Alien Encounter: Sasquatch and Aliens

Sasquatch and Aliens #1

by Charise Mericle Harper

Nine-year-old Morgan is fascinated with aliens. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, land of the sasquatch, and naturally is fascinated with those as well. When he meets new kid Lewis, whose parents own a motel named the Stay On Inn, the adventures begin with slingshots, underpants, annoying older sisters, and neighbors dressed up in bear suits.

Genres: Humor, Science Fiction, Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Childrens, Graphic Novels

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 8, 2014

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like a boys' version of Just Grace. Morgan and Lewis meet in the woods when Lewis's underwear catches on a branch and traps him in a tree. Morgan climbs up to help him and their shared experiences begin. There are some unexpected twists and turns to the story that make it a page turner. Charise Mericle Harper has a gift for getting us inside the heads of nine-year-olds. I will be recommending this series to the kids that come into our library, particularly boys who have not yet fallen in love with reading.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

We enjoyed this book but we did not love it. I really liked the boys relationship and how it progresses throughout. They first met in the woods when Lewis needs rescuing because he is trapped on a tree branch by his underwear. After Morgan helps Lewis get down, they become instant friends and get into all kinds of interesting and tricky situations together. I found this to be a great book about friendship.

My son Jack would like to read the next book to see if it follows the same formula. But he found this novel to be too long in places, go too fast in others, not fully explain everything and have an ending that is much too fast. But aside from those points, it was funny, sweet and enjoyable.

[Freddie Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Sasquatch and aliens is about the main character and his friend lewis.Many things happen like the main character going thru the woods and finding Luis.Luis doesn't have a very good house considering he lives in a abandoned hotel.This all starts when mrs.lee sees a bear in her yard.This makes the narrator and Luis what to find aliens and Sasquatch.Overall the book has many adventures and many plots at once.I recommend this book to younger readers.

[Debby Vandersande · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this book is supremely funny. I woke my husband up in bed with my giggling.

However, the best part about Alien Encouner is that it's so much more than just a funny story. The biggest strength is the characterization. Morgan and Lewis have unique backgrounds and qualities, but they are, essentially, just regular 11-year-boys. They're not very mature and they don't have special powers, but they are incredibly likable. Harper shares Morgan's inner thoughts to reveal his personality, and his viewpoint provides most of the humor.

The humor is illustrated with Harper's simple line drawings that feel authentically young. The illustrations often reveal Morgan's inner thoughts, and even Morgan's acrostic poems, that always raise a question or bring a giggle.

The story is also accessible to young readers with it's simple but engaging and entertaining storyline. When Morgan goes looking for the perfect stick to make a triple slingshot, he finds Lewis stuck in a tree by his underpants. Isn't that the making for a beautiful friendship? Together, the boys go on adventures without even leaving their neighborhood, and I certainly had the same experience growing up, which is one reason I loved this. I know that kids will love following Morgan and Lewis's adventures, too!

I won't win a Newbury, but it's just a perfect example of middle grade humor, so I give it 5 stars!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm betting that this new series featuring two boys fascinated by aliens and larger-than-life creatures will be just as popular with boys as the Just Grace series is with girls. The author nails elementary school humor with references to underpants and family hijinks perfectly. The simple illustrations complement the text quite well. I especially liked how Morgan is sure he won't have anything in common with Lewis, but then they end up sharing many of the same interests.

[Mireille Messier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a MG book with aliens, sasquatches and an unlikely friendship that really works! This was a really fun read.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun! I am looking forward to sharing this with my class. So glad that Liam helped me discover this book and series.

[Diana H. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes!!!
If this is what children today are reading, I'm scared for the future.
What ever happened to reading books that made sense and taught the reader something?
I just don't get it.

[Erik Oberg]

The plot revolves around young Morgan, a typical 11-year-old boy, his new friend, Lewis, who has recently moved nearby in the Pacific Northwest, and Lewis' underpants. It's because of Lewis' underpants that the two boys have a brief but surprising encounter with an alien creature; and throughout the book they are compelled to prove that it was real...except toward the end when they are compelled to prove that it was a sasquatch! The book, the first in the 'Sasquatch and Aliens' series, is well-paced, quite enjoyable, and filled with clever acrostics and many other drawings children will definitely enjoy!

Questions for young readers:
How would you describe Morgan's feelings about his sister and Lewis getting along well and why do you think he feels that way?
Do you think Mr. Lee is still hiding something? If so, what do you think it might be?
Was it okay for Morgan to steal his sister's knitting project even though he didn't get caught?
Do you think Lewis' plan toward the end was a good plan? Why or why not?
What do you think would have happened if, after the boys discovered the truth, they had told the truth instead of hiding it?

Harper, C. (2014). Sasquatch and aliens: Alien encounter. New York: Henry Holt and Co.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nine-year-old Morgan meets an unlikely friend, Lewis, because of underpants. Morgan was in the woods looking for a stick to make a slingshot when he hears screaming. He finds Lewis whose underwear is caught on a tree branch and is giving him a “killer wedgie”.

After Morgan rescues Lewis, the boys return to the tree the next day for an “underpants picnic” where they both witness an alien. When they run to Morgan’s home, Morgan’s dad has both boys draw what they saw and arranges an interview with the local newspaper. However, Morgan receives a letter to meet his next-door neighbor who shows the boys his secret underground movie costume workshop and the alien robot he created that they had witnessed. To keep Mr. Lee’s work a secret, the boys change their story from an alien to a sasquatch and create their own to attempt to convince a sasquatch researcher of what they had “witnessed”.

This imaginative and journal-like story is filled with humorous drawings, fourth-grade humor and a cast of believable characters. This first story in a series will draw in boys especially and would make a great read-aloud.

[Edward Creter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first of a new series is another gentle reminder thru kids' science fiction that we are not alone, and never should be. A ten year old boy has made a new friend of a youngster who is caught with a tree branch in his undies and has to cut 'em off...the undies, not his legs, which would've been too tragic for kids' lit. They head for a ramshackle house where they are free to use the mattresses...and NO it's NOT for sexual purposes, so let's not be morbid! They flop onto the matts and have a lot of fun. Then there's what appears to be an alien creature in the woods, totally harmless and sweet....but the kids being kids, they don't know that. Their father believes in aliens, which is a refreshing take on the tired old cliché of "I don't see aliens! Quit lying!" Then they find Sasquatch, aka Bigfoot...or do they? Lots of questions, not enough answers...which is as life should be. Eagerly expecting the sequel! Think I'll phone home...even if the call to Mars will jack up the phone bill quite a bit!

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morgan met Lewis in a strange convergence of circumstances involving a stick, underpants, and an alien. Despite the unusual beginning to their friendship, the two spend much of the summer together playing and planning. These are two very authentic 9 year old boys who meet under strange circumstances, and build a friendship from that meeting. The ending leaves the reader wondering and hoping for a sequel. Well-written in language accessible for young readers, this is a fun romp through summertime fun. Gr. 3-5

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The boys & I really liked Sasquatch & Aliens. Morgan & Lewis are neat kids who have great adventures. Jesse liked reading the illustrations & doing voices. It was so refreshing to hear Chase ask for "one more chapter" since he was very hesitant to read this one because it's not Diary of a Wimpy kid. Both of them even read aloud when my voice was too tired just so we could read more before bed.

[Ann Jacobus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good male-skewed humor for grades 2-5. There are indeed aliens and Sasquatches, as well as annoying sisters and their imaginary boyfriends, the trials and rewards of friendship, suspicious muffins, a little bodily function humor, strange neighbors, some blood, and lots of funny line drawings. Reluctant readers should eat this up.

[Paula Lyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tone of this book is very flat. I'm not sure that it would make a good readaloud, but I know a lot of second and third graders who would love it. It sounds very much like my students when they tell a story. I really like the relationships between the characters; they ring very true to life. Solid recommendation for middle grade readers.

[NYC Reads 365 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The circumstances of the friendship between Morgan and Lewis will have you LOL’ing from the get-go. When Morgan discovers Lewis stuck in a tree due to an underpants wedgie in the woods near his home, you are instantly engrossed. You will appreciate these quirky boys, with Morgan's hilarious acrostic poems and Lewis' unusual interests."

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this new series beginning from Harper. It's exactly like the Just Grace books, but packed full of stuff that wouldn't make a boy embarrassed or self-conscious to be reading it (aliens, clubhouses, robots, and aliens of course). Charming and funny - recommended.

[Gigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book that many middle graders will really enjoy. I like the developing friendship of the Morgan and Lewis. The illustrations remind my of Diary of a Wimpy kid meets My Life As a Book.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this one was okay. I know several young boys that will appreciate more than I did. But there was nothing wrong with it, just definitely written for young boys.

[Brandi Rae Fong · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's definitely an audience out there for this--a funny book with aliens and a Sasquatch? Even though I didn't love it, I definitely know some 3rd & 4th graders I'll be handing this to!

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up halfway through. My interest level just was not there. The e-book expired and I'm moving on to the next item in my to-read list.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was funny, and I think most kids would like it.