silva, is an engineer. Marv becomes convinced that Nora and her father are alien invaders and that the machine is their spaceship. As it turns out, the device can transport beings through time and space. Marv also notices some weird, sluglike creatures attached to the transporter. When men in black masquerading as Homeland Security agents show up, Marv realizes that their lives and the planet are in danger.
Short, tense chapters ensure a brisk pace. The stakes increase as the story hurtles forward, with bullets and blood adding grim moments to the otherwise zany adventure; several minor characters wind up dead. Although Silva appears at key moments to provide context and serve as a sounding board, the children use their unique skills and knowledge to resolve problems, making them the heroes of the story.
I Know What UFO Did Last Summer is a fun, exciting science fiction novel in which three friends foil a villain’s nefarious intentions and save the world.
Reviewed by
Suzanne Kamata
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
