Way Off Base

The Area 51 Files #4

by Julie Buxbaum, Lavanya Naidu (illustrator)

Is Area 51’s cover blown?! Sky and her otherworldly friends scramble to protect its secrets when a UFO goes missing in the fourth installment of this laugh-out-loud, Edgar Award-nominated series for young readers.

For the first time since Sky got to Area 51, things seem to be under control. No bunker hideouts. No incoming space toilets. No kidnappings of beloved relatives. In fact, everyone is in a celebratory mood because a special government visitor is coming to Area 51!

But on the morning of the visit, a UFO goes missing from the science lab. And then a mysterious whistleblower goes to the media saying they have evidence of a UFO landing! Did someone steal the UFO in order to reveal it to the whole wide world? Sky and her friends have less than a week to solve the mystery of the missing UFO, or all of Area 51’s secrets will be at risk. Guess things aren’t so calm after all!

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2025

About the author

Julie Buxbaum is the New York Times best selling author of Tell Me Three Things, her young adult debut, What to Say Next, Hope and Other Punchlines, and Admission (pubs 5/5/20). She’s also the author of two critically acclaimed novels for adults: The Opposite of Love and After You. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Julie’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and more books than is reasonable. Visit Julie online at www.juliebuxbaum.com and follow @juliebux on Twitter.

Reviews

[Linda (The Arizona Bookstagrammer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you RHCBInfluencers @randomhousekids and Julie Buxbaum @juliebuxbaum for this free book!
“Way Off Base” (The Area 51 Files #4) by Julie Buxbaum. Illustrator: Lavanya Naidu ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal Mystery. Location: Area 51.

THE SERIES: Sky Patel-Baum and pizza-obsessed pet hedgehog Spike are sent to live with Uncle Anish in Area 51, secret military base with rules so classified not even the President knows them. Also, it’s full of lots and lots of aliens. Sky, Spike, Elvis (from planet Galzoria) and his fluffy pup Pickles have mysteries to solve in their mysterious home. (And why does the macaroni and cheese at Area 51 Middle School have eyeballs in it?)

THIS BOOK: For the first time since Sky got to Area 51, things seem under control. No bunker hideouts. No incoming space toilets. No kidnappings of relatives. A special government visitor is coming, and a UFO is missing from the science lab. Then a mysterious whistleblower tells the media they have proof of a UFO landing! Sky and friends must solve the mystery of the missing UFO, or all of Area 51’s secrets will be at risk.

Author Buxbaum has written a laugh-out-loud series full of action, adventure, and mysteries. Her characters include fantastic, funny extraterrestrials, clever friends-and a snarky little hedgehog. Illustrator Naidu’s charming black and white cartoon-style art supports the writing. Buxbaum’s series is a mashup of a chapter book and a graphic novel. It’s friend-filled, witty, touching, and it’s 5 stars from me 📚👩🏼‍🦳#thearea51files #juliebuxbaum #wayoffbase

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Buxbaum is back for the fourth installment of The Area 51 Files series with Way Off Base. Sky is enjoying Area 51 for the first time since she arrived; nothing is going wrong, everything is calm and all seems well. Until a whistleblower threatens to expose Area 51 to the public and the UFO from the space lab goes missing. How long does Sky and her friends have to solve the case? Only a week!

A chapter book with lots of illustrations, I really love the ease in which Julie Buxbaum writes these stories so they can be consumed easily by middle grade readers while still providing substance and valuable lessons. This has become one of my favorite middle grade series!

Thank you Random House Kids for the gifted copy.

[BookLoverScar · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is. I HOPE THERE IS A FIFTH ONE!!!!!! AND 6th and so on!!!