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We're Not From Here

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We're Not From Here
By Geoff Rodkey
Crown Books for Young Readers, 2019. Fiction.

With earth destroyed and limited resources dwindling, the surviving humans take refuge on Mars. The Earthlings don't know what to do and try to come up with solutions to their problems. When they are invited to join a civilization on Choom, a planet light-years away, humanity knows it's saved. When the humans arrive, it's been over 200 years for the people of Choom and a lot has changed. Can a boy and his family successfully navigate being the first humans on Choom?

This is a great introductory book the science fiction genre. It has all the basic elements: aliens, space travel, and political turmoil without the dark and gritty details that usually accompany this genre. Rodkey does a great job at setting a consistent pace, introducing interesting characters, and posing realistic questions. Kids interested in aliens, space, or the daily struggles of fitting in will enjoy this read. As a bonus, the audio version of this book makes a great listen for family road trips.


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