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Alienated: Grounded At Groom Lake
Fourteen-year-old Sherman Capote is an Air Force brat used to moving schools. But he's never been to a place like Groom Lake High, the high school for aliens at Area 51. It's a totally alien environment filled with cliques and bullies, but he makes friends with a gang of galactic misfits: Octo, a quick-witted Ventitent (a twenty-tentacled "octopus"), Houston, a moody robot, Sonya, a rebellious lizard, and Juliet, an omnipotent goddess. But when the school bully, Ned, initiates a War of the Worlds, Sherman and his new friends must set aside homework, first crushes and high school proms to save the world.
'Harry Potter' meets 'Star Wars'
'Harry Potter' meets 'Star Wars'
Paperback
First published November 1, 2018
9 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Norton
23 books41 followersJeff is the author of the award-winning MetaWars series for young adult readers and 'Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie' and 'Alienated: Grounded At Groom Lake' for middle-grade readers.
His new book series is 'Dino Knights', a chapter book series about brave knights riding into adventure on the backs of dinosaurs!
A reluctant reader as a youth, Jeff is passionate about creating stories that will turn reluctant readers into lifelong ones.
Before writing novels, Jeff managed the Enid Blyton literary estate. Jeff moved to London from Los Angeles where he'd developed and produced the critically acclaimed interactive movie Choose Your Own Adventure, based on the best-selling books.
Originally from Canada, Jeff lives in London with his wife and two young sons where he also writes & produces for TV.
His new book series is 'Dino Knights', a chapter book series about brave knights riding into adventure on the backs of dinosaurs!
A reluctant reader as a youth, Jeff is passionate about creating stories that will turn reluctant readers into lifelong ones.
Before writing novels, Jeff managed the Enid Blyton literary estate. Jeff moved to London from Los Angeles where he'd developed and produced the critically acclaimed interactive movie Choose Your Own Adventure, based on the best-selling books.
Originally from Canada, Jeff lives in London with his wife and two young sons where he also writes & produces for TV.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 9, 2022
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Alienated: Grounded at Groom Lake by Jeff Norton was the perfect middle grade quarantine book I was waiting for! Also - during the quarantine, Jeff is reading a chapter a day on his YouTube Channel, so please do check it out. His reading is wonderful!
From the first moment I read the synopsis, I knew I was going to like this book.
Fourteen-year-old Sherman is used to moving schools. But he's never been to a school like Groom Lake High, the high school for aliens.
It's a very alien environment for him, and he has to fit in. He quickly makes friends with a gang of galactic misfits. When the school bully NED endangers planet Earth, Sherman and his friends have to do anything they can to stop him!
My Thoughts:
The thing I loved most about Alienated: Grounded at Groom Lake was the amazing word play and inside jokes. It is very well thought and written and I really enjoyed it! There were so many puns and witty jokes that a children might initially miss, but will definitely make an adult chuckle.
"It suddenly struck me that Facebook might be one of the alien inventions we were all using. I had seen its inventor on TV once and he definitely looked more alien than human."
We read the book from Sherman's point of view.
And through him, we find out everything. His thoughts, his choices, his fears and his dreams. Not only do we get to know him, but we also get to watch his character grow as we move throughout the book.
"Sherman, when you get older, you'll come to appreciate that life is basically a series of disappointments."
Even though alien, this high school puts Sherman through all the troubles a normal school does: making friends, being bullied and having a crush. But Sherman also gets to fly rockets and has a chance to save the world!
Sherman's sister and his group of friends are awesome! They are funny and smart. I loved Octo, especially for his bravery and selflessness. I also loved the fact that the female characters were presented as strong and powerful individuals. It was a tiny touch, but quite meaningful, and it shouldn't go unnoticed.
"Now don't be fooled. Jess might look like a malnourished goth queen, but she punches like a heavyweight."
I also liked NED as a character.
"I'd call him a bully, but that's giving bullies a bad name."
He was quite a big bully - that is true. However, being evil is the only think he learned from his parents while growing up. The lesson we can learn is that sometimes we do bad things because we don't know any different. But what we do once we are given a second chance is what really matters!
I absolutely loved this book and I recommend it not only to middle-graders, but to people of all ages. It's a gem and it deserves to be n every child's library.
I received a copy of this book through a giveaway on Toppsta. All opinions are my own and completely unbiased.
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Alienated: Grounded at Groom Lake by Jeff Norton was the perfect middle grade quarantine book I was waiting for! Also - during the quarantine, Jeff is reading a chapter a day on his YouTube Channel, so please do check it out. His reading is wonderful!
From the first moment I read the synopsis, I knew I was going to like this book.
Fourteen-year-old Sherman is used to moving schools. But he's never been to a school like Groom Lake High, the high school for aliens.
It's a very alien environment for him, and he has to fit in. He quickly makes friends with a gang of galactic misfits. When the school bully NED endangers planet Earth, Sherman and his friends have to do anything they can to stop him!
My Thoughts:
The thing I loved most about Alienated: Grounded at Groom Lake was the amazing word play and inside jokes. It is very well thought and written and I really enjoyed it! There were so many puns and witty jokes that a children might initially miss, but will definitely make an adult chuckle.
"It suddenly struck me that Facebook might be one of the alien inventions we were all using. I had seen its inventor on TV once and he definitely looked more alien than human."
We read the book from Sherman's point of view.
And through him, we find out everything. His thoughts, his choices, his fears and his dreams. Not only do we get to know him, but we also get to watch his character grow as we move throughout the book.
"Sherman, when you get older, you'll come to appreciate that life is basically a series of disappointments."
Even though alien, this high school puts Sherman through all the troubles a normal school does: making friends, being bullied and having a crush. But Sherman also gets to fly rockets and has a chance to save the world!
Sherman's sister and his group of friends are awesome! They are funny and smart. I loved Octo, especially for his bravery and selflessness. I also loved the fact that the female characters were presented as strong and powerful individuals. It was a tiny touch, but quite meaningful, and it shouldn't go unnoticed.
"Now don't be fooled. Jess might look like a malnourished goth queen, but she punches like a heavyweight."
I also liked NED as a character.
"I'd call him a bully, but that's giving bullies a bad name."
He was quite a big bully - that is true. However, being evil is the only think he learned from his parents while growing up. The lesson we can learn is that sometimes we do bad things because we don't know any different. But what we do once we are given a second chance is what really matters!
I absolutely loved this book and I recommend it not only to middle-graders, but to people of all ages. It's a gem and it deserves to be n every child's library.
I received a copy of this book through a giveaway on Toppsta. All opinions are my own and completely unbiased.
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November 7, 2018
*I was provided with an ARC of this book by the publishers, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Let me start by saying that I enjoyed reading this book so much. It's aimed at children, but I honestly had so much fun reading it. Most people have had the school experience, with cliques, bullies, boring classes and bossy teachers and so Sherman's story will resonate with everyone. The only major difference is that while most people only felt like they were surrounded by aliens, Sherman actually was.
The Prologue is quite sad as we see Sherman trying to honour his mother that passed away, it was such a sweet thing to do and it made me a fan of Sherman Capote right there and then. Just by attempting to do this one thing for his mum, Sherman ends up having very fractured relationships with his dad and twin sister, and also causes the family to be relocated back to the USA. And on the first day of school, Sherman and Jessica get the shock of their lives, when they are the only two human pupils at the school. They immediately become targets for bullies and it was lovely to see that bad situations can sometimes have good outcomes, as Sherman essentially finds his friendship group through being bullied.
Back to the typical school dynamics, there were social hierarchies and classic students, just in alien form. Sherman and his friends were seen as the unpopular kids and don't even have their own table to sit at for lunch and we see them navigate their way around this, as Sherman sets his sights on an alien girl, who's a diety no less, and the most beautiful and popular one. Then there's the typical rich mean kid, NED, who constantly terrorises Sherman and his friends and whose evil ambitions may be bigger than Sherman ever thought, and of course he's interested in the diety, Juliet, also. Right alongside NED is his henchman Graz, who does all the heavy lifting of defenceless humans and aliens.
What was so brilliant about this, was that although this was Sherman's story, each of the side characters had their own mini storylines. His sister Jessica, who is constantly bickering with Sherman, desperately wants to act again, as Sherman ruined her last performance. Octo, the self appointed best friend, who is absolutely hilarious, is simply concerned about eating, giving Sherman not so great advice and pining after someone who has no interest in him, poor thing. And Sherman's dad is dealing with the fallout of Sherman's actions, that cost him his job through a swift demotion and how he is/isn't coping with his wife's death and having to raise the kids alone, as well as this relocation.
Sonya is a pink lizard who comes to Sherman's defence during the first bullying altercation, although not for him, but in the name of her oppressed people the Aristox. She is constantly trying to put NED in his place, because she hates that her species worships his kind and are made to perform a Balleropera for them, where one mistake could mean death. And then there's Houston, who simply became Sherman's friend because he was always around Octo and Sonya, he knows firsthand what NED and his people are capable of, and we see how he is still trying to come to terms with what happened. The love interest, Juliet, is trying to grapple with her role in the Universe as a powerful, omnipotent deity and whether she wants this responsibility or not.
I loved all of the plays on human culture and how aliens view it and vice versa, it was so amusing, for example when Sherman tries to explain what boxing is and they can't fathom how people hitting each other is a sport. Then there's aliens talking about roaming charges and The Simpsons. I especially enjoyed when Sherman thinks he's being bullied for his French toast, but the alien actually wants to eat his lunch tray. The different types of foods in the cafeteria was also entertaining, as there was a set of human dishes and a set of alien ones. All of the descriptions of the different types of aliens was very clear, creative and authentic, and I certainly wouldn't mind being a glowing deity.
I had a lot of fun with the story line that emerged, of Sherman and his friends having to save the world, it was a humorous and very bumpy ride indeed and I was engaged through all of it. My favourite aspect of this book though, was the development of Sherman's relationship with his family. Neither his father nor his sister, know why Sherman pulled that stunt that upended their lives and so they both feel huge resentment towards him, even though his dad should know better. As Sherman goes on this remarkable journey to win the girl and save the world, he just might be on the right track to put his family back together. As the story progresses they begin to try and understand each other more, and there are some really sweet scenes between Sherman and his dad, even though Sherman's resigned himself to the fact that his dad no longer even likes him.
To conclude, I had a whale of a time with this one, and I truly believe that children will have an even better time. The story is so enjoyable, Sherman and his band of misfits are extremely likeable and the writing was great and just so much fun, it's the most childlike joy I've had reading a middle grade in a while. There were so many jokes, especially from Octo, that had me laughing out loud and all around, this had a stellar cast of characters. I would completely recommend it to everyone, even if you're not a fan of the genre, as I'm very picky when it comes to middle grades myself.
Let me start by saying that I enjoyed reading this book so much. It's aimed at children, but I honestly had so much fun reading it. Most people have had the school experience, with cliques, bullies, boring classes and bossy teachers and so Sherman's story will resonate with everyone. The only major difference is that while most people only felt like they were surrounded by aliens, Sherman actually was.
The Prologue is quite sad as we see Sherman trying to honour his mother that passed away, it was such a sweet thing to do and it made me a fan of Sherman Capote right there and then. Just by attempting to do this one thing for his mum, Sherman ends up having very fractured relationships with his dad and twin sister, and also causes the family to be relocated back to the USA. And on the first day of school, Sherman and Jessica get the shock of their lives, when they are the only two human pupils at the school. They immediately become targets for bullies and it was lovely to see that bad situations can sometimes have good outcomes, as Sherman essentially finds his friendship group through being bullied.
Back to the typical school dynamics, there were social hierarchies and classic students, just in alien form. Sherman and his friends were seen as the unpopular kids and don't even have their own table to sit at for lunch and we see them navigate their way around this, as Sherman sets his sights on an alien girl, who's a diety no less, and the most beautiful and popular one. Then there's the typical rich mean kid, NED, who constantly terrorises Sherman and his friends and whose evil ambitions may be bigger than Sherman ever thought, and of course he's interested in the diety, Juliet, also. Right alongside NED is his henchman Graz, who does all the heavy lifting of defenceless humans and aliens.
What was so brilliant about this, was that although this was Sherman's story, each of the side characters had their own mini storylines. His sister Jessica, who is constantly bickering with Sherman, desperately wants to act again, as Sherman ruined her last performance. Octo, the self appointed best friend, who is absolutely hilarious, is simply concerned about eating, giving Sherman not so great advice and pining after someone who has no interest in him, poor thing. And Sherman's dad is dealing with the fallout of Sherman's actions, that cost him his job through a swift demotion and how he is/isn't coping with his wife's death and having to raise the kids alone, as well as this relocation.
Sonya is a pink lizard who comes to Sherman's defence during the first bullying altercation, although not for him, but in the name of her oppressed people the Aristox. She is constantly trying to put NED in his place, because she hates that her species worships his kind and are made to perform a Balleropera for them, where one mistake could mean death. And then there's Houston, who simply became Sherman's friend because he was always around Octo and Sonya, he knows firsthand what NED and his people are capable of, and we see how he is still trying to come to terms with what happened. The love interest, Juliet, is trying to grapple with her role in the Universe as a powerful, omnipotent deity and whether she wants this responsibility or not.
I loved all of the plays on human culture and how aliens view it and vice versa, it was so amusing, for example when Sherman tries to explain what boxing is and they can't fathom how people hitting each other is a sport. Then there's aliens talking about roaming charges and The Simpsons. I especially enjoyed when Sherman thinks he's being bullied for his French toast, but the alien actually wants to eat his lunch tray. The different types of foods in the cafeteria was also entertaining, as there was a set of human dishes and a set of alien ones. All of the descriptions of the different types of aliens was very clear, creative and authentic, and I certainly wouldn't mind being a glowing deity.
I had a lot of fun with the story line that emerged, of Sherman and his friends having to save the world, it was a humorous and very bumpy ride indeed and I was engaged through all of it. My favourite aspect of this book though, was the development of Sherman's relationship with his family. Neither his father nor his sister, know why Sherman pulled that stunt that upended their lives and so they both feel huge resentment towards him, even though his dad should know better. As Sherman goes on this remarkable journey to win the girl and save the world, he just might be on the right track to put his family back together. As the story progresses they begin to try and understand each other more, and there are some really sweet scenes between Sherman and his dad, even though Sherman's resigned himself to the fact that his dad no longer even likes him.
To conclude, I had a whale of a time with this one, and I truly believe that children will have an even better time. The story is so enjoyable, Sherman and his band of misfits are extremely likeable and the writing was great and just so much fun, it's the most childlike joy I've had reading a middle grade in a while. There were so many jokes, especially from Octo, that had me laughing out loud and all around, this had a stellar cast of characters. I would completely recommend it to everyone, even if you're not a fan of the genre, as I'm very picky when it comes to middle grades myself.
Read
November 1, 2018Hello everyone!
Today is an exciting day as it marks the release of the new middle grade fiction novel: Alienated - Grounded at Groom Lake. by Jeff Norton. I was lucky enough to be sent a copy to review, so thank you very much.
I am very excited to be part of the blog tour for the release of this exciting book! Check out the picture below for all the details. Make sure to keep up to date with all
DETAILS
Paperback
Published November 1st 2018 by Awesome Reads
ISBN
1911195964 (ISBN13: 9781911195962)
PLOT
Our main character Sherman is a child who moves schools often due to family connections to the Air Force. One of his moves takes him to Groom Lake High, a high school with a twist. There are the normal cliques and bullies. Sherman, alongside his new alien friends, are embroiled in a War of the Worlds and have to put aside normal school activities to save the world.
I personally thoroughly enjoy reading middle grade books. I found this story had lovely aspects of friendship and adventure and I read it very quickly! The characters in this story were endearing, especially Sherman's group of friends - who were indeed aliens! There was a good sense of friendship throughout this book, especially when there are the sterotypical school bullies causing trouble.
Thoughts:
Overall this story was exciting, fun and interesting. I really enjoyed all of the different characters. The alien emphasis was very good and there were lots of side story plots, where you got to know all of the characters very well. The story was well written and kept me hooked enough to finish it in 1 day. I would recommend to all!
Keep your eyes open for another review in my blog tour as detailed above!!
Today is an exciting day as it marks the release of the new middle grade fiction novel: Alienated - Grounded at Groom Lake. by Jeff Norton. I was lucky enough to be sent a copy to review, so thank you very much.
I am very excited to be part of the blog tour for the release of this exciting book! Check out the picture below for all the details. Make sure to keep up to date with all
DETAILS
Paperback
Published November 1st 2018 by Awesome Reads
ISBN
1911195964 (ISBN13: 9781911195962)
PLOT
Our main character Sherman is a child who moves schools often due to family connections to the Air Force. One of his moves takes him to Groom Lake High, a high school with a twist. There are the normal cliques and bullies. Sherman, alongside his new alien friends, are embroiled in a War of the Worlds and have to put aside normal school activities to save the world.
I personally thoroughly enjoy reading middle grade books. I found this story had lovely aspects of friendship and adventure and I read it very quickly! The characters in this story were endearing, especially Sherman's group of friends - who were indeed aliens! There was a good sense of friendship throughout this book, especially when there are the sterotypical school bullies causing trouble.
Thoughts:
Overall this story was exciting, fun and interesting. I really enjoyed all of the different characters. The alien emphasis was very good and there were lots of side story plots, where you got to know all of the characters very well. The story was well written and kept me hooked enough to finish it in 1 day. I would recommend to all!
Keep your eyes open for another review in my blog tour as detailed above!!
November 1, 2018
This is definitely one of the middle grade book that I easily went into. It is about Sherman and his sister, Jessica who both ended up in an alien school and it's basically about what happened to them while they are in the school. It is interesting, even though the story line doesn't develop drastically from one event to another. But this book just keeps me wanting to continue reading and that, my fellas, proves this is a book that is absolutely worth to be read.
Full review will be posted on my blog on 8th of November! :)
Full review will be posted on my blog on 8th of November! :)
November 9, 2018
This book was such a pleasure to read, and so relatable!
Sherman Capote and his twin sister, Jessica, are the only human kids at an alien school in Area 51... they are doomed from the start. Encounters with yet another bully, feeling like an outsider and a global ban from being within reach of a rocket are just some of the difficulties Sherman will have to face at his new school. That is until ... he sets off an adventure to save the world, and also be Romeo alongside a deity in the school play.
Sherman is a reflection of me when I was in school and that is what made me feel connected to him straight away. He is a relatable and funny character. Many children reading this book will be able to find a funny friend in Sherman. Jeff Norton knows how to make kids laugh, and has awesome pop culture references for readers of all ages.
The plot in Alienated is really exciting and fun to follow. It was wonderful to see Sherman grow as a character and I was rooting for him each time. Each character has their own side-plot and this makes for an engaging read. There is great character development for each character in this book, as well as a wonderful presentation of realistic family dynamics, and friendships.
Overall, this is a great read for sci-fi fans of all ages. Any reader will find a relatable moment to Sherman. Jeff Norton had me laughing throughout the whole book and I didn't want to put it down! This is a fantastic twist on school life and the difficulties each child might face in school.
Sherman Capote and his twin sister, Jessica, are the only human kids at an alien school in Area 51... they are doomed from the start. Encounters with yet another bully, feeling like an outsider and a global ban from being within reach of a rocket are just some of the difficulties Sherman will have to face at his new school. That is until ... he sets off an adventure to save the world, and also be Romeo alongside a deity in the school play.
Sherman is a reflection of me when I was in school and that is what made me feel connected to him straight away. He is a relatable and funny character. Many children reading this book will be able to find a funny friend in Sherman. Jeff Norton knows how to make kids laugh, and has awesome pop culture references for readers of all ages.
The plot in Alienated is really exciting and fun to follow. It was wonderful to see Sherman grow as a character and I was rooting for him each time. Each character has their own side-plot and this makes for an engaging read. There is great character development for each character in this book, as well as a wonderful presentation of realistic family dynamics, and friendships.
Overall, this is a great read for sci-fi fans of all ages. Any reader will find a relatable moment to Sherman. Jeff Norton had me laughing throughout the whole book and I didn't want to put it down! This is a fantastic twist on school life and the difficulties each child might face in school.
November 16, 2018
This book was an unexpected delight! I'll definitely be recommending it to my sisters. I loved the tone, and the fun characters Sherman Capote befriends. Definitely worth a read! This book made me go back to my school years, remember the good, the bad and the ugly, but made me laugh out loud with that amazing and unique twist to the classic "feeling out of place (alien, even)" sentiment we've all experienced growing up.
November 13, 2018
A wonderful middle grade read that's a little bit Harry Potter meets Star Wars meets Men in Black meets all the best things and is laugh out loud funny. The chapters are short and fast paced and the plot zips right along. This is perfect for reluctant readers and for fans of zaney science fiction. Don't miss this really fun book that sets up more adventures to come (yes, please).
November 16, 2018
Fast-paced, exciting, relatable (even though this isn't aimed at my age)! I mostly loved the poignant storyline about Sherman's mother but the balance between touching and humour was really lovely, which made it an enjoyable read. Loved the gang too, they're hilarious!
April 12, 2021
"Alienated" is a story of two siblings, Sherman and Jessica, who find themselves to be the only two human kids at a high school for aliens in Nevada's Area 51, called Groom Lake. It’s a fish out of water, a little bit of comedy, a little bit of science fiction, some adventure, and a love story—all in one. Fundamentally, it’s about feeling like an outsider and then going from being an outsider or a misfit to finding your people, even if your people aren’t people at all.
The author did such an excellent job of portraying that feeling of not knowing where to be and that whole unease in your own skin even with other types of skin now in that cafeteria.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/jef...
The author did such an excellent job of portraying that feeling of not knowing where to be and that whole unease in your own skin even with other types of skin now in that cafeteria.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/jef...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews