What do you think?
Rate this book
The Experiment
"[Narrator] Mark Sanderlin’s youthful voice is a good match for Nathan, showcasing a variety of emotions. He paces the narration to enhance the excitement." — Booklist
"Mark Sanderlin is the perfect narrator for this story of a preteen boy who is keeping a huge secret. Sanderlin's tone is young and welcoming, his pace steady, and his enunciation precise." — AudioFile
From the Newbery Medalist and national-bestselling author Rebecca Stead, here is a bold story that will appeal to fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The First State of Being.
Nathan wants to help his people, but first he has to figure out who they are...
Nathan never understood what was "fun" about secrets, probably because he’s always had to keep a very big one.
Although he appears to be a typical sixth-grader (with parents, homework and a best friend, Victor), Nathan learned at an early age that his family is from another planet. Now, their time on Earth may be coming to an end.
Nathan, his parents and nine other families are part of an experiment that suddenly seems to be going wrong. Some of the experimenters, including Nathan's first crush, Izzy, are disappearing without a word. After his family is called back to the mothership, Nathan begins to question everything he’s been taught to believe about who he is and why he's on Earth.
The Experiment is a fast-paced coming-of-age novel that asks universal questions about how we figure out who we want to be, and whether it’s ever too late to change.
A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends
"Mark Sanderlin is the perfect narrator for this story of a preteen boy who is keeping a huge secret. Sanderlin's tone is young and welcoming, his pace steady, and his enunciation precise." — AudioFile
From the Newbery Medalist and national-bestselling author Rebecca Stead, here is a bold story that will appeal to fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The First State of Being.
Nathan wants to help his people, but first he has to figure out who they are...
Nathan never understood what was "fun" about secrets, probably because he’s always had to keep a very big one.
Although he appears to be a typical sixth-grader (with parents, homework and a best friend, Victor), Nathan learned at an early age that his family is from another planet. Now, their time on Earth may be coming to an end.
Nathan, his parents and nine other families are part of an experiment that suddenly seems to be going wrong. Some of the experimenters, including Nathan's first crush, Izzy, are disappearing without a word. After his family is called back to the mothership, Nathan begins to question everything he’s been taught to believe about who he is and why he's on Earth.
The Experiment is a fast-paced coming-of-age novel that asks universal questions about how we figure out who we want to be, and whether it’s ever too late to change.
A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends
Audible Audio
First published September 16, 2025
67 people are currently reading
13880 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Stead
19 books2,413 followersRebecca Stead is the New York Times bestselling author of When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy, First Light, Goodbye Stranger, Bob, and, most recently, The List of Things That Will Not Change. Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Fiction and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.
Rebecca lives in New York City, where she is always on the lookout for her next story idea.
Rebecca lives in New York City, where she is always on the lookout for her next story idea.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
August 22, 2025
Before we begin, I would like to warn everyone that I am filling this review to brimming with spoilers. If you are the kind of person who likes to be surprised by a read, this is not the review for you. You may wish to read it after you’ve finished the book itself, and I highly recommend that you consider doing so. Know then that I am a big fan of this title. So, if you haven’t picked up on it until now, SPOILER ALERT!!
There is an understanding that flourishes in the children’s book publishing industry stating that science fiction for kids simply does not sell. Never mind the countless science fiction titles that have won Newbery Awards (When You Reach Me, The Last Cuentista, and The First State of Being notwithstanding) over the years. By and large, science fiction is not seen as a particularly sure-fire moneymaker in our current market. To write one these days often requires a bit of pre-existing literary backing. Fortunately for all of us, author Rebecca Stead is rife with it. Her latest title The Experiment is a marvelous tale of space aliens and vast conspiracies. Put another way, just the thing to lure the science fiction curious back to the fold.
As our book opens Nathan is being prevented from the doing the one thing he wants most: Go to school. For any other kid, this would be a delight. For Nathan, it’s far more sinister. From the moment he was born, Nathan has known that he was an alien passing as human on Earth. His people keep their forms by brushing with a strange pink toothpaste several times a day, and Nathan himself is part of a glorious experiment to discover if his people can successfully integrate with the human species. It was all going so well… until Nathan started growing a tail. Now he’s being called back to “Hester” the person who runs this experiment, and he’s terrified. Kids that he's known and liked have been disappearing recently, and he’s deathly afraid he might be next. Fortunately, he has his best friend Victor as well as his hyper-intelligent cat and, oddly enough, his new tail (which is sentient) to help him along. Good thing too, since nothing is what it seems in his world and truths are about to emerge.
One could be forgiven for saying that Stead is a science fiction writer for kids. After all, she’s written titles that have covered everything from mitochondrial DNA to time travel and, now, she’s tackling aliens head on. But while all that is true, one can’t help but notice that Stead comes at her subject matter sideways. Sure, she’ll write you a time travel book, but you’re not going to know it until you’re practically done with it. And in this particular case, she’s certainly written a tale about aliens, but she’s going to consistently upset your expectations and with a flourish. In this particular case, expectations are upended pretty much from page one onward. When I told my 14-year-old a rough outline of the plot and then described how the book began, she was legitimately baffled. “So, wait… it begins THERE?” She was puzzled and I had to assure her that it worked. The book begins after the tail is grown and Nathan exists in a time of uncertainty and waiting. To make this work, Stead then has to somehow backtrack to explain who Nathan is, how he got in this position, and why he’s wary about what’s coming next. It’s such an unexpected place to start, and you need a very good writer indeed to be able to give context appropriately without making the reader feel like they’re in some kind of a massive exposition dump. No small feat, yet somehow Stead manages it.
If When You Reach Me (Stead’s best known science fiction tale) owed a debt to A Wrinkle in Time then it stands to reason to say that The Experiment owes a similar tip of the hat to Charlotte’s Web. So much so, that as I read the book I found myself split in two directions. On the one hand I realized that Charlotte fans are going to pick up on a lot of different references scattered throughout the book (particularly a great big similarity at the end that’s deeply charming) and they’re going to get really excited about it. On the other hand, if I’m seeing these similarities, then so are teachers. And teachers, lord love ‘em, like to teach. They’re going to teach the kids who didn’t see the Charlotte’s Web references (including that shot near the end where they can see a Ferris Wheel on the horizon) where to find them. By extension, they’ll be teaching them how to notice literary references in the books that they read. Clearly I’m of two minds about this. On the one hand, that’s a marvelous use of this book. On the other, I do feel a kid gets so much more out of it when they spot these little references on their own. Maybe the teachers will just give them a little nudge rather than giving it all away. “What are they different moments in this book that might remind you of Charlotte’s Web?” That would be a clever way to begin such a discussion.
Of course an equal, possibly even greater, influence on the book is the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. If I were a bit more academic in my leanings, then this would be the point in the review where I’d explain to you how Victor represents a Calvinist understanding of the world and how that relates to Hester’s treatment of other humans as inherently bad whereas Nathan’s Hobbesian nature adheres more to an understanding that his people too often put aside their own self-preservation and personal aims in light of Hester’s insistence upon common safety and happiness. I mean, I’m sure someone could make that argument. Not me. After all, Victor isn’t really that much of a Calvinist. What he does resemble is the creativity and thoughtless chutzpah of Calvin in the comic strip. Nathan, meanwhile, is quieter and more contemplative, but apt to take action swiftly if needs be. Anyway, there’s comes a point where you can’t really read too much into a book for kids. I mean, if we’re going to do that then why not go whole hog and start talking about Hester in the context of Hester Prynne?
Which brings us to Nathan’s tail. Now THAT is an interesting character! By all accounts it resembles Hobbes’s tail in the comic strip (and, indeed, the cover art of this book does a great job of showing precisely that). Dubbed “Tuck” by Nathan, the tail is more symbiote than body part. It has a mind of its own and an intelligence as well. One gets the distinct feeling that it chose the form of a tiger’s tail precisely because that form is the most Nathan-friendly. Now near the end of the book it is revealed that the only aliens in this book are micro-organisms with a group intelligence. Hester has bred them and put them into the kids’ toothpaste for years, but only now have they been able to formulate a plan for escape. Part of what I love about all of this are the aliens themselves. I’m a big fan of films like The Arrival where the aliens are as non-human as possible, so the possibility of the aliens being more spoor-like than anything else is incredibly enticing to me. It also allows Stead to stretch the mystery of their existence out to a delicious degree.
That mystery is the driving force behind the bulk of the book as well. Right from the start the protagonist is trying to figure out how his world works. And we, the reading audience, are trying right alongside him. He has slightly more information than we do, but when the revelations hit, they upset not just what we thought we knew but what he thought he knew as well. This sort of in tandem series of surprises has the interesting effect of bonding us to our hero. Stead does a great job of making Nathan sympathetic from the start, but I guess I’d never really considered the bond one forms when one is in very much the same boat as the hero (understanding-wise).
It was just plain good luck that I happened to read this book just before reading Craig Kofi Farmer’s A Method for Magic and Misfortune. In both cases you have kids facing down powerful adults that are respected by their communities. To go against them feels almost sacrilegious. In an era where we have leaders that demand complete and utter fealty, a book like The Experiment can feel downright subversive. Certainly, the character of Hester in this story could only operate if she had the complete obedience of everyone about her. And when the truth starts to come out, it’s so awful that people like Nathan’s dad refuse to believe it, if only because they feel it would negate their entire lives. There may be more than a bit of contemporary politics to pick apart in this title, though it’s as gentle as The Giver, when you sit down and think about it.
I read so many middle grade novels for kids (a.k.a. books written for 9-12 year-olds) that I often get bogged down by the uber-serious ones. Is there a bully? An abusive parent? Is there some ongoing trauma, societal or personal, that affects the hero’s worldview from page one onward? Oftentimes the answer is yes. What a relief, then, to read a book like this that’s so doggone fun. Just fun. Sure, it touches on some serious topics and ideas, but all told The Experiment represents the best aspects of science fiction literature and lore. It expands your greater understanding of society (particularly the whole don’t-follow-leaders-blindly aspect) while maintaining a great deal of fun along the way. In a world on fire, there’s a definite comfort in knowing that truly great authors for kids can write titles capable of both expanding young minds and entertaining them in the process. But shhh! It’s science fiction. Don’t let the grown-ups know what this book may actually be saying. A great, grand endeavor that, by all rights, should be around for years and years to come.
There is an understanding that flourishes in the children’s book publishing industry stating that science fiction for kids simply does not sell. Never mind the countless science fiction titles that have won Newbery Awards (When You Reach Me, The Last Cuentista, and The First State of Being notwithstanding) over the years. By and large, science fiction is not seen as a particularly sure-fire moneymaker in our current market. To write one these days often requires a bit of pre-existing literary backing. Fortunately for all of us, author Rebecca Stead is rife with it. Her latest title The Experiment is a marvelous tale of space aliens and vast conspiracies. Put another way, just the thing to lure the science fiction curious back to the fold.
As our book opens Nathan is being prevented from the doing the one thing he wants most: Go to school. For any other kid, this would be a delight. For Nathan, it’s far more sinister. From the moment he was born, Nathan has known that he was an alien passing as human on Earth. His people keep their forms by brushing with a strange pink toothpaste several times a day, and Nathan himself is part of a glorious experiment to discover if his people can successfully integrate with the human species. It was all going so well… until Nathan started growing a tail. Now he’s being called back to “Hester” the person who runs this experiment, and he’s terrified. Kids that he's known and liked have been disappearing recently, and he’s deathly afraid he might be next. Fortunately, he has his best friend Victor as well as his hyper-intelligent cat and, oddly enough, his new tail (which is sentient) to help him along. Good thing too, since nothing is what it seems in his world and truths are about to emerge.
One could be forgiven for saying that Stead is a science fiction writer for kids. After all, she’s written titles that have covered everything from mitochondrial DNA to time travel and, now, she’s tackling aliens head on. But while all that is true, one can’t help but notice that Stead comes at her subject matter sideways. Sure, she’ll write you a time travel book, but you’re not going to know it until you’re practically done with it. And in this particular case, she’s certainly written a tale about aliens, but she’s going to consistently upset your expectations and with a flourish. In this particular case, expectations are upended pretty much from page one onward. When I told my 14-year-old a rough outline of the plot and then described how the book began, she was legitimately baffled. “So, wait… it begins THERE?” She was puzzled and I had to assure her that it worked. The book begins after the tail is grown and Nathan exists in a time of uncertainty and waiting. To make this work, Stead then has to somehow backtrack to explain who Nathan is, how he got in this position, and why he’s wary about what’s coming next. It’s such an unexpected place to start, and you need a very good writer indeed to be able to give context appropriately without making the reader feel like they’re in some kind of a massive exposition dump. No small feat, yet somehow Stead manages it.
If When You Reach Me (Stead’s best known science fiction tale) owed a debt to A Wrinkle in Time then it stands to reason to say that The Experiment owes a similar tip of the hat to Charlotte’s Web. So much so, that as I read the book I found myself split in two directions. On the one hand I realized that Charlotte fans are going to pick up on a lot of different references scattered throughout the book (particularly a great big similarity at the end that’s deeply charming) and they’re going to get really excited about it. On the other hand, if I’m seeing these similarities, then so are teachers. And teachers, lord love ‘em, like to teach. They’re going to teach the kids who didn’t see the Charlotte’s Web references (including that shot near the end where they can see a Ferris Wheel on the horizon) where to find them. By extension, they’ll be teaching them how to notice literary references in the books that they read. Clearly I’m of two minds about this. On the one hand, that’s a marvelous use of this book. On the other, I do feel a kid gets so much more out of it when they spot these little references on their own. Maybe the teachers will just give them a little nudge rather than giving it all away. “What are they different moments in this book that might remind you of Charlotte’s Web?” That would be a clever way to begin such a discussion.
Of course an equal, possibly even greater, influence on the book is the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. If I were a bit more academic in my leanings, then this would be the point in the review where I’d explain to you how Victor represents a Calvinist understanding of the world and how that relates to Hester’s treatment of other humans as inherently bad whereas Nathan’s Hobbesian nature adheres more to an understanding that his people too often put aside their own self-preservation and personal aims in light of Hester’s insistence upon common safety and happiness. I mean, I’m sure someone could make that argument. Not me. After all, Victor isn’t really that much of a Calvinist. What he does resemble is the creativity and thoughtless chutzpah of Calvin in the comic strip. Nathan, meanwhile, is quieter and more contemplative, but apt to take action swiftly if needs be. Anyway, there’s comes a point where you can’t really read too much into a book for kids. I mean, if we’re going to do that then why not go whole hog and start talking about Hester in the context of Hester Prynne?
Which brings us to Nathan’s tail. Now THAT is an interesting character! By all accounts it resembles Hobbes’s tail in the comic strip (and, indeed, the cover art of this book does a great job of showing precisely that). Dubbed “Tuck” by Nathan, the tail is more symbiote than body part. It has a mind of its own and an intelligence as well. One gets the distinct feeling that it chose the form of a tiger’s tail precisely because that form is the most Nathan-friendly. Now near the end of the book it is revealed that the only aliens in this book are micro-organisms with a group intelligence. Hester has bred them and put them into the kids’ toothpaste for years, but only now have they been able to formulate a plan for escape. Part of what I love about all of this are the aliens themselves. I’m a big fan of films like The Arrival where the aliens are as non-human as possible, so the possibility of the aliens being more spoor-like than anything else is incredibly enticing to me. It also allows Stead to stretch the mystery of their existence out to a delicious degree.
That mystery is the driving force behind the bulk of the book as well. Right from the start the protagonist is trying to figure out how his world works. And we, the reading audience, are trying right alongside him. He has slightly more information than we do, but when the revelations hit, they upset not just what we thought we knew but what he thought he knew as well. This sort of in tandem series of surprises has the interesting effect of bonding us to our hero. Stead does a great job of making Nathan sympathetic from the start, but I guess I’d never really considered the bond one forms when one is in very much the same boat as the hero (understanding-wise).
It was just plain good luck that I happened to read this book just before reading Craig Kofi Farmer’s A Method for Magic and Misfortune. In both cases you have kids facing down powerful adults that are respected by their communities. To go against them feels almost sacrilegious. In an era where we have leaders that demand complete and utter fealty, a book like The Experiment can feel downright subversive. Certainly, the character of Hester in this story could only operate if she had the complete obedience of everyone about her. And when the truth starts to come out, it’s so awful that people like Nathan’s dad refuse to believe it, if only because they feel it would negate their entire lives. There may be more than a bit of contemporary politics to pick apart in this title, though it’s as gentle as The Giver, when you sit down and think about it.
I read so many middle grade novels for kids (a.k.a. books written for 9-12 year-olds) that I often get bogged down by the uber-serious ones. Is there a bully? An abusive parent? Is there some ongoing trauma, societal or personal, that affects the hero’s worldview from page one onward? Oftentimes the answer is yes. What a relief, then, to read a book like this that’s so doggone fun. Just fun. Sure, it touches on some serious topics and ideas, but all told The Experiment represents the best aspects of science fiction literature and lore. It expands your greater understanding of society (particularly the whole don’t-follow-leaders-blindly aspect) while maintaining a great deal of fun along the way. In a world on fire, there’s a definite comfort in knowing that truly great authors for kids can write titles capable of both expanding young minds and entertaining them in the process. But shhh! It’s science fiction. Don’t let the grown-ups know what this book may actually be saying. A great, grand endeavor that, by all rights, should be around for years and years to come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2025
✰ 2.5 stars ✰
Well, this is awkward. 👉👈 I've enjoyed Rebecca Stead's books in the past, hence my eagerness to check out my fourth read of hers... 😓
I really liked how it began. I liked this unsettling unease and confusion surrounding Nathan's circumstances with his parents. The trepidation of what was going to happen when they went to the higher ups to reveal the new state in which Nathan found himself in was portrayed well. I was intrigued; and when the sudden twist emerged, I was even more intrigued! 😯 And saddened, too. Because it was really stressful when you think about it; something much worse than just being a sinister plot of taking over the world, but rather hurting those select few, simply because you could. That was heartbreaking to say the least. 😔
There's a fair amount of suspension of disbelief that has to be expunged in order to believe in the reality that was The Experiment - much more so than just being science fiction. like, even as the villain was doing their obligatory speech, I was having difficulty believing in it. 🤔 The conclusion was very rushed and rather confusing. it did not allow me to feel the full effects of the power of friendship and the chance to never stop believing.
“You know what everybody wants? Love. Everybody wants love. Meanness is like a poison. Happiness is the antidote.”
I think the hero of the story was definitely Nathan and his empathy. I mean, he's growing a tail! it would freak anyone out! It's what he discovered along the way, the nature of his parents' dynamic, his loss of a potential crush, Izzy, despite his fierce intent to protect her, his desire to keep his best friend forever, Victor, out of harm's way, and just this determination that --- no one gets left behind. 🥺 Even in the face of the enemy, he tried - in vain - to save them. It was that kindness that he possessed that made the story more worthwhile rather than the disjointed way in which it was depicted.
It's a story that touches upon the tragedy of time lost and how we should not take advantage of others when life gives you a chance to be better. Don't abuse the gifts granted to you or take advantage of those who can't speak for themselves. Life strives when there is caring and love and without it, we get people who don't have a regard to it. An important message, which sadly got lost in a very rushed explanation that never quite landed as impactful as it could have. 😕 There was minimal effort to make it seem plausible and believable, even with its fantastical roots. There was no clarity to the details, which made it confusing even to imagine it as such.
“It’s a spaceship, Natty. You have to let me see it, at least. And this time I’ll be there to protect you.”
Sadly, what also made this such a disappointment was how the writing was disjointed; random insertions of povs, the info-dump of background stories; the aliens, themselves. 😵💫 It was not tied together well, with even certain aspects of the mystery being loosely explained; even the members of the DS were confusing to me. The descriptive details were even hard to envision; like it's a very abstract idea that struggled to come to actual light.
So, in hindsight, as much as it touches upon important issues, I did not think it lived up to what I have expected from my previous very much appreciative reads by Rebecca Stead, thus the much harsher rating, It was not an impressive read and it did not feel finely polished either. 🙎🏻♀️ I definitely would have liked more bonding moments with Nathan and his friends; but again, Nathan was the saving grace. And maybe Tuck. But, even that simply was not enough... 🍀
“Once you know there’s a universe of stuff you didn’t know you were supposed to worry about, you begin to wonder how big it is and how many bad things are in it.”
Well, this is awkward. 👉👈 I've enjoyed Rebecca Stead's books in the past, hence my eagerness to check out my fourth read of hers... 😓
I really liked how it began. I liked this unsettling unease and confusion surrounding Nathan's circumstances with his parents. The trepidation of what was going to happen when they went to the higher ups to reveal the new state in which Nathan found himself in was portrayed well. I was intrigued; and when the sudden twist emerged, I was even more intrigued! 😯 And saddened, too. Because it was really stressful when you think about it; something much worse than just being a sinister plot of taking over the world, but rather hurting those select few, simply because you could. That was heartbreaking to say the least. 😔
There's a fair amount of suspension of disbelief that has to be expunged in order to believe in the reality that was The Experiment - much more so than just being science fiction. like, even as the villain was doing their obligatory speech, I was having difficulty believing in it. 🤔 The conclusion was very rushed and rather confusing. it did not allow me to feel the full effects of the power of friendship and the chance to never stop believing.
“You know what everybody wants? Love. Everybody wants love. Meanness is like a poison. Happiness is the antidote.”
I think the hero of the story was definitely Nathan and his empathy. I mean, he's growing a tail! it would freak anyone out! It's what he discovered along the way, the nature of his parents' dynamic, his loss of a potential crush, Izzy, despite his fierce intent to protect her, his desire to keep his best friend forever, Victor, out of harm's way, and just this determination that --- no one gets left behind. 🥺 Even in the face of the enemy, he tried - in vain - to save them. It was that kindness that he possessed that made the story more worthwhile rather than the disjointed way in which it was depicted.
It's a story that touches upon the tragedy of time lost and how we should not take advantage of others when life gives you a chance to be better. Don't abuse the gifts granted to you or take advantage of those who can't speak for themselves. Life strives when there is caring and love and without it, we get people who don't have a regard to it. An important message, which sadly got lost in a very rushed explanation that never quite landed as impactful as it could have. 😕 There was minimal effort to make it seem plausible and believable, even with its fantastical roots. There was no clarity to the details, which made it confusing even to imagine it as such.
“It’s a spaceship, Natty. You have to let me see it, at least. And this time I’ll be there to protect you.”
Sadly, what also made this such a disappointment was how the writing was disjointed; random insertions of povs, the info-dump of background stories; the aliens, themselves. 😵💫 It was not tied together well, with even certain aspects of the mystery being loosely explained; even the members of the DS were confusing to me. The descriptive details were even hard to envision; like it's a very abstract idea that struggled to come to actual light.
So, in hindsight, as much as it touches upon important issues, I did not think it lived up to what I have expected from my previous very much appreciative reads by Rebecca Stead, thus the much harsher rating, It was not an impressive read and it did not feel finely polished either. 🙎🏻♀️ I definitely would have liked more bonding moments with Nathan and his friends; but again, Nathan was the saving grace. And maybe Tuck. But, even that simply was not enough... 🍀
October 10, 2025
Aliens, you say? Count me in!
The Experiment is a little story full of big imagination, new tails, new and old friends, and love for Calvin and Hobbes. :) There's a lot to love here.
BUT there are just too many missed opportunities and unanswered questions at the end.
Pick it up at your local Library though. It’s worth a read for the cats alone.
January 13, 2026
Not my favorite of Stead's books, but it was fine. I think her strengths are writing 10-12 year old characters, and nailing their mannerisms, thoughts, interactions, etc. Really good at writing friendships between kids (and also "relationships" between kids who are "going out". God, I almost managed to block out that cringe from that age). I will say that her sci-fi plotting/world building is...not her strong suit. This was fine for maybe some uninitiated middle school newbies, but I thought the sci-fi element felt a bit silly. Granted, as a 40 year old I am not the target audience, but there have been other middle reader sci-fi that holds up much better.
So, that's my verdict: this is FINE, but not my favorite.
So, that's my verdict: this is FINE, but not my favorite.
September 23, 2025
Nathan and his parents live with a big secret. A secret no one can know. Now Nathan has compromised his family and may be removed from his life as he knows it.
Rebecca Stead is both inventive and forthright in this surprising story. With whiffs of ET and Super Eight there is a lot of appeal for those of us who can’t get enough of gangs of kids setting out to right the wrongs of of the Universe, or perhaps, just the wrongs closer to home. I feel like its brevity will appeal to young readers. I could have used just a bit more for full context, but very much enjoyed myself.
Rebecca Stead is both inventive and forthright in this surprising story. With whiffs of ET and Super Eight there is a lot of appeal for those of us who can’t get enough of gangs of kids setting out to right the wrongs of of the Universe, or perhaps, just the wrongs closer to home. I feel like its brevity will appeal to young readers. I could have used just a bit more for full context, but very much enjoyed myself.
October 7, 2025
The start is a bit confusing as the reader struggles with the protagonist, Nathan, to understand why he has grown a tail. This science fiction book gives nods to Charlottes Web and Calvin and Hobbes. It’s not like any plot I’ve read and was fun with its twists and turns. Toss in a villain who needs absolute fealty while subverting the truth and you have a reflection of the current political state.
September 24, 2025
Original and fast paced, and not cheapened by gimmicky writing like verse or the overuse of sentence fragments. I could see teachers using this in classrooms, and students remembering it as one of their favorite books they have ever read. Definitely recommend for reluctant readers; it’s appropriate for younger readers, but will appeal to middle schoolers as well.
March 19, 2025
6th grader Nathan has always known that he and his parents were not human and their purpose was to stay undetected and simply live life along with the other families just like his, scattered in various places in the US. But something is happening. Several of the almost teen aliens, called Kast have disappeared and are no longer attending the regular Zoom meetups and more alarming, Nathan is growing a tail. This alarming event has been reported, along with how often Nathan uses the special pink toothpaste, how much he eats, sleeps and poops, to Hester aboard what is referred to as “The Wagon.”
What follows is a fast paced journey of discovery for Nathan, his parents and the tail now being called Tuck. Author Rebecca Stead keeps her book to under 300 pages but still fully develops a close friendship between Nathan and classmate Victor, a supportive parents and even a distinct personality in the family cat! There are touches of humor, plenty of warmth and so, so much speculation and mystery surrounding the experiment begun by the alien Kast race, and Nathan’s tail…which, by the way, resembles that of Calvin of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, a particular favorite of Nathan and Victor’s.
Representation: Nathan’s mom reports that all the aliens posing as humans have different shades of skin just like in the human population but the physical characteristics of most characters are not described. Victor’s family includes a wonderful grandmother who lives with them. One of the pre-teen aliens lives with her widowed father.
Great choice for libraries serving grades 4-7. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Suggested for those who enjoyed Aliens on Vacation & the other two in the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series by Clete Smith and Gibbs’ Moon Base Alpha.
What follows is a fast paced journey of discovery for Nathan, his parents and the tail now being called Tuck. Author Rebecca Stead keeps her book to under 300 pages but still fully develops a close friendship between Nathan and classmate Victor, a supportive parents and even a distinct personality in the family cat! There are touches of humor, plenty of warmth and so, so much speculation and mystery surrounding the experiment begun by the alien Kast race, and Nathan’s tail…which, by the way, resembles that of Calvin of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, a particular favorite of Nathan and Victor’s.
Representation: Nathan’s mom reports that all the aliens posing as humans have different shades of skin just like in the human population but the physical characteristics of most characters are not described. Victor’s family includes a wonderful grandmother who lives with them. One of the pre-teen aliens lives with her widowed father.
Great choice for libraries serving grades 4-7. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Suggested for those who enjoyed Aliens on Vacation & the other two in the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series by Clete Smith and Gibbs’ Moon Base Alpha.
April 27, 2025
Fast-paced, funny, age-appropriate, and compelling enough that even my sci-fi-repelling brain stayed interested until the end.
Read
September 13, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
The Experiment by Rebecca Stead is a third person multi-POV middle grade sci-fi. Nathan has spent his whole life aware that he is not human and is living among humans on Earth as part of an experiment. When one of Nathan’s best friends and another member of the experiment, Izzy, disappears he starts to become concerned that something else is going on. The tail he recently grew that seems to have a mind of its own is not helping.
This is an allegory for puberty without being directly about puberty. Nathan is about to turn twelve and Izzy disappears when she turns twelve, roughly the age when many children’s bodies start changing in ways that feel completely out of their control. The growing of a tail is a fresh spin on the alien-pubery allegory and it gets even more interesting as it evolves into a sci-fi conspiracy book.
The book moves at a fairly fast pace, often chapters being fairly short and moving from point A to B at a decent clip. This is good for the reluctant readers as it will help make them feel more accomplished to go through so many chapters so quickly but for the young readers who prefer to savor the story, it might not hit.
One of the things I thought was very cool was that Nathan has a crush on Izzy and even asked to go out with and then has to deal with her starting a relationship with someone else. By some metrics, they are a bit young to be dating, but plenty of sixth graders start dating and not only does this recognize that, but it also makes sure Nathan isn't going to ‘get the girl’ just because he saved the day. Izzy is not a reward and she wants to be friends with him forever and Nathan has to learn to deal with that just like a lot of people do and it's nice to see him still want to be friends with Izzy even though he's processing his feelings.
I would recommend this to young readers of sci-fi who want something very fast-paced and readers who prefer romantic interest being acknowledged but dating and kissing are not part of the lead's arc
The Experiment by Rebecca Stead is a third person multi-POV middle grade sci-fi. Nathan has spent his whole life aware that he is not human and is living among humans on Earth as part of an experiment. When one of Nathan’s best friends and another member of the experiment, Izzy, disappears he starts to become concerned that something else is going on. The tail he recently grew that seems to have a mind of its own is not helping.
This is an allegory for puberty without being directly about puberty. Nathan is about to turn twelve and Izzy disappears when she turns twelve, roughly the age when many children’s bodies start changing in ways that feel completely out of their control. The growing of a tail is a fresh spin on the alien-pubery allegory and it gets even more interesting as it evolves into a sci-fi conspiracy book.
The book moves at a fairly fast pace, often chapters being fairly short and moving from point A to B at a decent clip. This is good for the reluctant readers as it will help make them feel more accomplished to go through so many chapters so quickly but for the young readers who prefer to savor the story, it might not hit.
One of the things I thought was very cool was that Nathan has a crush on Izzy and even asked to go out with and then has to deal with her starting a relationship with someone else. By some metrics, they are a bit young to be dating, but plenty of sixth graders start dating and not only does this recognize that, but it also makes sure Nathan isn't going to ‘get the girl’ just because he saved the day. Izzy is not a reward and she wants to be friends with him forever and Nathan has to learn to deal with that just like a lot of people do and it's nice to see him still want to be friends with Izzy even though he's processing his feelings.
I would recommend this to young readers of sci-fi who want something very fast-paced and readers who prefer romantic interest being acknowledged but dating and kissing are not part of the lead's arc
January 10, 2026
This is a very sweet book, with a bit of alien mystery thrown in. Mostly, I felt it was about a guy trying to figure out where he fits in, and how to relate to this girl he likes. This story is then mixed into some kind of alien experiment here on Earth. It is very clear who the good guys are, but you are left wondering throughout what the objective is for 'the experiment', or even what the experiment is.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story, particularly Nathan and Izzy's friendship. Exactly how the experiment was going to resolve and the nature of the aliens kept me guessing.
I thought the Hester character would make for particularly great TV if this was ever made into a movie or series. Her disquieting menace, even when saying fairly innocuous things, came through clearly. I particularly liked this early interaction:
" Isabel!... We're delighted to have you join us. A special friend of Nathan's! Obviously! Somehow!"
She glared at Nathan's parents. "Have the children between spending time together? How extraordinary!"
Another great story from Stead.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story, particularly Nathan and Izzy's friendship. Exactly how the experiment was going to resolve and the nature of the aliens kept me guessing.
I thought the Hester character would make for particularly great TV if this was ever made into a movie or series. Her disquieting menace, even when saying fairly innocuous things, came through clearly. I particularly liked this early interaction:
" Isabel!... We're delighted to have you join us. A special friend of Nathan's! Obviously! Somehow!"
She glared at Nathan's parents. "Have the children between spending time together? How extraordinary!"
Another great story from Stead.
November 12, 2025
3.5
I am a huge fan of Stead's writing but this one didn't entirely do it for me.
Stead's writing, as always, is sharp. The writing is spare enough that every word matters and serves a purpose. While that's one thing I usually admire about her, in this novel it was a mixed bag. Part of it's personal - I wasn't paying enough attention at times. But I also think it led to some generic secondary characters; we're only given one or two details about each of Nathan's friends and it makes them forgettable.
Still, I found the premise of the book compelling and got really into finding out what the deal with the Kast was. And there's a powerful message here about what happens when you get trapped in a belief that turns out to be a lie that feels contemporary and political but not too on the nose.
It's a book that has a lot going for it that, for me, didn't quite come together. Still - well worth the read.
I am a huge fan of Stead's writing but this one didn't entirely do it for me.
Stead's writing, as always, is sharp. The writing is spare enough that every word matters and serves a purpose. While that's one thing I usually admire about her, in this novel it was a mixed bag. Part of it's personal - I wasn't paying enough attention at times. But I also think it led to some generic secondary characters; we're only given one or two details about each of Nathan's friends and it makes them forgettable.
Still, I found the premise of the book compelling and got really into finding out what the deal with the Kast was. And there's a powerful message here about what happens when you get trapped in a belief that turns out to be a lie that feels contemporary and political but not too on the nose.
It's a book that has a lot going for it that, for me, didn't quite come together. Still - well worth the read.
June 24, 2025
Nathan and his "nine good friends" have a big secret. They are only friends virtually, living and growing up in different states, but what they share, no one else can know-they are from another planet. Their parents are explorers who are learning if survival in human form is possible.
Lately, some of the nine close friends have been disappearing from their Zoom chats, and now Nathan is worried that he is about to be "disappeared" as well. Before the DPs come to collect him, he leaves a note for his human best friend, Victor.
This book was so unique and so fun. Victor is a true friend who ends up accepting Nathan as he is and then vows to help him try to figure out what has been happening with the others. This is a great middle grade Science fiction that will keep readers thinking and guessing and ultimately wondering about truth and love. I will highly recommend it to my students.
Lately, some of the nine close friends have been disappearing from their Zoom chats, and now Nathan is worried that he is about to be "disappeared" as well. Before the DPs come to collect him, he leaves a note for his human best friend, Victor.
This book was so unique and so fun. Victor is a true friend who ends up accepting Nathan as he is and then vows to help him try to figure out what has been happening with the others. This is a great middle grade Science fiction that will keep readers thinking and guessing and ultimately wondering about truth and love. I will highly recommend it to my students.
August 22, 2025
A new MG scifi book by Newbery winning author Rebecca Stead.
👽
Nathan has loved his time on Earth posing as a human. He has a crush, a best friend named Victor and a full life as a sixth grade student, but when his parents tell him it’s time to go back to their other planet, he wonders how it will rival what he has known his whole life. As things start to speed up on their spaceship exit, Nathan, his alien family and the nine other families involved in the experiment realize they might have been given wrong information this whole time. What is the truth? Nathan wants to find out.
🛸
This reminded me of the TV show Roswell and the movie The Coneheads. Aliens living among us who end up being called home. Middle grade readers who enjoy speculative fiction full of humor and heart will enjoy this when it releases 9/16! I felt like the audiobook was done well too.
CW: abandonment, gaslighting
👽
Nathan has loved his time on Earth posing as a human. He has a crush, a best friend named Victor and a full life as a sixth grade student, but when his parents tell him it’s time to go back to their other planet, he wonders how it will rival what he has known his whole life. As things start to speed up on their spaceship exit, Nathan, his alien family and the nine other families involved in the experiment realize they might have been given wrong information this whole time. What is the truth? Nathan wants to find out.
🛸
This reminded me of the TV show Roswell and the movie The Coneheads. Aliens living among us who end up being called home. Middle grade readers who enjoy speculative fiction full of humor and heart will enjoy this when it releases 9/16! I felt like the audiobook was done well too.
CW: abandonment, gaslighting
September 5, 2025
I've been a huge fan of Rebecca Stead for years. I was so excited when I saw that she was releasing a new novel mid September of 2025!
This novel is a great sci-fi novel for middle schoolers that would definitely satisfy both boys and girls.
It tells the story of Nathan who knows that both he and his family are actually aliens from another planet. His parents had attempted to keep this a secret from him until the point where they are summoned, to a place Nathan never knew existed. Here he finds that they are actually part of an 'experiment', and one that he knows must stop.
The writing was simple and easy to read but captured my interest immediately from the first chapter. This book would definitely make a great addition to any middle schooler's bookshelf!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
This novel is a great sci-fi novel for middle schoolers that would definitely satisfy both boys and girls.
It tells the story of Nathan who knows that both he and his family are actually aliens from another planet. His parents had attempted to keep this a secret from him until the point where they are summoned, to a place Nathan never knew existed. Here he finds that they are actually part of an 'experiment', and one that he knows must stop.
The writing was simple and easy to read but captured my interest immediately from the first chapter. This book would definitely make a great addition to any middle schooler's bookshelf!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 18, 2025
On the surface, Nathan seems like any other ordinary human boy; however, Nathan and his family are aliens. They, along with other members of their community, are involved in a secretive experiment. Things start to go wrong, such as Nathan developing a tail or children going missing. Nathan and his family are called back to the Wagon, or the mothership. The Wagon reveals secrets and mysteries about Nathan’s alien heritage. He discovers the experiment was a ruse, meant to exploit and control his family and community. Stead’s exciting science fiction story is fresh and imaginative, perfect for middle grade students. Its themes of identity, heritage, and ethic can be applicable to many real-life scenarios, as many aspects of Nathan’s journey mirror those of immigrants. Teachers can use this story to promote empathy towards immigrants and refugees, drawing parallels to real-life current and historical examples.
July 27, 2025
Book Review: The Experiment
by Rebecca Stead
Pub Date: Sep 16 2025
Read courtesy of netgalley.com
I'm pleasantly surprised by this story - I like sci-fi, and this one doesn't dummy-down (i.e., over-explain) the plot to death. It was a smooth, fun, suspenseful alien abduction story. And I wouldn't say it's fantasy; it's definitely more sci-fi.
I enjoyed the inane, unexpected, but humorous connections to Calvin & Hobbes throughout the story.
The characters had well-developed personalities and delivered believable emotions and dialogue. The story flowed well. The settings were described well enough to follow what the characters were experiencing and doing.
I've given it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5 stars and am looking forward to getting it for my school library.
by Rebecca Stead
Pub Date: Sep 16 2025
Read courtesy of netgalley.com
I'm pleasantly surprised by this story - I like sci-fi, and this one doesn't dummy-down (i.e., over-explain) the plot to death. It was a smooth, fun, suspenseful alien abduction story. And I wouldn't say it's fantasy; it's definitely more sci-fi.
I enjoyed the inane, unexpected, but humorous connections to Calvin & Hobbes throughout the story.
The characters had well-developed personalities and delivered believable emotions and dialogue. The story flowed well. The settings were described well enough to follow what the characters were experiencing and doing.
I've given it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5 stars and am looking forward to getting it for my school library.
August 2, 2025
I got access to the audiobook of this story through libro.fm’s ALC program for teachers. Thank you to libro.fm, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early!
I don’t write reviews often, but this was such a fun, strange, and heartfelt story.
Rebecca Stead found a special place in my heart with When You Reach Me when I was in grade school, and continues to teach and challenge me as an adult. I know this story will stay on my mind for quite some time. I’m looking forward to thinking through the big questions this book poses: what does it mean to be human? what does humanity have to teach us? and how do we become our true selves?
I don’t write reviews often, but this was such a fun, strange, and heartfelt story.
Rebecca Stead found a special place in my heart with When You Reach Me when I was in grade school, and continues to teach and challenge me as an adult. I know this story will stay on my mind for quite some time. I’m looking forward to thinking through the big questions this book poses: what does it mean to be human? what does humanity have to teach us? and how do we become our true selves?
January 12, 2026
Nathan from New York is secretly an alien who must brush his teeth multiple times a day with pink toothpaste so he stays looking like a human. And his parents have to shower with pink soap. And once a month he zooms with the whole group of aliens, and his mom weighs all his food and takes measurements of him. But other than that, everything is totally normal…until he grows a tail.
I don’t always like the way Rebecca Stead plots and resolves her stories, but she always does such a great job with setting. This was such an interesting albeit bizarre story. Gentle sci-fi for 4th grade and up. The characters “go out” with each other, but really just talk a lot.
I don’t always like the way Rebecca Stead plots and resolves her stories, but she always does such a great job with setting. This was such an interesting albeit bizarre story. Gentle sci-fi for 4th grade and up. The characters “go out” with each other, but really just talk a lot.
September 5, 2025
Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on September 16th, 2025.
Nathan has known from an early age that he and his parents are from another planet and that they are part of a secret experiment whose parameters are unclear. But things are starting to go wrong — some of the other alien families are disappearing, his family is being called back to the mothership, and his parents are looking pretty worried. What happens next is one twist after another in this absolutely satisfying middle grade science fiction story.
I love Rebecca Stead. She has that rare ability to write about topics with depth and make them equally accessible and appealing to both children and adults. Her books are all well-written (Newberry Award winner), weird in the best possible way, and never even close to trite or formulaic. The blurb likens it to A Wrinkle in Time and — as a long time and HUGE Wrinkle fan — I can lend my expert agreement! It’s a coming-of-age book about a young boy who is put into a very difficult situation and manages to be a hero because he can’t bear to not do the right thing regardless of the possible cost. There are no insipid moral messages (I’m sorry but “being kind” will not solve most real problems!), but there is plenty of (young boy) reflection, confusion, and eventual understanding to help grow a child into the adult they want to be. This is the kind of book that will both entertain and educate a young audience. And it was fun for this (much older) audience, too.
Nathan has known from an early age that he and his parents are from another planet and that they are part of a secret experiment whose parameters are unclear. But things are starting to go wrong — some of the other alien families are disappearing, his family is being called back to the mothership, and his parents are looking pretty worried. What happens next is one twist after another in this absolutely satisfying middle grade science fiction story.
I love Rebecca Stead. She has that rare ability to write about topics with depth and make them equally accessible and appealing to both children and adults. Her books are all well-written (Newberry Award winner), weird in the best possible way, and never even close to trite or formulaic. The blurb likens it to A Wrinkle in Time and — as a long time and HUGE Wrinkle fan — I can lend my expert agreement! It’s a coming-of-age book about a young boy who is put into a very difficult situation and manages to be a hero because he can’t bear to not do the right thing regardless of the possible cost. There are no insipid moral messages (I’m sorry but “being kind” will not solve most real problems!), but there is plenty of (young boy) reflection, confusion, and eventual understanding to help grow a child into the adult they want to be. This is the kind of book that will both entertain and educate a young audience. And it was fun for this (much older) audience, too.
October 23, 2025
Middle grade sci-fi with a clever twist and lots of imagination (plus a nod to Calvin and Hobbes). It wasn't my favorite of Rebecca Stead's, but that's just personal preference.
I listened to this audiobook thanks to Libro.fm's Educator ALC program.
I listened to this audiobook thanks to Libro.fm's Educator ALC program.
September 23, 2025
Kept me reading, for sure, but I was a little dissatisfied with the ending. I think we'd consider this to be magical realism, and I appreciate some fun in our all-too-realistic world.
October 3, 2025
I loved this!
Nathan & his entire family believe they are aliens living on planet earth. He & nine other families are part of an experiment from the planet Kast whose job is to fit in & observe their surroundings. But suddenly things seem to be going wrong. The other alien families are disappearing & Nathan has a weird bump on his backside that appears to be growing. Then Nathan & his family get word they need to return to where the mothership has been hidden & Nathan has to leave his entire life in New York, including his best friend Victor, behind.
I've read several other mid-reader titles by Rebecca Stead & she has a magical quality in her storytelling that leaves you feeling all squishy & oogily inside when you're finished. I will say this one required a bit more suspension of disbelief than some of the previous titles by her but considering the topic is aliens you could maybe categorize this as speculative fiction.
I love how Nathan looks out for his friends-his best friend in real life Victor & the alien kids he really only knows from online zoom chats--including his girlfriend Izzy & his parents too!
Thanks to Feiwel & Friends & Netgalley for an advance copy of this title
Nathan & his entire family believe they are aliens living on planet earth. He & nine other families are part of an experiment from the planet Kast whose job is to fit in & observe their surroundings. But suddenly things seem to be going wrong. The other alien families are disappearing & Nathan has a weird bump on his backside that appears to be growing. Then Nathan & his family get word they need to return to where the mothership has been hidden & Nathan has to leave his entire life in New York, including his best friend Victor, behind.
I've read several other mid-reader titles by Rebecca Stead & she has a magical quality in her storytelling that leaves you feeling all squishy & oogily inside when you're finished. I will say this one required a bit more suspension of disbelief than some of the previous titles by her but considering the topic is aliens you could maybe categorize this as speculative fiction.
I love how Nathan looks out for his friends-his best friend in real life Victor & the alien kids he really only knows from online zoom chats--including his girlfriend Izzy & his parents too!
Thanks to Feiwel & Friends & Netgalley for an advance copy of this title
October 23, 2025
Wow; I flew through this one! I really need to read more sci-fi; I always love it. Nathan's family are aliens working diligently to fit into the human world. When Nathan starts growing a tail his family is whisked back to the Wheel where he discovers that all is not as it seems. The twist came sooner than I expected and was not where I thought it was going! Later reveals didn't hit as hard, but made the story much more interesting (and heartbreaking). And what a satisfying ending!
June 24, 2025
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
4 stars
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Netgally for the ARC of the experiment by Rebecca Stead. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet.
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
4 stars
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Nick Kelly Ford the Ark of the experiment by Rebecca stea. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet. He seems slightly mature for his age, as he mentions going out with his friend Izzy who is a girl.
The experiment has a very engaging plot. The main themes being identity and explanation of Truth. One thing I think Steve does very well is balance Nathan as a human and an alien. One way she integrates these two parts of his character is by making him have to brush his teeth at school.
I would recommend this book to a middle grader who is who is interested in space related stories.
Thanks to Netgally for the ARC of the experiment by Rebecca Stead. This is a middle grade that follows Nathan who is supposedly an alien from the planet Kast. Throughout the story Nathan contemplates his existence as an alien, a “Fact” that he has lived with all his life
Nathan is forced to contemplate ideas beyond his years, as part of his mission to save his friends from being expelled from the planet.
August 29, 2025
Super fun sci-fi!! Thank you Libro for the pre-publication audio!
January 11, 2026
This was a fast read. It is a bit out there so if you’re not into sci-fi weird alien type stories- this may not be your cup of tea. The pace of the story and the friendship of the protagonist and Victor were my favorite parts.
November 9, 2025
This was incredibly good, as Rebecca Stead’s books are wont to be! It was so touching and confusing and exciting—a real thrill ride of a moving story!
July 23, 2025
Rebecca Stead does it again! Her science-fiction books are my favorite, though this one is much more like her first middle grade novel, First Light, than any other. Yes, there is the theme of exploration, but like many of Stead's works, all is not as it seems. The story opens with Nathan and his family, aliens from another planet, a fact Nathan has known all of his life. His family and nine other families are part of "the experiment," but things seem to be going wrong. You'll have to read it to find out why because -- just like her other sci-fi stories-- the less you know, the better.
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's for the digital ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's for the digital ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews