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Alien Next Door #5
Baseball Blues
One, two, three...strike! When Zeke, Harris, and Roxy try out for the baseball team, Zeke uses his powers to play better. Will his desire to hit home runs get in the way of their friendship? Read Book 5 in the bestselling Alien Next Door series.
It's baseball season, and Zeke, Harris, and Roxy all decide to try out for the team. Zeke doesn't quite know how to play baseball, but his powers allow him to pitch and hit better than anyone else! But Harris thinks that what Zeke is doing is cheating, since none of the other players have his powers, and he's also concerned that someone might discover Zeke's an alien. But Zeke doesn't see a problem with this, causing tension in their friendship. Can Zeke and Harris save their friendship, or will they strike out?
It's baseball season, and Zeke, Harris, and Roxy all decide to try out for the team. Zeke doesn't quite know how to play baseball, but his powers allow him to pitch and hit better than anyone else! But Harris thinks that what Zeke is doing is cheating, since none of the other players have his powers, and he's also concerned that someone might discover Zeke's an alien. But Zeke doesn't see a problem with this, causing tension in their friendship. Can Zeke and Harris save their friendship, or will they strike out?
112 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2018
38 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 11, 2023
3.5 stars. In this book, Harris and Zeke start playing baseball. Zeke uses his powers to cheat and Harris calls him out. He eventually realizes why its the right thing not to use his powers.
December 16, 2020
Not my favorite. - G, age 7
March 16, 2022
The Alien Next Door is actually not one book, but (to date) eight books that I picked up as a boxed set at Costco last weekend. (The set also included a children's activity book, with pictures to color, writing prompts, etc.) Their titles are The New Kid; Aliens for Dinner?!; Alien Scout; Trick or Cheat?; Baseball Blues; The Mystery Valentine; Up, Up, and Away; and A New Planet.
While each book stands somewhat on its own on the scale of an elementary-level chapter book, the whole series also works together as a continuous story with each individual book as a kind of chapter in it. My father, who got to it before me, read all eight books in one sitting, and was the first to complain that the last one ends abruptly without really resolving the storyline. Actually, his exact words were, "It just goes pbpbpbpbt." I myself managed it in two settings, but they went quickly in terms of total time. I'm glad to report that according to Fantastic Fiction, a ninth book titled The Marvelous Museum is supposed to come out in October 2022. So, I guess this series isn't over yet.
As for the eight books so far, most of them came out in quick succession in 2018 and 2019 and have charming illustrations, featuring an apparently American (or maybe Canadian?) boy named Harris who begins to suspect that the awkward, lonely new kid next door may actually be an alien from outer space. The more sure of this he becomes, the more his family and his best friend, Roxy, think he's just being mean because Zeke is different. But Harris is right; and after the first couple of books, he and Zeke become friends and Harris begins to share in his secret. Harris and Roxy help Zeke learn about such strange human customs as scouting campouts, trick-or-treating, baseball and Valentines.
Then Zeke finds out his parents, Xad and Quar, have finished their research on Earth and they have to move back to the planet Tragas. At first, Harris and Zeke look for a way to delay their departure. In the last book (so far), Harris reveals Zeke's secret to Roxy, and the two of them stow away on the ship and get to experience the "new kid" phenomenon from the other side, disguised as aliens on a strange new world.
Written at an elementary level, the books are simple and light but they also carry themes, such as being kind to people who are different from you, not cheating or taking shortcuts. They look at American(?) cultural customs in a humorous light, with charm, goofy humor and an occasional flash of wit. The weirdness of Tragas and its cultural customs comes in for some imaginative treatment, too, modeling Harris and Roxy's openness to having new experiences and, of course, their loyal friendship with Zeke. I feel even better recommending these books knowing that there's more to come.
A.I. Newton is also the author of the "Little Olympians" series, also illustrated by Sarkar, in which kid-sized Greek gods go to camp to learn how to use their powers and get along together. Their titles, up to the most recent release, are Zeus, God of Thunder; Athena, Goddess of Wisdom; Hermes, the Fastest God; and Artemis, the Archer Goddess. I can't actually find any information online about A.I. Newton as a human being. For all I know, he may be a fictitious pen-name, maybe with a whole list of author credits under another name.
About illustrator Anjan Sarkar, I've learned that he's a British illustrator of Indian heritage who has contributed art to such books as Rum Pum Pum by David L. Harrison and Jane Yolen, Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas by Pamela Ehrenberg, and Level Up! Last One Standing by Tom Nicoll, among 20-some books.
While each book stands somewhat on its own on the scale of an elementary-level chapter book, the whole series also works together as a continuous story with each individual book as a kind of chapter in it. My father, who got to it before me, read all eight books in one sitting, and was the first to complain that the last one ends abruptly without really resolving the storyline. Actually, his exact words were, "It just goes pbpbpbpbt." I myself managed it in two settings, but they went quickly in terms of total time. I'm glad to report that according to Fantastic Fiction, a ninth book titled The Marvelous Museum is supposed to come out in October 2022. So, I guess this series isn't over yet.
As for the eight books so far, most of them came out in quick succession in 2018 and 2019 and have charming illustrations, featuring an apparently American (or maybe Canadian?) boy named Harris who begins to suspect that the awkward, lonely new kid next door may actually be an alien from outer space. The more sure of this he becomes, the more his family and his best friend, Roxy, think he's just being mean because Zeke is different. But Harris is right; and after the first couple of books, he and Zeke become friends and Harris begins to share in his secret. Harris and Roxy help Zeke learn about such strange human customs as scouting campouts, trick-or-treating, baseball and Valentines.
Then Zeke finds out his parents, Xad and Quar, have finished their research on Earth and they have to move back to the planet Tragas. At first, Harris and Zeke look for a way to delay their departure. In the last book (so far), Harris reveals Zeke's secret to Roxy, and the two of them stow away on the ship and get to experience the "new kid" phenomenon from the other side, disguised as aliens on a strange new world.
Written at an elementary level, the books are simple and light but they also carry themes, such as being kind to people who are different from you, not cheating or taking shortcuts. They look at American(?) cultural customs in a humorous light, with charm, goofy humor and an occasional flash of wit. The weirdness of Tragas and its cultural customs comes in for some imaginative treatment, too, modeling Harris and Roxy's openness to having new experiences and, of course, their loyal friendship with Zeke. I feel even better recommending these books knowing that there's more to come.
A.I. Newton is also the author of the "Little Olympians" series, also illustrated by Sarkar, in which kid-sized Greek gods go to camp to learn how to use their powers and get along together. Their titles, up to the most recent release, are Zeus, God of Thunder; Athena, Goddess of Wisdom; Hermes, the Fastest God; and Artemis, the Archer Goddess. I can't actually find any information online about A.I. Newton as a human being. For all I know, he may be a fictitious pen-name, maybe with a whole list of author credits under another name.
About illustrator Anjan Sarkar, I've learned that he's a British illustrator of Indian heritage who has contributed art to such books as Rum Pum Pum by David L. Harrison and Jane Yolen, Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas by Pamela Ehrenberg, and Level Up! Last One Standing by Tom Nicoll, among 20-some books.
February 15, 2023
Oh, dear.
Well, it's another commercial, basically.
In the previous book of this series, "Trick or Cheat," there was a boy at school who was so desperate to win the halloween costume contest that he kept trying to sabotage Zekelebraxis (Zeke), who was using the opportunity to go out in his true alien form. In a contrast story, Zeke is now the one who wants to cheat. At baseball. Zeke, Harris, and Roxy (who finally has another legit reason to even be there) are going to try out for a baseball team. The 'cheating' that Zeke is doing is utilizing his powers for the team's benefit -- unbeknownst to the team, of course. This rubs Harris the wrong way.
Again: oh, dear.
Let's start with this particular book's positives.
1.) Seeing a black family doing well financially instead of showing them as a stereotypical family, say, the Evans from the 70s sitcom "Good Times" (which turned sour morally, but that's another story).
2.) Seeing a black man being successful in life to the point that he has connections.
3.) Morals.
4.) Seeing a story that shows that it's okay for friends to disagree and that the disagreement doesn't have to mean an end to a friendship (unlike really life, typically; Wisconsin. Never mind.)
and 5.) As I already stated above: Roxy having a freaking point in being there.
However, I'm about to seemingly contradict myself with number 3. There is a fine line, I believe, between using a story to deliver a moral and something being commercial. For a better example, Disney's "Frozen" vs. "Frosty Returns." Disney told a story that had a surprisingly good moral and a very strong message of love while Frosty's return was basically a global warming commercial.
"Baseball Blues" is basically an anti-steroids commercial.
1 star.
Well, it's another commercial, basically.
In the previous book of this series, "Trick or Cheat," there was a boy at school who was so desperate to win the halloween costume contest that he kept trying to sabotage Zekelebraxis (Zeke), who was using the opportunity to go out in his true alien form. In a contrast story, Zeke is now the one who wants to cheat. At baseball. Zeke, Harris, and Roxy (who finally has another legit reason to even be there) are going to try out for a baseball team. The 'cheating' that Zeke is doing is utilizing his powers for the team's benefit -- unbeknownst to the team, of course. This rubs Harris the wrong way.
Again: oh, dear.
Let's start with this particular book's positives.
1.) Seeing a black family doing well financially instead of showing them as a stereotypical family, say, the Evans from the 70s sitcom "Good Times" (which turned sour morally, but that's another story).
2.) Seeing a black man being successful in life to the point that he has connections.
3.) Morals.
4.) Seeing a story that shows that it's okay for friends to disagree and that the disagreement doesn't have to mean an end to a friendship (unlike really life, typically; Wisconsin. Never mind.)
and 5.) As I already stated above: Roxy having a freaking point in being there.
However, I'm about to seemingly contradict myself with number 3. There is a fine line, I believe, between using a story to deliver a moral and something being commercial. For a better example, Disney's "Frozen" vs. "Frosty Returns." Disney told a story that had a surprisingly good moral and a very strong message of love while Frosty's return was basically a global warming commercial.
"Baseball Blues" is basically an anti-steroids commercial.
1 star.
October 17, 2024
Not my favorite one. The baseball lingo was a little confusing for us since we don't play or watch baseball. There's a good lesson inside the story nonetheless.
Also, there were two typos in this one (that I noticed) so that threw me off a little as well.
Also, there were two typos in this one (that I noticed) so that threw me off a little as well.
March 19, 2019
Dexter (10yo) read.
March 25, 2020
Definitely not my favorite in the series. Probably because I have zero interest in baseball lol.
August 8, 2022
Another winner for my six year old. I enjoyed reading it out loud to him and we are both looking forward to the next book soon.
April 15, 2025
4.9/5 Lincoln 7
June 10, 2025
Love this series. Fun read
February 11, 2026
GREAT FOR BOYS
My boys (6 and 10) have loved this series. My oldest doesn’t fight to read anymore. Give this series a try.
My boys (6 and 10) have loved this series. My oldest doesn’t fight to read anymore. Give this series a try.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews