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The Only Alien on the Planet
They've all gotten used to him. The one who never speaks. The one who never smiles. They all say he's retarded. So, though his name is Smitty, they call him The Alien. And from the moment Ginny sees him she knows she has to meet him. Because she's been feeling weird since she and her family moved from the West Coast. She knows what its like to feel alone. Ginny decides to become his friend.But Smitty is very different from anyone Ginny has ever known. And she soon realizes that reaching out to him might destroy him. Because in his world, there is no love. No pain. No room for anything--or anyone. Until Ginny comes along...
228 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 584 reviews
June 1, 2022
I could hear Paul telling me, "Never, never make the mistake of thinking you're the only alien on the planet."
First of all, I can't believe this is the first time I'm reviewing this book, because it's honestly been on my "favorite books of all time" list since, I don't know, 2005? Maybe earlier? It's an amazing book and I've reread it probably a dozen times, and it never gets old. It is easily the most underrated book I've ever read in my life and I would implore everyone to pick it up. ASAP.
I have literally no complaints about this book. None. It is wonderfully progressive for its time period (Idk about you guys, but most of my 90s YA experience has been problematic AF), it has a beautiful plot that offers up the reminder that you have no idea what a person has been through, or what fine hells they have walked. It's a story of friendship, family, healing, grief, abuse, and most of all, love - in all of its various forms.
PLOT ➳➳
It's bad enough that Ginny's big brother has moved halfway across the country, but now she has to move, too - and start a new high school in her senior year? Yikes. All isn't lost, though, when she befriends her next-door neighbor, and by proxy, the boy from the next house over: Smitty, or as their less tactful classmates call him, "The Alien". Smitty hasn't spoken since he was two years old, and refuses to interact socially with anyone. Despite the barriers between them, Ginny and Caulder are determined to crack Smitty's shell, but when they start digging, they find that the truth is much more horrifying and traumatic than anyone realized.
CHARACTERS ➳➳
Ginny is just a really authentic, honest, flawed MC and I love that about her. She's never so flawed as to be outright unlikable or annoying, but she's honest about the fact that she's a bit of a coward - she's afraid of things and people she doesn't understand (like Smitty). When push comes to shove, though, she's fierce and protective and just feels like a real person.
Caulder becomes Ginny's best friend, and their friendship is really the star of most of this book's "show". I love the fact that Kristen was willing to write a genuinely best-friendship between two opposite-sex hetero teens... that is completely platonic and adorable and perfect and loving. This book has friendship goals FO LYF.
Last but obviously not least, I have to talk about Smitty. It's no spoiler that he has some sort of character development outside of just being "The Alien"; otherwise, we'd have no plot. He's such a pure and perfect adorable little soul and I just wanted to squeeze him all the time because he deserves everything good. Smitty is the definition of a little cinnamon roll baby. ❤
I recommend this book to literally everyone, whether you're a YA reader or not, whether you're a contemporary reader or not, whether the plot attracts you or not... It's just golden.
September 3, 2014
I saw this book in a pile of discarded school library books that had been donated to the library where I work. The title put me off for a moment, but the summary intrigued me, so I dropped a quarter in the donation jar and took it home. It utterly captured me.
At first Ginny was the attraction. It's good to find a main character with the hero's heart--trying to do right, even when it's hard, intensely loyal in her friendships and family relationships, and mostly unselfish while still wonderfully human--set in my world, a little more relatable than, say, Hogwarts or late 19th century P. E. I. (I love both those series. Adore them. But it's time to face it; I do not wear dresses with ridiculous puffed sleeves, and I am at the age where it is hopeless to assume that my letter from Hogwarts got lost in the mail. It's just not coming.) She's confused and frustrated about moving and friends and school and life, but she faces it with grit, not like some whiny self-absorbed heroines I could mention. That kept me reading to start.
Then I liked Caulfield, and the deep, uncomplicated friendship that formed there.
And while Randle had my attention with those two, Michael's story started to unfold, and then I could not put the book down. I read late into the night to finish it and then I was sorry I did, because what was I going to do now that it was over?
This was overall a great book that the world happened to overlook. It was intriguing, touching, breathtaking, warm, funny, painful, and exceedingly well-written. And it made me feel less like an alien, with my weird, intellectual, close-knit family and my crazy, eccentric homeschool life. If I ever write, I want to write something that will touch even a handful of hearts like this one touched mine, even if it doesn't get me a vast following on twitter =]
March 3, 2017
I have been vaguely aware of this book's existence since it came out, and I can't believe I haven't read it until now, but I'm actually glad I haven't read it until now.
When it first came out, I picked it up and looked at it, excited, thinking it was about an alien in the body of a teenage boy, which both the cover art and title seemed to indicate, and then I read the back, and put it down. Because at that time I was looking for books about ACTUAL aliens. I wasn't sure what the book was about, but it wasn't science fiction, therefore it was not for me. And it wasn't for me, not then. I wasn't compassionate enough back then. I didn't understand and appreciate books with nuanced characters and emotions like I do now.
I never would have thought twice about this book, once I found out it wasn't about aliens, but it just kept coming up. I kept running into it: In the BYU Bookstore, at libraries with a little card saying it was a staff pick. On a list of "beloved YA favorites." I met Kristen at a Utah author "do" a few years back, and discovered that she was a lovely person. I mentioned to my sister that I had met her, and that she was one of four or five Kristen/Kristyns who I knew who were writers, and my sister said, "You know, that book is really good. It's on my English department's outside reading list, and everybody always loves it." So I added it to my to-read list and forgot about it.
And, a couple of weeks ago at the library, I went mad with . . . something . . . and decided to snatch up a bunch of my to-reads, the only criteria being that they were checked in and I didn't have to put them on hold. And I grabbed this one.
And I finally read it.
And I would like to know, if anyone can tell me, why the HELL this book isn't at the top of every list for everything? This book should be up there with Catcher in the Rye, Absolutely True Diary, and The Outsiders. This would be an EXCELLENT book to teach to teens, dealing as it does with some of the same complexities, but without having any sex or swearing that would get it banned! I thought that it was about divorce, when I found out it wasn't aliens, something about the vague "family looks perfect on the outside" descriptions gave me that idea. It's not about divorce. It's about abuse, I'll just come out and say it. It's about emotional, psychological, and even physical abuse, but it's handled very delicately. It's also about the nature of love, and friendship. It's about mental illness. It's about loyalty, and bravery. AND IT HAS AN ENDING THAT WON'T MAKE YOU SUICIDAL!
Ginny, the narrator, is wonderful. She is awkward. She babbles. But she's also smart. She has trouble with change, especially the big move her parents make right as her oldest brother is off to college. Her world has been rocked, and into it come new friends, who are both wonderful, but also challenging, as she tries to get into a new comfort zone, and they basically won't let her. She has a great family, with brothers who tease her, but also love her, and they are all very close, contrasted to the weirdness and stiffness of Smitty (the Alien of the title) and his family.
And I loved Smitty. At one point, near the, I actually said out loud, "If anything bad happens to this precious baby on the next page, I will literally start screaming." (I did not have to start screaming.) I loved Caulder and Hally, Charlie and James. It was comforting to see good people, trying to do the right thing, even though sometimes it wasn't the right thing to do. Good people make mistakes, they apologize, they try to make it better. So refreshing in light of how many books are fully of crap people doing crap things on purpose.
Now, I have a little mild spoiler, and I've never done this before, but I'm going to try it. I have a theory about Smitty's name, which is deeply stupid, which Ginny points out. I think...
And, in short: Everybody read this book. This shouldn't be an "unsung favorite." It should be sung about. Loudly.
When it first came out, I picked it up and looked at it, excited, thinking it was about an alien in the body of a teenage boy, which both the cover art and title seemed to indicate, and then I read the back, and put it down. Because at that time I was looking for books about ACTUAL aliens. I wasn't sure what the book was about, but it wasn't science fiction, therefore it was not for me. And it wasn't for me, not then. I wasn't compassionate enough back then. I didn't understand and appreciate books with nuanced characters and emotions like I do now.
I never would have thought twice about this book, once I found out it wasn't about aliens, but it just kept coming up. I kept running into it: In the BYU Bookstore, at libraries with a little card saying it was a staff pick. On a list of "beloved YA favorites." I met Kristen at a Utah author "do" a few years back, and discovered that she was a lovely person. I mentioned to my sister that I had met her, and that she was one of four or five Kristen/Kristyns who I knew who were writers, and my sister said, "You know, that book is really good. It's on my English department's outside reading list, and everybody always loves it." So I added it to my to-read list and forgot about it.
And, a couple of weeks ago at the library, I went mad with . . . something . . . and decided to snatch up a bunch of my to-reads, the only criteria being that they were checked in and I didn't have to put them on hold. And I grabbed this one.
And I finally read it.
And I would like to know, if anyone can tell me, why the HELL this book isn't at the top of every list for everything? This book should be up there with Catcher in the Rye, Absolutely True Diary, and The Outsiders. This would be an EXCELLENT book to teach to teens, dealing as it does with some of the same complexities, but without having any sex or swearing that would get it banned! I thought that it was about divorce, when I found out it wasn't aliens, something about the vague "family looks perfect on the outside" descriptions gave me that idea. It's not about divorce. It's about abuse, I'll just come out and say it. It's about emotional, psychological, and even physical abuse, but it's handled very delicately. It's also about the nature of love, and friendship. It's about mental illness. It's about loyalty, and bravery. AND IT HAS AN ENDING THAT WON'T MAKE YOU SUICIDAL!
Ginny, the narrator, is wonderful. She is awkward. She babbles. But she's also smart. She has trouble with change, especially the big move her parents make right as her oldest brother is off to college. Her world has been rocked, and into it come new friends, who are both wonderful, but also challenging, as she tries to get into a new comfort zone, and they basically won't let her. She has a great family, with brothers who tease her, but also love her, and they are all very close, contrasted to the weirdness and stiffness of Smitty (the Alien of the title) and his family.
And I loved Smitty. At one point, near the, I actually said out loud, "If anything bad happens to this precious baby on the next page, I will literally start screaming." (I did not have to start screaming.) I loved Caulder and Hally, Charlie and James. It was comforting to see good people, trying to do the right thing, even though sometimes it wasn't the right thing to do. Good people make mistakes, they apologize, they try to make it better. So refreshing in light of how many books are fully of crap people doing crap things on purpose.
Now, I have a little mild spoiler, and I've never done this before, but I'm going to try it. I have a theory about Smitty's name, which is deeply stupid, which Ginny points out. I think...
And, in short: Everybody read this book. This shouldn't be an "unsung favorite." It should be sung about. Loudly.
April 7, 2016
This is my favorite book of all time and that is saying something. The writing, the story, the characters. This book is wonderfull. I can't say enough good. Don't let the title throw you. I have reread this book 5 times and have two copies so I can lend it out. It is good and clean and a great book for teens to read! I would make my students read this if I was a teacher. It would also be great for any book club and Kristen Randel is great about writing back. LOve This book.LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! IS a must read.
Re read for the 10th time. I still love it. It still gets me:}
Re read for the 10th time. I still love it. It still gets me:}
December 17, 2012
I started this book one evening, thinking I would read for a little bit before I went to bed. I couldn't put the book down. I finished it at 3:30 in the morning, knowing that not only was I going to be really tired the next day, I was going to have to skip breakfast in order to get a bit more shut-eye. So yeah, this is one I'd recommend.
It talked about abuse but not in a way that was so depressing you wanted to give up your faith in humanity. I've been thinking about the book since then, wondering if this situation could really happen. Then again, I guess enough abuse happens that is even worse that it sort of makes my question a moot point.
I also liked the book because it's clean enough that I can give it to my daughter to read.
It talked about abuse but not in a way that was so depressing you wanted to give up your faith in humanity. I've been thinking about the book since then, wondering if this situation could really happen. Then again, I guess enough abuse happens that is even worse that it sort of makes my question a moot point.
I also liked the book because it's clean enough that I can give it to my daughter to read.
June 9, 2018
This lovely little book made my cold, cold heart beat. Instant favorite. I need to find my words to give this a proper review; maybe after a reread.
How did this beautiful YA gem come out of the 90's? Let's just say that I didn't like YA when I actually was a young adult. It was mostly crap, so I stuck with Stephen King and his ilk. Was it just me, or were Judy Bloom teen books super weird? Anyway, I wish I could time travel to give little me this book and all its feels. I didn't even know about Jane Austen back then!
RTC.
How did this beautiful YA gem come out of the 90's? Let's just say that I didn't like YA when I actually was a young adult. It was mostly crap, so I stuck with Stephen King and his ilk. Was it just me, or were Judy Bloom teen books super weird? Anyway, I wish I could time travel to give little me this book and all its feels. I didn't even know about Jane Austen back then!
RTC.
August 14, 2016
This is '90s YA and there aren't even any vampires, yet I really enjoyed this! Trust me, no one is more surprised than I am. I only wish I'd heard of it when I was a teenager, because I would have devoured it then and been treasuring it all this time.
July 8, 2015
In the end, it was just too... too... unrelenting, despite a reasonably hopeful ending and an often times intriguing presentation. I wanted to know more about Smitty and Caulder and Ginny. But it was often slow. So slow. Ginny never truly came alive as a likable, relatable character. The writing was often flat. I might have judged it harder than necessary, perhaps, because I didn't like the direction it headed.
Spoiler and personal musings----
I do not like stories with antisocial personality disorder (psychopathology). Or, I have yet to read one that is insightful and moving rather than simply disturbing, filling me with deep, ragged, undesired and unhelpful sorrow. I find the disorder uncomfortable and disturbing. (At this hinted turn in the story, about half way in, I started feeling a cloud of 'oh maaaan' rolling in. And so I skim read the last third.)
I like, no, seek out stories about emotional dysfunction, be it biological difficulty reading emotions (such as autism), or situational confusion, repression, or distortion of emotions (coping with abuse, trauma, social surroundings), but when it's about someone so terrifically lacking in empathy or sympathy for other human beings' happiness and sorrow, fear and anger, and unable to grow away from this lack, I just personally cannot handle it. I like a 'villain,' per se, and a villain doesn't have to be fully redeemed or forgiven or anything, but I want a villain I can understand, even sympathize with. And, although I consciously know people with ASPD are people too, I don't want that scary, unsympathetic reality in my novels. Just a personal thing.
And the parents of Smitty and Russell, my god, enraging. Too little too late and too simplified for me to feel a connection to them as fallible, redeemable human beings.
----Spoiler end
There were other oddities about this tale: Ginny's brothers and Caulder's sisters were distant and unreal, as if they stood *for* something, instead of *being* people. As did Peter and Hally, the side friends. They seemed to be place holders, playing required roles to move the story along. The removal of Ginny's parents was... contrived. These things took me out of story transportation, making it eyebrow raising instead of my-god-this-is-powerful.
Spoiler and personal musings----
I do not like stories with antisocial personality disorder (psychopathology). Or, I have yet to read one that is insightful and moving rather than simply disturbing, filling me with deep, ragged, undesired and unhelpful sorrow. I find the disorder uncomfortable and disturbing. (At this hinted turn in the story, about half way in, I started feeling a cloud of 'oh maaaan' rolling in. And so I skim read the last third.)
I like, no, seek out stories about emotional dysfunction, be it biological difficulty reading emotions (such as autism), or situational confusion, repression, or distortion of emotions (coping with abuse, trauma, social surroundings), but when it's about someone so terrifically lacking in empathy or sympathy for other human beings' happiness and sorrow, fear and anger, and unable to grow away from this lack, I just personally cannot handle it. I like a 'villain,' per se, and a villain doesn't have to be fully redeemed or forgiven or anything, but I want a villain I can understand, even sympathize with. And, although I consciously know people with ASPD are people too, I don't want that scary, unsympathetic reality in my novels. Just a personal thing.
And the parents of Smitty and Russell, my god, enraging. Too little too late and too simplified for me to feel a connection to them as fallible, redeemable human beings.
----Spoiler end
There were other oddities about this tale: Ginny's brothers and Caulder's sisters were distant and unreal, as if they stood *for* something, instead of *being* people. As did Peter and Hally, the side friends. They seemed to be place holders, playing required roles to move the story along. The removal of Ginny's parents was... contrived. These things took me out of story transportation, making it eyebrow raising instead of my-god-this-is-powerful.
June 2, 2023
4.25/5 Great pool read! I really enjoyed this one, I love bizzare teen scholastic novels, so this one was a real gem.
The writing was kind of weird, but not in a bad way. Just different. It didn't give you a lot, and often felt disjointed. It didn't tell you a lot, it often forced you ck next the context yourself. Not sure if that makes any sense lol. Super dialog he heavy, which was fun.
Loved the friendship between Caulder and Ginny and eventually Smitty. The character relationships were a blast in this one
I read this in less than 24 hours while in the pool lol
The writing was kind of weird, but not in a bad way. Just different. It didn't give you a lot, and often felt disjointed. It didn't tell you a lot, it often forced you ck next the context yourself. Not sure if that makes any sense lol. Super dialog he heavy, which was fun.
Loved the friendship between Caulder and Ginny and eventually Smitty. The character relationships were a blast in this one
I read this in less than 24 hours while in the pool lol
January 8, 2013
One of the most unique and fascinating books I've ever read. No fantasy elements, no sci-fi, no romance triangle. (don't you like it already?)
The characterization is some of the best I've ever read. Ginny's is nothing special--she's in a few honor's classes, she has a crush on a guy from afar that plays the french horn, her brothers tease her, and she's a little bit of a coward. The most interesting thing about her IMO is her family. LOVE that she has a supportive family with actual parents present and sibling relationships. It's so refreshing!!
So she moves to a new school (which you are told at every writer's conference that you are NOT supposed to start a book this way) but for Randle, this REALLY works for her. Ginny sees this strange and beautiful boy who has never spoken to anyone but still attends school and does really well in his classes. She starts spending time with him (Smitty) and talking to him. Just talking. He helps her with her math by demonstrating the problems in front of her but not talking. One day, as it happens, everything changes.
Sigh, what a beautiful book!! I'm completely in love. The title and the cover don't do much to promote this book but believe me, this is not one you want to miss. You could never be completely happy without reading it! Maybe a bit of exaggeration, but still, LOVE.
There is nothing about this book I don't like.
Content Warning: One character experience abuse, recommended for ages 14+. READ IT!
The characterization is some of the best I've ever read. Ginny's is nothing special--she's in a few honor's classes, she has a crush on a guy from afar that plays the french horn, her brothers tease her, and she's a little bit of a coward. The most interesting thing about her IMO is her family. LOVE that she has a supportive family with actual parents present and sibling relationships. It's so refreshing!!
So she moves to a new school (which you are told at every writer's conference that you are NOT supposed to start a book this way) but for Randle, this REALLY works for her. Ginny sees this strange and beautiful boy who has never spoken to anyone but still attends school and does really well in his classes. She starts spending time with him (Smitty) and talking to him. Just talking. He helps her with her math by demonstrating the problems in front of her but not talking. One day, as it happens, everything changes.
Sigh, what a beautiful book!! I'm completely in love. The title and the cover don't do much to promote this book but believe me, this is not one you want to miss. You could never be completely happy without reading it! Maybe a bit of exaggeration, but still, LOVE.
There is nothing about this book I don't like.
Content Warning: One character experience abuse, recommended for ages 14+. READ IT!
May 20, 2018
I've had this paperback for ages, I'm not even sure when or where I got it. It finally became available in ebook. I would dare to say it's one of my favorite books. It's understated, sort of simplistic, elegance kind of touches my soul. If that makes sense.
Which is unusual because the heroine, Ginny, annoys me a lot of the time. Her best friend, Caulder, annoys me most of the time. Her family gets on my nerves. Smitty is by far and away my favorite character, and he never ever speaks. Figure that one out!
But they're all relatable, especially Ginny, who's sort of at a time in her life where she's feeling lost and confused and she says and does things that seem ridiculous, but that's how we all were at that age.
I don't know how to explain it, it's just ... a really good book. Unusual. I highly recommend to YA/NA fans, of all ages.
Which is unusual because the heroine, Ginny, annoys me a lot of the time. Her best friend, Caulder, annoys me most of the time. Her family gets on my nerves. Smitty is by far and away my favorite character, and he never ever speaks. Figure that one out!
But they're all relatable, especially Ginny, who's sort of at a time in her life where she's feeling lost and confused and she says and does things that seem ridiculous, but that's how we all were at that age.
I don't know how to explain it, it's just ... a really good book. Unusual. I highly recommend to YA/NA fans, of all ages.
June 15, 2023
4.25
This book was definitely weird and not what I was expecting.
I really liked the pacing of this book, although I will say it was strange. I also enjoyed the way it ended, not necessarily with Ginny and Michael together, but just in a way that leaves you knowing what’s to come.
I thought the writing was….like objectively not that great, but weirdly captivating anyways?
I really liked Ginny’s weird outburst and such, I also liked the weird monologue she gave to Smitty when she asked him to go with her to the movies. It felt like I was reading a diary entry a middle school girl wrote about a boy who was frustrating her (yes I know they were high schoolers)
I wasn’t expecting the whole brother trauma thing, I thought there was going to be some weird magic subplot or something, maybe science fiction, type of explanation for his “illness.”
I think his parents were cruel for bringing Russel in like that, I think they should’ve disowned the kid, he literally ruined their son.
Anyways, it was enjoyable, and I feel like I may change my rating depending on how I continue to think about it throughout the week. I’m glad I read it though, it was definitely a break from my typical read.
Thanks Bonnie for the book that you totally didn’t lend me, I’ll be sure to get it back😵💫😵💫
This book was definitely weird and not what I was expecting.
I really liked the pacing of this book, although I will say it was strange. I also enjoyed the way it ended, not necessarily with Ginny and Michael together, but just in a way that leaves you knowing what’s to come.
I thought the writing was….like objectively not that great, but weirdly captivating anyways?
I really liked Ginny’s weird outburst and such, I also liked the weird monologue she gave to Smitty when she asked him to go with her to the movies. It felt like I was reading a diary entry a middle school girl wrote about a boy who was frustrating her (yes I know they were high schoolers)
I wasn’t expecting the whole brother trauma thing, I thought there was going to be some weird magic subplot or something, maybe science fiction, type of explanation for his “illness.”
I think his parents were cruel for bringing Russel in like that, I think they should’ve disowned the kid, he literally ruined their son.
Anyways, it was enjoyable, and I feel like I may change my rating depending on how I continue to think about it throughout the week. I’m glad I read it though, it was definitely a break from my typical read.
Thanks Bonnie for the book that you totally didn’t lend me, I’ll be sure to get it back😵💫😵💫
September 11, 2017
4.5 stars
I actually can't believe I haven't heard of this book before. I also have forgotten how I stumbled upon it but I'm so glad I did. It's rather short but I think that adds to the effectiveness of this book. I won't lie when the big reveal came it hit me pretty hard. I wasn't really prepared for it.
Ginny was a wonderful narrator, it's clear that her heart is in the right place but sometimes she struggles to do the right thing, because she's scared of what could happen, of responisbility etc. This happens to all of us, it has happened to me. It just made her feel so much more fleshed out. Her friendship with Caulder was also pretty heartwarming. It developed quite naturally and not a lot of emphasis was placed on their friendship but I think that just made it feel more impactful.
Smitty is a tricky case, I do love him as a character and I think that the message is quite clear. He doesn't speak ever, it seems even as if he isn't present at all and that is why he received the nickname the alien. Clearly part of the morale of this book is that everyone has their own story, and no one is truly alone in anything. In being weird, in having issues, people just don't like to talk about these things and so we all suffer in silence.
There are some things I didn't like, Smitty's parents are pretty terrible people and whatever did come eventually was too little too late. Ginny's parents conveniently disappear to set up a graphic design business and are therefore never home, causing them to not notice her daughters problems. This felt a little cheap to me but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book.
This has probably been one of my favourite reads all year, it has a strong message and great characters and it definitely brought out many feelings in me. I'll leave you with this quote from the book which I think exemplifies it pretty well.
I actually can't believe I haven't heard of this book before. I also have forgotten how I stumbled upon it but I'm so glad I did. It's rather short but I think that adds to the effectiveness of this book. I won't lie when the big reveal came it hit me pretty hard. I wasn't really prepared for it.
Ginny was a wonderful narrator, it's clear that her heart is in the right place but sometimes she struggles to do the right thing, because she's scared of what could happen, of responisbility etc. This happens to all of us, it has happened to me. It just made her feel so much more fleshed out. Her friendship with Caulder was also pretty heartwarming. It developed quite naturally and not a lot of emphasis was placed on their friendship but I think that just made it feel more impactful.
Smitty is a tricky case, I do love him as a character and I think that the message is quite clear. He doesn't speak ever, it seems even as if he isn't present at all and that is why he received the nickname the alien. Clearly part of the morale of this book is that everyone has their own story, and no one is truly alone in anything. In being weird, in having issues, people just don't like to talk about these things and so we all suffer in silence.
There are some things I didn't like, Smitty's parents are pretty terrible people and whatever did come eventually was too little too late. Ginny's parents conveniently disappear to set up a graphic design business and are therefore never home, causing them to not notice her daughters problems. This felt a little cheap to me but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book.
This has probably been one of my favourite reads all year, it has a strong message and great characters and it definitely brought out many feelings in me. I'll leave you with this quote from the book which I think exemplifies it pretty well.
I could hear Paul telling me, "Never, never make the mistake of thinking you're the only alien on the planet."
April 6, 2021
Smitty, La sfida di Lizzie, L’estate del Soldato Tedesco e Il Pozzo dei Desideri erano i libri preferiti della mia infanzia/pre adolescenza. (E sto cercando di ricomprarli tutti, brace yourselves)
Dopo varie ricerche, sono riuscita a trovare “Smitty” usato ma in ottime condizioni; perfino Amazon, qui, ha gettato la spugna e ho dovuto affidarmi ad eBay.
Ero proprio curiosa di rileggerlo ma allo stesso tempo ero consapevole che molto probabilmente non mi sarebbe piaciuto come allora... FALSO, ziocancarooo! Questa storia è bellissima, tenera ed emozionante. Nonostante l’avessi letto almeno una decina di volte (anni e anni e anni e anni e anni e anni e anni fa) e alcune parti le ricordassi ancora piuttosto bene, mi ha tenuto incollata fino all’ultima pagina. Ottimo libro per sensibilizzare gli adolescenti nei confronti di quelle persone psicologicamente più fragili.
Ma certo che lo consiglio, anche se avete 90 anni.
E che qualcuno mi spieghi COME MAI quella carta igienica di Colpa delle Stelle ha fatto più successo di questo.
Dopo varie ricerche, sono riuscita a trovare “Smitty” usato ma in ottime condizioni; perfino Amazon, qui, ha gettato la spugna e ho dovuto affidarmi ad eBay.
Ero proprio curiosa di rileggerlo ma allo stesso tempo ero consapevole che molto probabilmente non mi sarebbe piaciuto come allora... FALSO, ziocancarooo! Questa storia è bellissima, tenera ed emozionante. Nonostante l’avessi letto almeno una decina di volte (anni e anni e anni e anni e anni e anni e anni fa) e alcune parti le ricordassi ancora piuttosto bene, mi ha tenuto incollata fino all’ultima pagina. Ottimo libro per sensibilizzare gli adolescenti nei confronti di quelle persone psicologicamente più fragili.
Ma certo che lo consiglio, anche se avete 90 anni.
E che qualcuno mi spieghi COME MAI quella carta igienica di Colpa delle Stelle ha fatto più successo di questo.
May 13, 2023
Wow, my first review on Goodreads... let's see how this goes.
I was very fortunate to have my middle school English teacher. I don't remember the specific assignment, but she pulled this book from her personal bookshelf and recommended it to me. Roughly ten years later, I found myself revisiting the plot of "The Only Alien on the Planet," and had a deep desire to reread it.
This book pulled me out of a reading funk that I didn't even know that I was in. It was wonderfully charming and witty, in all the ways that I needed it to be and more. I’m a sucker for romance but was relieved to know that that was not the point of the book. In all actuality, the content danced with darker themes in a mature, human way.
The main protagonist, Ginny, is refreshingly flawed. She’s not a Mary Sue in any way, and she knows that to be true. Early on, she identifies so deeply with being a coward that she allows herself to bask in the term. As much as the book is about Ginny and Smitty’s relationship, it’s also about friendship and what it truly means to love.
Love isn’t easy. Love is messy and can push people away. But it’s the most important thing in the world. This book reminds us of the human desire to connect with people, and the risks that we must take to do so.
All in all, if you’re looking for a story that dives into genuine friendship, what it means to be a family, how light casts out the darkness that can dwell within us, and what it means to truly love someone, then this is the book for you.
I was very fortunate to have my middle school English teacher. I don't remember the specific assignment, but she pulled this book from her personal bookshelf and recommended it to me. Roughly ten years later, I found myself revisiting the plot of "The Only Alien on the Planet," and had a deep desire to reread it.
This book pulled me out of a reading funk that I didn't even know that I was in. It was wonderfully charming and witty, in all the ways that I needed it to be and more. I’m a sucker for romance but was relieved to know that that was not the point of the book. In all actuality, the content danced with darker themes in a mature, human way.
The main protagonist, Ginny, is refreshingly flawed. She’s not a Mary Sue in any way, and she knows that to be true. Early on, she identifies so deeply with being a coward that she allows herself to bask in the term. As much as the book is about Ginny and Smitty’s relationship, it’s also about friendship and what it truly means to love.
Love isn’t easy. Love is messy and can push people away. But it’s the most important thing in the world. This book reminds us of the human desire to connect with people, and the risks that we must take to do so.
All in all, if you’re looking for a story that dives into genuine friendship, what it means to be a family, how light casts out the darkness that can dwell within us, and what it means to truly love someone, then this is the book for you.
May 7, 2023
7/10 stars
I wish this book was popular so that we could get the 90's inspired movie we all deserve 😭 this book reads the way a film plays visually. Sure, it's cheesy at times, but it's a scholastic novel. Thanks Bonnie for the recommendation!
I wish this book was popular so that we could get the 90's inspired movie we all deserve 😭 this book reads the way a film plays visually. Sure, it's cheesy at times, but it's a scholastic novel. Thanks Bonnie for the recommendation!
January 31, 2022
*Finito il 29 gennaio*
Abbastanza forte per i dodicenni a cui si rivolgerebbe. Spero di riuscire a parlarne meglio più avanti, molto duro ma bello
Abbastanza forte per i dodicenni a cui si rivolgerebbe. Spero di riuscire a parlarne meglio più avanti, molto duro ma bello
March 3, 2017
I really love this book and don't know why I've never written anything about it or why I only gave it 4 stars before, because I've read it a couple of times and thoroughly enjoy it.
April 10, 2011
I LOVE this book. I first read it when I was in 7th grade and I read it about every other year. The story itself is a little strange. I think I connect with the characters and that's why I love it so much. I feel a lot like Ginny does through much of the book. All of the characters seem real to me - like people in my own life. There are a lot of poignant moments that touch my heart. The author is brilliant at portraying feeling and describing emotional moments.
It has been a few years since I last read it and I saw it on the shelf and decided to give it a go. I thought that I would find it childish and it probably wouldn't be as good as I remembered. Instead, I fell madly in love with it all over again.
It has been a few years since I last read it and I saw it on the shelf and decided to give it a go. I thought that I would find it childish and it probably wouldn't be as good as I remembered. Instead, I fell madly in love with it all over again.
November 6, 2009
This book had an interesting story about how impressionable a child can be and how it can so negatively affect his whole life. However, it was at times a little unbelievable because if his parents had been even a little involved in his life they would've figured out how to help him.
Other than that - I felt like the teenage characters in this book spoke like they were all highly educated adults. Not really realistic of how most teenagers speak.
Not a terrible read though . . .
Other than that - I felt like the teenage characters in this book spoke like they were all highly educated adults. Not really realistic of how most teenagers speak.
Not a terrible read though . . .
January 9, 2018
challenge genre-bender YA + SF + romance
Actually, not at all SF. A mystery of sorts, though. Light on the romance. Atypical for YA, especially in that it gives teens credit for being able to care more about other ppl's real problems than their own irritations. Some very beautifully written bits. I want to investigate more by the author.
Recommended, esp. to those of you who need YA for a challenge and don't want the typical love triangles or angst or whatever. ;)
Actually, not at all SF. A mystery of sorts, though. Light on the romance. Atypical for YA, especially in that it gives teens credit for being able to care more about other ppl's real problems than their own irritations. Some very beautifully written bits. I want to investigate more by the author.
Recommended, esp. to those of you who need YA for a challenge and don't want the typical love triangles or angst or whatever. ;)
September 14, 2021
[23/1/13]
I would give this book 50 stars if I could.
Kept me up all night, as I could not put it down.
***
[14/9/21]
The Only Alien on the Planet is an underrated YA classic. I first read this book in 2013 (after picking it up on a whim at a bargain bookstore), and have lost count of the amount of times I have re-read it since.
Still remains one of my favourite books!!
I would give this book 50 stars if I could.
Kept me up all night, as I could not put it down.
***
[14/9/21]
The Only Alien on the Planet is an underrated YA classic. I first read this book in 2013 (after picking it up on a whim at a bargain bookstore), and have lost count of the amount of times I have re-read it since.
Still remains one of my favourite books!!
September 28, 2021
Forever and always a top 10 favorite of all time.
August 26, 2022
8/25/22 Still love it!!!
6/13/18 Still as good as it ever was.
One of the best books i have ever read. and i've read it a hundred times.
6/13/18 Still as good as it ever was.
One of the best books i have ever read. and i've read it a hundred times.
July 28, 2025
Once upon a time, I saw an old friend waiting for the train. When approaching her, I noted she was occupied so I sat back down on my bench. The train came and I settled down by a desk to do some much needed work. Having taken this same trip every time I’m in Florida, I was very comfortable with the WiFi. For the first time in years, it wasn’t connecting. I told myself if it didn’t work after one more try, I’d talk to this friend. The WiFi yet again didn’t work.
I found her on the train and for the hour, we talked about how much this book means to her. Later when she told my mom about this story, she said she needed the conversation but I’ll claim I needed this book.
And on my trip back with the same train, the WiFi worked perfectly.
I found her on the train and for the hour, we talked about how much this book means to her. Later when she told my mom about this story, she said she needed the conversation but I’ll claim I needed this book.
And on my trip back with the same train, the WiFi worked perfectly.
February 25, 2016
Sometimes a book can take you completely by surprise. The Only Alien on the Planet is one such book. I bought this on a whim, thinking the description sounded intriguing (though the title did initially put me off a bit). I started reading and found I couldn't stop until I had finished the book. I then went back and read it through again, not something I do very often.
The Only Alien on the Planet is the story of Ginny, a high school senior whose parents have decided to uproot and move from the West coast to the East coast, taking their three children with them (their eldest son Peter now being away at College). Ginny lived a comfortable and familiar life back home and is none to happy about having to start afresh in her last year of high school. She misses her elder brother whom she was very close to and resents her parents for the upheaval.
On her first day at her new school Ginny notices a strange, beautiful boy, who has been dubbed by his peers as 'the Alien'. Smitty Tibbs doesn't speak, he has never communicated at all with anybody, not since a near drowning accident when he was 2 years old . He seems to exist in a world of his own and does not interact with others though he is very intelligent, even considered a genius. He aces every written test at school. Ginny is intrigued by him but at the same time finds him unsettling. There is one other person at the school who shares Ginny's fascination - her neighbour Caulder, who instantly becomes her new best friend. Ginny is surprised to find the strange boy from school also lives next to her.
Caulder has always looked out for Smitty, protecting him from bullies at school. He sees the damaged boy as a friend, or at least as much a friend as he could be given the one-sided nature of their interactions. Caulder is convinced that hidden in there somewhere is a soul looking to be set free and he convinces Ginny to become involved in a scheme to open Smitty up. What starts as a simple request to Smitty from Caulder to help Ginny with her math homework becomes a plan to try and force him to interact, a series of seemingly harmless experiments designed to provoke some kind of emotional reaction.
Ginny begins to realize that there is a real person hidden behind the blank facade. She is concerned when she notices that Smitty does begin to become less detached but a lot of what they are doing seems to have a negative affect. Ginny is afraid that what they are doing is hurting him and urges Caulder to stop. However, it is through Ginny's actions that a true breakthrough occurs - but will this breakthrough set Smitty free or end up destroying him?
This was a truly engrossing story but not an easy one to read. Smitty is a tragic character and when you find out what caused him to turn out the way he did it is like a punch in the gut, it is honestly that heartbreaking. Even when he was remote and distant he felt like a real character and when he begins to break out of his protective shell, you see the kind and decent person that has been hidden away all these years.
Ginny is an interesting narrator in the sense that she is not always a likeable character. She views herself as being selfish and cowardly, and at times these traits do come through. However, this made her seem more real to me and I was always able to relate to her and see her point of view. It is Ginny who is the catalyst for Smitty's awakening but she is also reluctant to become involved as sees it as a responsibility and burden - something she might fail at which could lead to devastating results. She comes to care very much for Smitty and does end up helping him. He in turn helps her see her own worth and that she is strong and brave when it matters most.
Caulder was another interesting character though I did want to hit him upside the head a few times, especially in the scenes where he blindly blunders on not seeing that he is hurting Smitty and causing him to start to withdraw again. Nevertheless, his heart was in the right place and he is a good friend to both Ginny and Smitty.
I also liked Ginny's family even Peter, the eldest sibling who is never seen in the novel but whose influence is felt throughout. Her two younger brothers were also entertaining. Her parents were not physically present throughout the majority of the novel (being busy setting up their new business) but when they were around they were presented as supportive and loving. It's nice to see a depiction of a non-dysfunctional family, which can be a rarity in ya fiction.
Overall this was at times a disturbing but always engrossing read. It won some awards when it was first released in the 90's and I can see why. Well-written, with deeply drawn, realistic and sometimes flawed characters, this is a story that will stay with me for some time.
Five stars *****
The Only Alien on the Planet is the story of Ginny, a high school senior whose parents have decided to uproot and move from the West coast to the East coast, taking their three children with them (their eldest son Peter now being away at College). Ginny lived a comfortable and familiar life back home and is none to happy about having to start afresh in her last year of high school. She misses her elder brother whom she was very close to and resents her parents for the upheaval.
On her first day at her new school Ginny notices a strange, beautiful boy, who has been dubbed by his peers as 'the Alien'. Smitty Tibbs doesn't speak, he has never communicated at all with anybody, not since a near drowning accident when he was 2 years old . He seems to exist in a world of his own and does not interact with others though he is very intelligent, even considered a genius. He aces every written test at school. Ginny is intrigued by him but at the same time finds him unsettling. There is one other person at the school who shares Ginny's fascination - her neighbour Caulder, who instantly becomes her new best friend. Ginny is surprised to find the strange boy from school also lives next to her.
Caulder has always looked out for Smitty, protecting him from bullies at school. He sees the damaged boy as a friend, or at least as much a friend as he could be given the one-sided nature of their interactions. Caulder is convinced that hidden in there somewhere is a soul looking to be set free and he convinces Ginny to become involved in a scheme to open Smitty up. What starts as a simple request to Smitty from Caulder to help Ginny with her math homework becomes a plan to try and force him to interact, a series of seemingly harmless experiments designed to provoke some kind of emotional reaction.
Ginny begins to realize that there is a real person hidden behind the blank facade. She is concerned when she notices that Smitty does begin to become less detached but a lot of what they are doing seems to have a negative affect. Ginny is afraid that what they are doing is hurting him and urges Caulder to stop. However, it is through Ginny's actions that a true breakthrough occurs - but will this breakthrough set Smitty free or end up destroying him?
This was a truly engrossing story but not an easy one to read. Smitty is a tragic character and when you find out what caused him to turn out the way he did it is like a punch in the gut, it is honestly that heartbreaking. Even when he was remote and distant he felt like a real character and when he begins to break out of his protective shell, you see the kind and decent person that has been hidden away all these years.
Ginny is an interesting narrator in the sense that she is not always a likeable character. She views herself as being selfish and cowardly, and at times these traits do come through. However, this made her seem more real to me and I was always able to relate to her and see her point of view. It is Ginny who is the catalyst for Smitty's awakening but she is also reluctant to become involved as sees it as a responsibility and burden - something she might fail at which could lead to devastating results. She comes to care very much for Smitty and does end up helping him. He in turn helps her see her own worth and that she is strong and brave when it matters most.
Caulder was another interesting character though I did want to hit him upside the head a few times, especially in the scenes where he blindly blunders on not seeing that he is hurting Smitty and causing him to start to withdraw again. Nevertheless, his heart was in the right place and he is a good friend to both Ginny and Smitty.
I also liked Ginny's family even Peter, the eldest sibling who is never seen in the novel but whose influence is felt throughout. Her two younger brothers were also entertaining. Her parents were not physically present throughout the majority of the novel (being busy setting up their new business) but when they were around they were presented as supportive and loving. It's nice to see a depiction of a non-dysfunctional family, which can be a rarity in ya fiction.
Overall this was at times a disturbing but always engrossing read. It won some awards when it was first released in the 90's and I can see why. Well-written, with deeply drawn, realistic and sometimes flawed characters, this is a story that will stay with me for some time.
Five stars *****
May 21, 2020
Withstands the test of time - fantastic novel about friendship.
August 26, 2019
I love the friendship between Ginny and Caulder. Almost every character in the book is nice and lovely~ Smitty is unlucky to have this kind of apathetic parents and cruel brother, but lucky enough to have loyal friends like Ginny and Caulder by his side. I'm so glad to see that Smitty finally unveiled the truth, came out of the painful nightmare and embraced his bright future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2018
4.5, čak, ali ipak ne 5. Prosto nije sva moja, iako nudi više od svih tinejdžerskih koje sam poslednjih godina pročitala. Nemam zamerki na stil, a nemam ni na prevod; likovi su kvalitetno vođeni kroz radnju... ali, više o svemu na prerazmisljavanje.org :)
Za sada, i za ovde, ovoliko:
Knjiga je odlična. Za lektiru, za neki od nižih razreda srednje, ili osmi. Deca će svakako sve što se u njoj pominje iskusiti, zato je dobro da imaju i podršku. Uz dobar pogovor, uz dobre istraživačke zadatke, čudo bi napravila. Možda čak učinila da više đaka zavoli književnost.
A nema ni ljubavnog trougla ni vampira, niti markirane odeće.
Detaljnija recenzija na blogu: https://prerazmisljavanje.org/2018/01...
Za sada, i za ovde, ovoliko:
Knjiga je odlična. Za lektiru, za neki od nižih razreda srednje, ili osmi. Deca će svakako sve što se u njoj pominje iskusiti, zato je dobro da imaju i podršku. Uz dobar pogovor, uz dobre istraživačke zadatke, čudo bi napravila. Možda čak učinila da više đaka zavoli književnost.
A nema ni ljubavnog trougla ni vampira, niti markirane odeće.
Detaljnija recenzija na blogu: https://prerazmisljavanje.org/2018/01...
May 5, 2011
Great book! I seriously read it in one sitting. (Which means it is a pretty quick read, too, because I am a slow reader.) I hate the title. I thought after reading the book I would like the title better; I don't. I would have never read it if my dearest friend hadn't recommend it.
It is the story of a senior girl that moves into a new town. She learns that she lives next to a boy that never talks, ever. Another friend and she decide to befriend him and find a way to break him out of his "shell." It is a romantic story.
SPOLIERS:
I was never really sure what to think about Caulder. There were a few sentences in the beginning that made me think that he was going to turn out bad. I was always expecting that to happen and was nervous all the time. And then disappointed that he was just a good guy. Also I don't understand how Caulder and Ginny never had any flings with each other.
I liked how Randle added the information about Mrs. Tibbs being invovled in the charity to stop child abuse (ironic). I don't think the "theme" or the message about being a good mother would have been as powerful if she had just had Mrs. Tibbs having a job to explain why she wouldn't be at home.
Randall is just freaky and I hate him.
I loved some of the scenes about high school. Randle did a good job making me feel like I was in high school again. I loved that she talked about Ginny having a crush on Peter just because it would have been fun. I did that a ton. It added excitment and romance to life, without dealing with the drama. I would have never gone back to school if that note had been read. How anyone survives the embrassaments of public school is beyond me.
The thing that bothered me about the book was Randle's time line. Often she would use phrases like "after a few days" or "the next week" or "for a few weeks" but the whole book was about four months long from September to December. I just don't think all the events and process of Smitty (Michael) would have happened. Also I didn't count out how many weeks Randle said happened, but it always surprised me that not that much time had happened.
It is the story of a senior girl that moves into a new town. She learns that she lives next to a boy that never talks, ever. Another friend and she decide to befriend him and find a way to break him out of his "shell." It is a romantic story.
SPOLIERS:
I was never really sure what to think about Caulder. There were a few sentences in the beginning that made me think that he was going to turn out bad. I was always expecting that to happen and was nervous all the time. And then disappointed that he was just a good guy. Also I don't understand how Caulder and Ginny never had any flings with each other.
I liked how Randle added the information about Mrs. Tibbs being invovled in the charity to stop child abuse (ironic). I don't think the "theme" or the message about being a good mother would have been as powerful if she had just had Mrs. Tibbs having a job to explain why she wouldn't be at home.
Randall is just freaky and I hate him.
I loved some of the scenes about high school. Randle did a good job making me feel like I was in high school again. I loved that she talked about Ginny having a crush on Peter just because it would have been fun. I did that a ton. It added excitment and romance to life, without dealing with the drama. I would have never gone back to school if that note had been read. How anyone survives the embrassaments of public school is beyond me.
The thing that bothered me about the book was Randle's time line. Often she would use phrases like "after a few days" or "the next week" or "for a few weeks" but the whole book was about four months long from September to December. I just don't think all the events and process of Smitty (Michael) would have happened. Also I didn't count out how many weeks Randle said happened, but it always surprised me that not that much time had happened.
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