Escape from Planet Yastol

Way-Too-Real Aliens #1

by Pamela F. Service, Mike Gorman (Illustrator)

Josh Higgins loves to make up stories about other planets. At least he thought he was making them up. After Josh publishes his first book, sinister blue aliens visit Earth! Josh quickly learns that the worlds he wrote about in his stories are way too real.The outer space thugs take Josh and his kid sister Maggie all the way to the desert planet Yastol. And when Josh and Maggie refuse to aid the blue guys, a chase begins across Yastol’s harsh landscape.Will the help of the planet’s brave Prince Izor be enough to save Yastol from the bad blue aliens? Or will the planet’s many dangers finish off Josh and Maggie first?

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Adventure

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Born in Berkeley, California, Pamela F. Service grew up loving to hear, read, and tell stories - particularly about weird stuff. Pamela earned a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley followed by an MA in history and archaeology from the University of London.

She spent many years living in Bloomington, Indiana, writing, serving on the city council, and being curator of a history museum. She has a grown daughter, Alex, who is also a museum curator. Pamela is now living in Eureka, California, where she writes, works as a museum curator, and acts in community theater.

Reviews

[Kwtay Calvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can you imagine being an author of a story that you unexpectedly found yourself in as a character, literally? This is what happens to Joshua P. Higgins in this sci-fi adventure. The story begins with Joshua reading an excerpt from his book at a bookstore at the mall. Joshua is an eleven - year old who loves to read and write and is teased because of it. His ten-year sister Maggie, who is outspoken and a bit bossy is at the mall also. On their walk home, they think they see Blue Guys hiding in the bushes. It turns out these Blue Guys really exist and they want Joshua to take them to Planet Yastol, a place he thought he created in his book. Josh and Maggie find themselves on this planet with the Blue Guys who plan to take the resources from the Yastolis while eliminating all natives that get in their way. Josh and Maggie soon become aware of their destiny when they see the Blue Guys melt a village of orange and pink Yastolis. While Joshua is mesmerized by witnessing the details of his story come to life before his eyes, he and Maggie must figure out how to escape and get back home while being chased by the Blue Guys. His knowledge of the planet is helpful on this crazy adventure to escape the Blue Guys and Planet Yastol with their newfound friend, Prince Izor.

I listened to the audio on Hoopla and I think the reader could have read with more expression. There was little change when speaking for different characters. The audio had a couple of hiccups when words would repeat and sound like it skipped. It only lasted for a couple of sentences but it interfered with the flow of the story.

I think the story has a well-developed plot that takes the reader on an interesting journey. The characters and their names on Planet Yastol were difficult to follow but I guess a “kid” made them up, and the audio could’ve played a role. The author uses very descriptive language throughout the book. I think some purposeful educational uses are teaching figurative language and visualizing.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am probably not the best reviewer of children's books, having no kids and being in my 40s. Still, I like all kinds of books and this one seemed fun and creative so I gave it a shot. Of course the story is relatively simple, an 11 year old writer and his 10 year old sister are kidnapped by blue aliens because of something the MC wrote. They are taken to the alien world of Yastol, where the blue aliens prove their evilness by killing a village of Yastolians. MC and sister manage to escape with half of the device needed to get them home. The blue aliens need the device as well so they pursue. MC and sister are captured by slavers, but manage to escape, along with an incognito prince. The MC and sister continue to lead the blue aliens into various dangers, until all the blue aliens are dead. MC and sister get the second half of the device and head home.

This book is action-adventure. It is up to parents to determine what age children should read books with murder and slavery in them. I can only say that had I read this as a child I would have loved it and wanted to read the whole series.

[Jonas · Rating 1 out of 5]

the book sucks you really can't understand it there is no plot and I do not recommend this book 1/10 the worst book of all time it sucks and if you like this book your weird. what is the point this book never read this book every again. I would never read this if I were you

[Teddy Pridemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was crazy because the found a really rare animal, the dirt-dirt. The dirt-dirt either immediately eats the human or stays attached to it!

[Jodi Deters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and entertaining

[Kelly Haacke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose thee book, "Escape from Planet Yastol" By Pamela F. Service. This science fiction book geared towards children ages 8 and up has won the following the Golden Duck Award Nominee for Eleanor Cameron Award for Middle Grades in 2012. This book is about a boy named Josh Higgins who loves to make up stories about other planets, but he soon realizes learns that the stories he wrote about are real. The outer space people he made up come and kidnap his sister, Maggie and now Josh has to save her from the aliens on the planet. I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5 because I thought the language was easy to read and understand especially for this age group. Also, it was written straight to the point. The plot I thought was very good and interesting, even though I don't really believe in aliens and all that, I still thought it was a good theme and plot all together. I really thought the illustrations were very effective even though the book was all black and white with no other colors. There were a lot of pictures throughout the book and each picture represented what was being told in the story, and also they were very detailed. For example on some of the pictures you could tell if the boys was upset or angry because the illustrator made the boys cheeks dark, to portray "red cheeks". This book would be appealing for children this age because if they are interested in planets or aliens or anything associated with Earth/ outer space then they would definitely find this book to be interesting. Lastly, I would definitely consider using this book while working with children because it might interest them in learning about other planets, the solar system, and like I mentioned earlier things associated with outer space.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was literally the final book I read for my outreach push in local elementary schools, and I probably wouldn't have gotten to it if I hadn't been laid out flat on my back with a nasty bug for a week.
It ended up being my presentation opener for most of the presentations I did for students.
"Has anyone here ever written a story?" (be scared)

I kinda love the concept, which is very much the only reason I even picked it up.

As far as execution goes, there was problematic dissonance between the text and the illustrations. As an example, on page 52, a villain is described. On the facing page, he is illustrated. His pictured garb does not match the textual description.
So, there's sloppiness.

But this is a goofy piece. I mean, the aliens are basically giant sticks of gum with arms and legs. Giant BLUE sticks of gum.
And who chews STICKS of gum these days?

I wish the worldview wasn't so monochromatic.
I want this, but better.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josh won the writing contest at school last year, interesting but not something to endear him to the school bullies and his younger sister, all of whom see him as a wimp. He kind of sees himself that way, too. He wrote an adventure on about a planet called Yastol, a wonderful piece of fiction...or is it? The flat blue creatures from space show up, kidnap Josh and his sister, and transport them to Yastol to find aafth, a mineral the blue guys need to power their spaceships and weapons so they can take over the galaxy. But Yastol was made up, you say. But it's real, too, and after Josh and friends escape from the blue guys (and the slave traders), his detailed knowledge of Yastol--and his definite lack of wimpishness--keep them safe as they elude the bad guys.

Entertaining and fun. 3rd grade or so for reading; younger if being read to.

[Kate Hastings]

RL 620

[Debbie McNeil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the concept of a student author, loved the use of figurative language....just wish there was more to it.

[pati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting science fiction for those new to the genre - Escape From Planet Yastol has action packed, alien adventure to satisfy the most ardent sci-fi fan!

[Carterkempgmail.Com · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it's ok. A budding young author discovers that the fantasy world he's written about actually exists after he's kidnapped by aliens and taken there. Short and light.