Aliens in the Sky

Spooksville #4

by Christopher Pike

Embark upon an out-of-this-world adventure in this fourth book in New York Times bestselling author Christopher Pike’s Spooksville series.

When Adam and his friends stay up late one night, they see bright lights in the sky. Lights that look suspiciously like flying saucers. Then, the next night, one of the saucers lands by the reservoir, and the creatures who come out of the ship don’t look like people at all. Their heads are too large, and their eyes are too big and black. Worse, they want Adam and his friends to come with them for a little ride in space. In fact, the aliens insist that they come. They practically drag the kids into their ship. Then the flying saucer takes off! And it doesn’t look like they'll be coming back anytime soon. Can Adam and his friends figure out a way to get home?

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Childrens, Audiobook, Mystery

Audio CD

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Christopher Pike is the pseudonym of Kevin McFadden. He is a bestselling author of young adult and children's fiction who specializes in the thriller genre.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

McFadden was born in New York but grew up in California where he stills lives in today. A college drop-out, he did factory work, painted houses and programmed computers before becoming a recognized author. Initially unsuccessful when he set out to write science fiction and adult mystery, it was not until his work caught the attention of an editor who suggested he write a teen thriller that he became a hit. The result was Slumber Party (1985), a book about a group of teenagers who run into bizarre and violent events during a ski weekend. After that he wrote Weekend and Chain Letter. All three books went on to become bestsellers.

Reviews

[Justin Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous middle grade alien novel with high stakes adventure, classic '90s environmental messaging, and great sequences of kid empowerment. It's the fourth entry in the Spooksville series and unquestionably the strongest thus far. The other books have been good, but messy in plot coherency. This one actually feels like a single adventure that logically progresses from one event to the next. It's also surprisingly advanced in its sci-fi elements, with legitimate discussions around hyperspeed, time travel, and telepathy. The perfect gateway book for a youngster infatuated with sci-fi stories. Actually, it makes even me want to read more novels set in space!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aliens In The Sky from the Spooksville series is probably one of my most anticipated books to read this year.The story starts off with the kids hanging out at Cindy's house.They are complaining about the skyrocketing heat.It never seems to get this hot in Spooksville.One of the kids decide to go to the local reservoir.Im pretty sure it's Watch.He claims its cooler there.They go and it is near the Haunted Cave.They have all kinds of stories about the reservoir including one about the water turning your skin Grey and making your hair fall out.They end up seeing two flying saucers in the sky and the kids hide.The aliens land and get out of the ship and they are described pretty much how they look on the cover only they have belts and clothes with weapons on them.Watch wants to make contact with them,but the other kids think they shouldn't,because if they take Watch they may never see him agian.There is a very nice moment between watch and Adam about missing eachother.Watch ends up making contact with the aliens and they are not friendly.They point ray guns at him and bring them aboard a ship.Adam dosn't like this and decides to go get Watch back.Watch and adam end up getting shot with the ray guns,but we learn later that the guns have settings to stu. and kill. Adam ends up getting taken on the ship and Sally and Cindy end up fighting with the other aliens.This is where we pretty much get split up chapters between Sally and Cindy's perspective and Adam and Watches.Adam and Watch are on the ship and they wake up with headaches from being stunned from the ray guns.They don't know what is going to happen to them.They see a door appear and this little alien pops up.We now learn that the aliens can communicate through telepathy.He introduces himself as Ekweel12.The kids explain that they didn't get on the ship willingly.Ek,who Sally gives the nickname to is surprised that they were taken by force,because this is against the law of their people.The guys tell him to explain to the other aliens,but Ek says he can't as they are his teachers.We also learn that adult aliens telepathy is not as strong as kid aliens.The guys hear an interruption on an intercom radio think and it's Sally.She is driving the other spaceship.She demands to have her friends back.This chapter brought a smile to my face.Sally is awesome.Ek ends up transporting to the other ship with Sally and Cindy to help them out and another adorable scene is when Cindy says Ek reminds her of Adam and claims he's cute.There is a scene later in the book where Ek tells Adam this and it's even more great.Ek explains that the other ship is going through hyperspace.So Sally and Cindy's ship follows them.On watch and Adam's ship,they are getting hungry.And they end up traveling through hyperspace and see the planet that the aliens supposedly lives on up ahead.The planet itself looks like earth only the cintinetnts are shaped differently and there is a cloud of pollution surrounding it.Watch makes the assumption that the planet became so polluted that they couldn't live there anymore so instead they live on this floating space station nearby.I'll admit I was hoping they would actually go to the planet instead,but it's still fun.The guys end up in this cage and they look outside and they notice there are multiple cages with different species from what they belive are from different planets.They even see a hyeet.They guys end up seeing another alien that's another kid alien.I don't remember his name.On the other ship, Sally and Cindy come up with a plan to get the guys back.It involves what the spaceship runs on and gambeling.Im not going to say much more because this is close to the climax.I really enjoyed this book alot.A fellow follower and I'm assuming an expert on these books claims this is where the book series gets good.I countered last time when I said the last book is where it got good.And I'm doubling down on that claim.I did enjoy this book alot,in fact I really don't have any complaints,but I will say I felt like I enjoyed the last book slightly more.I really don't have a reason.I just did.I give Aliens In The Sky another five out of five stars.I also wanted to point out the scene with Watch and Adam,where Adam says Watch can come over and eat at his house anytime because we learn that Watch has to cook his own food.I hope we learn more about watch in the other books.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my fourth audio that I've read about this group of teenagers trying to survive in Spooksville. This take is set just after the third, you don't have to read the previous, but would help, and it was a very different read. First it doesn't deal directly with spooksville and it doesn't feature any other characther besides our four protagonists. Both boys are kidnapped by aliens and the two girls try to save them with the help of an alien.

There are some twists (by the end). It was a funny easy read. 72/100

[Drucilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this a four star rating mainly because the problems I had with the previous books weren't here. The triangle between Adam, Sally, and Cindy wasn't really here and the decisions the kids made were actually based in reality. There's some really fun dialogue and it was interesting to see the kids split up. And I really like how we're seeing a little bit of Watch's backstory in every book.

[Carrie (brightbeautifulthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the summer heat chases Adam, Sally, Watch, and Cindy up to the reservoir, the last thing they expect to see is a couple of flying saucers landing near the water. A curious Watch volunteers to make contact, but an intelligence mission quickly turns into a rescue mission when he and Adam are abducted. With the help of a young alien, Sally and Cindy will have to risk leaving Earth forever to save their friends. Trigger warnings: abduction, threats, explosions, guns, injury.

I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did, but it’s probably the strongest book since The Secret Path. I don’t have a lot of tolerance for alien stories, but I should have remembered that Pike always does unusual things with his science fiction. Admittedly, the alien lore is a little cheesier than his usual fare, but I chalk that up to its middle grade audience. On the whole, it’s accessible and well done, if not entirely original. I’d tell you which sci-fi movie he pulls the plot twist from, but that would give it away.

One of my favorite things about the series so far is how often the girls are in a position to save the boys instead of the other way around. After watching the show, I wasn’t expecting Cindy to stick around for more than one book, but I think she’s a nice counter to Sally’s fire and impulsiveness. They’re not exactly a seamless team and the end conflict is a little over the top (thank you, Sally), but I liked to see them working together. We also get to know Ekwee12 pretty well, and I really liked the emphasis Pike puts on younger generations being more committed to things like freedom and fairness than adults. It’s very easy to be cynical about children and teenagers, but instead the message defaults on hope. All in all, I’m enjoying the series a lot, and I suspect I would have loved it growing up.

I review regularly brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite loving ‘90s middle grade sci-fi and horror, I’ve somehow gone my entire life without reading Christopher Pike. He did not give me a great first impression—I liked the twist at the end, but as a whole, it wasn’t a very good book.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. Less spooky than the previous books in the series but still some tense moments. A fun alen adventure with an environmental message. A quick easy read...I'm enjoying the series so far.

[I'mogén · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Details:
Narrated by Adam Verner
Unabridged

I enjoyed being off of this planet, but I do wish we got to learn more about the aliens technology, rather than just and escape adventure.

It had a nice little bit about changes to Earth, but could have had more of a message.

Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén

[Mx.Lucey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this audiobook like a week and a half ago and forgot to post about it due to the flu and 3 jobs and Daisy and a bit of depression and stress and such so sorry.
I really enjoyed some of this book but jumping into the 4th book in the series was a bad idea. I was told Spooksville was like Goosebumps like a kid's scary story series so I thought since Goosebumps doesnt usually do books with reoccurring characters and towns I wouldnt have to worry about missing information or anything like that but I was wrong so I felt lost during some of it but otherwise it was great. Very imaginative and fun but also modern.

[Florencia · Rating 3 out of 5]

No se si es porque me gusta más cuando se tratan de "terror" o brujería, pero este libro no veía la hora de terminarlo. Si bien no es necesario leerlos en orden cronológico, ¡sentía que no podía saltearmelo! Igual fue entretenido.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy how fast the girls threaten a terrorist attack.

[Elusive · Rating 2 out of 5]

In 'Aliens In the Sky',  Adam, Sally, Watch and Cindy are out late at night eating and playing poker when they spot two descending flying saucers. The creatures onboard are determined to capture them.

There was plenty to like:

- Sally and Cindy made a formidable duo. The former was especially audacious and courageous.

- Ekweel2's manner of speaking was delightful. "Fifteen of your minutes."

- The big reveal. The aliens were not aliens. They were human beings from the future.

Overall, 'Aliens In the Sky' was mostly enjoyable despite being somewhat repetitive in parts. However, the alien aspect could have been further explored rather than just having Ekweel2 tell them everything.

[Nam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is not really set in Spooksville, but it is fascinating. I like the idea of what the human race turns into. I could well imagine people destroying the Earth so badly that the human race must live in space stations. The 'fathead' description was weird, but to the 'aliens', it seemed normal. I wonder if we really will see Ekwee12 again. He is a fun character.

[Jonathan Eduardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Divertida lectura juvenil acerca del encuentro entre un grupo de chicos y unos misteriosos extraterrestres . Muy parecido a lo que nos podrìamos encontrar en un libro de RL Stine, sus pocas pàginas y su àgil lectura lo convierten en un libro ideal para regalar a los màs pequeños. Saludos

[Magali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is really not as great as I remembered. But at least the girls got to do something this time, and I liked the twist (eventhough I definitely remember getting it before the big reveal as a kid...).

[Ana Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, what?! The story was really good, you know where this is going, but you can't see anything coming. Also with a lot of laugh and sarcasm, the characters keep developing on their friendship and persona.

[Paloma Caballero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siento que este volumen no tuvo nada que ver con nada ya aún así me gustó. La única razón por la que le puse tres estrellas es porque constantemente sentía que me había salido de la saga para entrar en otro tipo de historia. XD

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not expecting aliens, even though this is Spooksville. Although there was tension and some scary moments, this book was more science fiction than the light horror found in the other books. Also, the last 25% dragged a bit. As a result, this is my least favorite of the series so far.

[Laura Bartrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed that more than I thought I would.

[Emmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

10/9/19

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has the same twist as "Help! I'm Trapped in an aliens body!". That is all.

[AaAaAaAlex]

it was a great book with a surprise at the end

[Deedee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars for young children.

[Linda]

all 4 books were great good reading when i have the time

[Nader Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.5/10

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading these with my 9 year old. Loved Christopher Pike when I was younger.

[Santiago · Rating 3 out of 5]

me gustó pero me pareció el mas flojo de la saga hasta ahora, igual no le pido nada a estos libritos ♥ Entretenimiento nada mas.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely meant for middle grade readers. A bit cheesy in some places but overall an ok story.

[Spencer L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se sintió como una fiebre de sueño.

[Chica Novocaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gusta que toda la colección suceda en el mismo pueblo.