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Alien Agent #1
My Cousin, the Alien
In this first book of the Alien Agent series, we meet Zack, a normal kid with a crazy cousin, Ethan, who thinks he's an alien. But is Ethan really crazy? And why do the same bald, odd-looking fat guys keep reappearing everywhere the boys go?
152 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2008
4 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Pamela F. Service
38 books48 followersBorn in Berkeley, California, Pamela F. Service grew up loving to hear, read, and tell stories - particularly about weird stuff. Pamela earned a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley followed by an MA in history and archaeology from the University of London.
She spent many years living in Bloomington, Indiana, writing, serving on the city council, and being curator of a history museum. She has a grown daughter, Alex, who is also a museum curator. Pamela is now living in Eureka, California, where she writes, works as a museum curator, and acts in community theater.
She spent many years living in Bloomington, Indiana, writing, serving on the city council, and being curator of a history museum. She has a grown daughter, Alex, who is also a museum curator. Pamela is now living in Eureka, California, where she writes, works as a museum curator, and acts in community theater.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 20, 2018
This book was really good. At the beginning It was slow but when these two men that Eaten, Zack's younger cousin thinks that are aliens too it was a chase will the two alien agents find Eaten and Zack or will they get away read the book to find out.
April 7, 2022
Awesome illustrated science fiction for the lower middle grade set -- a step above a chapter book, but still funny, engaging, with lots of illustrations. My two kiddos loved these!
September 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️💫
It was a good book for adventure but it wasn’t my favorite.
It was a good book for adventure but it wasn’t my favorite.
August 19, 2018
This book was very nice. There was a very big twist at the end i highly recommend this book.
April 7, 2011
4/3/2011 ** I want to invite my students to participate in the Young Hoosier Book Awards this year. I thought I should read a few more of the books! This one is by Pam Service, long-time resident of Indiana, though the book jacket says she's now living in CA.
My Cousin, the Alien seemed reminiscent of some of Bruce Coville's books. The cousin of the narrator is convinced he's an under-cover alien who's actually a prince from some distant planet. He leads the narrator on a series of adventures as they attempt to evade two other enemy aliens. The text is generously accompanied by black and white block & comic drawings that look like some of the more heavily illustrated pages in the Captain Underpants books. There is a nice twist in the plot at the end. While the characterization may be a little superficial or broadly drawn, the boys are distinct and believable.
On another note, if you're from Indiana, look for the resort that the boys' families visit. I'm sure it's French Lick, though Service calls it Deer Springs and talks about the Vulcan Wasser that was drunk for 'medicinal purposes' back in the early days of the resort. The narrator's description is a dead ringer for this real-life location.
4/7/11 ** I have two boys sharing this book right now, taking turns reading it. One seems very engrossed and I'm looking forward to talking with him about the book tomorrow.
My Cousin, the Alien seemed reminiscent of some of Bruce Coville's books. The cousin of the narrator is convinced he's an under-cover alien who's actually a prince from some distant planet. He leads the narrator on a series of adventures as they attempt to evade two other enemy aliens. The text is generously accompanied by black and white block & comic drawings that look like some of the more heavily illustrated pages in the Captain Underpants books. There is a nice twist in the plot at the end. While the characterization may be a little superficial or broadly drawn, the boys are distinct and believable.
On another note, if you're from Indiana, look for the resort that the boys' families visit. I'm sure it's French Lick, though Service calls it Deer Springs and talks about the Vulcan Wasser that was drunk for 'medicinal purposes' back in the early days of the resort. The narrator's description is a dead ringer for this real-life location.
4/7/11 ** I have two boys sharing this book right now, taking turns reading it. One seems very engrossed and I'm looking forward to talking with him about the book tomorrow.
January 18, 2013
I like this series--quick and actiony reads. The main character is always called upon to offer believable explanations for the humans who are accidentally involved with aliens and/or outrageous happenings. The creatively he employees to handle these situations and to deal with the alien menaces real make these fun reads. The weird and greedy aliens are always neat as well as the alien partners that our hero has to work with for his missions. I've been gobbling through the series like candy; great read for reluctant readers!
December 22, 2013
RL 720. Zack's cousin Ethan thinks he's an alien. Kids at school make fun of him for his antics. Zack tries to defend him and ends up adopting some of Ethan's paranoia that aliens dressed like fat bald men are out to get them. Is Ethan crazy-- or is it true? A cute read that boys will enjoy. Destined to become a series.
November 20, 2024
This is a youth book- I first picked it up to see if my grandson would enjoy it. I read the first three chapters to him- the words were a bit too advanced for him (he is 7) but he enjoyed the story.
I will hold off to finish reading it to him- but now I am hooked- I finished the book and have just gotten the other books in the series from the library!
I will hold off to finish reading it to him- but now I am hooked- I finished the book and have just gotten the other books in the series from the library!
March 22, 2011
Zack thinks his cousin Ethan is crazy because he's always claimed to be an alien prince secretly adopted to an Earth couple to keep him hidden from enemies, but when two scary looking guys start chasing them everywhere they go he worries Ethan may be right after all.
June 16, 2011
Although it took a bit long to get to the interesting parts, this ended up being a pretty good story. I would recommend it to ages 7-11. I wish the story would have been a bit more developed, but for kids who like quick reads, this one is perfect!
March 16, 2010
A cute book with a surprise ending. I will be using this for 4th grade booktalks this year.
June 30, 2010
Good read - lots of adventures and aliens- nice twist in story
September 29, 2010
A silly story about a nice boy who doesn't know he's an alien agent. Fun to read, part of a series.
June 22, 2011
Goofy but fun, with a surprise ending. Good beginning for a series
March 2, 2012
Sci Fic for a fourth grader/ higher reading third grader. Fairly adventurous, but not a lot of plot.
March 5, 2012
cute, harmless, a little too much exposition up front made it feel like a sequel despite being book 1.
January 2, 2013
First book read this year on my brand new kindle fire HD!
August 31, 2013
the cousins care about each other.
January 4, 2015
Good middle grade read for boys-- narrator can be a little annoying// the book gets confusing at the end but has a twist.
March 12, 2016
This one surprised me. I guess I wasn't expecting much, but it was actually pretty good. A nice blend of humor and adventure with a great twist. Pictures add to the story. Nice start to the series.
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March 19, 2016ages 9-12
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews