Skywatchers

by Carrie Arcos

A mystery about the history of the Cold War and the UFO phenomenon..

The year is 1952. The threat of invasion from the Soviet Union has people in a panic. The government has issued a call to civilians to act as radar--and Teddy, John, Caroline, Eleanor, Bunny, Frank, and Oscar eagerly answer. As members of their high school's "Operation Skywatch" club, they, along with others across the country, look to the sky in an effort to protect the country from attack.

But they're not prepared for the strange green light they see when on duty, which looks like nothing they've been trained to look out for. So when the mysterious object lands in the forest, Teddy, John, Caroline, and Bunny go in to investigate. Then, they disappear.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Fiction, Aliens

368 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2020

About the author

Carrie Arcos is a National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature for OUT OF REACH; her fifth novel SKYWATCHERS will be available August 2020. She lives in Los Angeles with her family. For more information, check out her website: carriearcos.com

Reviews

[Peyton Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was absolutely addicting! I stayed up super late two nights in a row because I literally couldn't put the book down. I was originally interested in this book because it was compared to Stranger Things, which is one of my favorite TV shows. I definitely see similar vibes between the show and this book. When I first started the novel, I wasn't positive if I was going to like it because it had a unique writing style using third person omniscient POV. We get to see into the minds of every single character and the first couple chapters felt like a giant info dump on each one. As I kept reading, I got used to the writing style and was able to understand why the author chose to write it this way. Once the book reached the catalyst, I was absolutely sold on this book. There was a mystery that developed that I genuinely couldn't figure out. That was my favorite part of this book. The mysterious, sci-fi vibes it exuded. So if you start this book and you feel conflicted about it at first, I highly encourage you to stick with it. Once the mystery is built up (pretty early on in the book as well), it is absolutely fascinating. A quick summary of this mystery is 4 teenagers seeing a mysterious light in the sky. They are a part of a club called the Skywatchers and they watch the sky in case there are Russian aircrafts that possibly appear with bombs (it is set during the Cold War). When they follow the light into the woods, the teens come out days later with no memory of what happened to them. And one of their friends never came back. I highly recommend you pick this book up when it comes out August 18th!

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well this book was all over the show and never quite landed anywhere long enough for me to connect to the story.

The first third had quite a few info dumps which felt unnecessary and could have been blended better into the story. If you are interested in the Cold War aspect, then you will need to look elsewhere as it barely made an impact on the story aside from giving the kids a reason to see something in the sky. The part where the kids went missing and were trying to piece together what happened was okay, then the big reveal happened (which was admittedly really interesting) and I felt engaged, but then it quickly moved back to lots of 'telling'. The actual idea is very cool but it is delivered through lots of explaining. Sorry, not for me.

[Lindsay (pawsomereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skywatchers was so fascinating! I wasn't fully sure what to expect coming into this book but I ended up really enjoying it. It was so interesting to read a YA novel set in the era of the Cold War and the UFO phenomenon.
I loved the plot twists and the gang of characters were so likable. I could fully see the Stranger Things vibes through the perfect mix of mystery and science fiction in a historical setting.
I was so into the story that I couldn't put this book down. I definitely stayed up way too late to finish it, but it was totally worth it!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Philomel Books and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[vanessa ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Teen for a Netgalley ARC to review!

This book is set during the Cold War, and follows a group of high school students who join a Skywatchers club. Their job is to watch the sky for signs of Russian missiles, but they never imagined they would become entangled with a UFO mystery instead. This book is a historical fiction, as well as a sci-fi.

Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. I loved the idea of a historical fiction, and I loved the idea of a UFO story set during this time period. However, I feel like the book didn't really pan out on either of those descriptions.
As a historical fiction, there isn't much sense of time or place. We're aware of the time period and location because we're told, but there isn't much of an atmosphere. Aside from the mentions of the Red Scare and the recent end of WWII, readers are not really exploring or being immersed in this time period. So, for me, this isn't really what I want out of a historical fiction.
As a UFO mystery, there wasn't much exploration of aliens or extra-terrestrial phenomenon, and the mystery was more of a time waster than anything else. We know it's aliens from the beginning. It's in the synopsis, its in a blurb on the cover of the book. And yet, we spend fully 60% of this book beating around the bush while the kids wonder what happened to them and where they were. Then we are briefly transported to a futuristic sci-fi scene for a few chapters before the book ends, but the vibe never really connects with the mid-century UFO phenomenon feeling.
It just didn't work for me, historically or extra-terrestrially.
In addition, I felt the characters and the relationships between them were not given enough room to develop or make me feel attached. One exception to this was John, who I will say I had a good sense of his personality, and loved that the book acknowledged Japanese internment camps through him and his family's past. Throughout the book I felt like I knew who John was. I knew things about the other characters, but I didn't feel like I ever got the chance to get to know them.
I think ultimately this book was trying to do a lot of different things, but didn't fully engage with any of them.

However, I do think that these are things that other readers may not be bothered by, and I see this book has gotten a lot of love from other reviewers. So I would still say that if it sounds interesting to you, give it a shot. The writing is nice, the story is intriguing, and the characters are interesting if you're able to connect with them.

[rut is cool · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love this book! I thought that its pacing was a little slow but I think it build the suspense a bit more. The ending was;t as powerful as I would have liked but over amazing.

John and Caroline's story hurt me so much. I honestly don't like Caroline because even after experiencing her mother grieve and seeing how awful it is she still ends up doing it. I don't know maybe is was meant to happen that way but it kinda frustrated me. She was also so mean to John like girly he loves you so much and you treat him like garbage.

Teddy was such a sweet character I loved him so much. It hurt my heart that he was stuck in that awful universe alone for 10 years. He and Bunny's relationship should have definitely been explored more but that is just my personal opinion, not a critique.


OVer all one of the best alien books I have ever read. I totally recommend it. Full of suspense and mystery. I am definitely gonna check out her other book.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes syfy- or even if you’re not sure if you like syfy, try it and you might be a convert! The characters are engaging, it has a fun fifties vibe and the plot twists will keep you guessing for a good while. A great read!

[Sara Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skywatchers by Carrie Arcos combines science fiction, historical fiction, time travel, mystery, suspense, and a bit of mythology that throws you into the galaxy!

The story features several different and unique teenagers. While they don’t normally all get along, they all gather at night to watch the sky as part of the Skywatchers Club. From there you learn a little about Cold War era history and culture through the lenses of each character. I was anxious to know the whole time what happened, and Arcos kept me wondering.

For about the first 15-20% of the book, I struggled a bit to find interest. I wanted the story to pick me up and whirl me into space. Once I got through the first fifth of the book, I could not put it down. The last 25% of the book kept me on my toes and guessing until the very end. It was the perfect blend of so many genres that I love.

This book was an amazing read. If you are into history and science, I highly recommend this book. I think readers who don’t typically read these genres would also enjoy it. While this book got a bit creepy in parts, it was never scary.

Trigger Warning: Death of people under 18 years old.

Overall rating 4.75 stars.

I received an electronic advanced reader copy from Penguin Teen through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Amanda TheFunSizeReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skywatchers is a fun YA sci-fi mystery that definitely keeps you wondering, “What the heck is going on?”

The Fun Size Reader Instagram | BookTube Channel

It is the 1950’s, just after WWII, and high school kids interested in space and air travel are recruited to be Skywatchers, and make sure to warn the nearby military base if any threats are coming. But when 4 of them go missing, and show up later with no memory of the last few days, they have to figure out what happened to them. Was the ship they saw foreign? Domestic? Alien?


This was a fun sci-fi read, that was definitely fitting for a YA crowd. It reminded of a mixture of Back to the Future, Stranger Things (but not scary), and ET. This book was such a quick read because as a reader, you just wanted to know what was actually going on and if any of your theories were correct. I do say as an avid fantasy reader, I do wish there was a little more world building and character development in this story, but I know it went quickly because I believe it is a standalone. Even still, I enjoyed it and if you are a fan of sci-fi and like it mixed with a little historical fiction, this is definitely your go to book!

[Laura Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of teens watch the skies for signs of an attack from the Russians in the 1950s. What happens is far stranger. One night four of the teens follow a mysterious light into the woods. Two days later three of the teens come out, but they have no memory of their time in the woods. They do have strange new abilities, however; John can play the piano for the first time ever, Bunny now speaks Mandarin fluently, and Caroline has surgical skills on par with a doctor. What happened in the woods? Were the teens abducted by aliens, the Russians or the Chinese? Government officials visit the town to get to the bottom of the mystery, but the teens race to discover what happened themselves, as well.
Some readers will enjoy the mysterious elements of this sci-fi book, but most will be too bored to stick around for the ending.
The reveal in the last third of the book felt a jarring. The science didn’t completely make sense and things were revealed in one big rush. The pacing in general was off; things moved too slowly in the first two thirds and then sped up too much in the final third.

[Kateblue]

This book looked as if it might get interesting if I could ever get to the SF part (if there is one.) It's supposedly about a strange green light in the sky investigated by some high school students as part of the west coast skywatch in the early days of the cold war. But at 10%, the only plot points were discussion of class distinctions between high school students in 1952 and the way Japanese-Americans were treated during WWII and continuing. Bored now.

The writing is well done, but I felt the author did not remain on her plot line. Too many digressions.

Or maybe not. I was thinking of writing in this review that I might try the author later in her career, but then I went to see if she had written other books. Now, I think this book was mis-advertised as a SF story. Her other books appear to be YA mainstream and/or literary fiction. She was a finalist for a national book award!! So she's not writing SF/F. If she ever does, I will definitely try it.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like two different books to me. The first half was terrific! Tense, well paced, and compelling. The characters were interesting and the 1950's setting was well done. But somewhere at the 3/4 point the story lost its way. Arcos started to tell the reader what was happening instead of showing us and the pace faltered. A lot of information had to be imparted and it impeded the narrative and the intrigue was lost.

I finished the book but it lost the compelling appeal to me. This is too bad as the first part was so gripping and I was deeply engaged in the experience of the story. Still, even with the disappointing finish, I've found myself thinking a lot about the story and the characters. I've not read anything by this author before but I certainly check out her next book.

[Lys · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was exceptionally unique and did a great job of keeping the tension high as the mystery unraveled. But I actually think this would have been more successful as an adult sci-fi rather than a YA sci-fi, especially since many experiences the characters have are outside their teenager years. I enjoyed reading this, but there were points where I wanted less and points where I wanted a lot more.

[Rob Crypt · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. i really wanted to like this one but the plot was too disjointed for my liking. i listened to the audiobook and it definitely didn't help that the narrator used exactly the same voice/tone for all the male characters. it had the potential to be a really strong story but there were a lot of elements that really bored me

[Erin (erinevelynreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected more historical fiction when I started, but Skywatchers is more science fiction than anything. Whereas I expected more anti-Communist propaganda and overall fear, the story more focuses on UFOs and extraterrestrials. I liked the relationships between the characters and the overall mystery that’s central to the plot. I think fans of the show Stranger Things would enjoy this book, although it is far less gruesome.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I was granted ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***

Skywatchers by Carrie Arcos is a story about a group of teenagers that encounter something strange in the sky one night while participating in the Skywatchers program which in the midst of the Cold War was a way civilians kept an eye on the sky for Russian threats. Investigating the strange lights 4 of the group disappear and when only 3 of them return with no memory of what happened to them questions abound. The story then follows the reuntied group as they try to piece together what happened and find their missing friend. This book was an ok read. The characters were interesting enough for me to care about their progress throughout the story and their backstories were interesting too. However, I felt like there wasnt enough tension in the book to have me worried enough about the characters to turn this into a page turner of a read. Still a book that I think many will enjoy and I'd recommend this to its target audience.

Rating: 3/5 stars. Would recommend to a friend.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. After a poor government conspiracy book, I decided to read another. I can see why it was compared to Stranger Things, though these characters are older, and there is less adult involvement.

The whole thing escalated to a crazy explanation of what was going on, then resolved super quickly and very easily. Kind of a let down honestly.

But overall, it was decent.

The thing with Eleanor in the beginning seemed unnecessary, and it was quickly forgotten.

[Ela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two things:

1) i appreciated how original it was

2) OREOS ARE *HOW* OLD???

[ellaa m. · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good, the ending kinda made me lose interest a bit, not my favorite but would recommend.

[Naomi “Bookladyreads” · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need this book to get more buzz! This was such a great book. I had so much fun reading it. I loved the characters, the setting, and the story itself. This book was hard to put down and I can see this book being adapted for a TV series. It was quite the page-turner.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good sci-fi. I listened to it and the reader was a bit over dramatic, but I still enjoyed the story. Time travel and parallel universes are difficult for an author to pull off and I thought it worked in this book.

[yvonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

i saw this book as a recommendation for books to read if you liked stranger things, so i was actually excited going into this book. it has a promising premise, seemingly interesting characters, and the prologue was exciting! this is about the members of the Skywatchers club who saw a strange light in the sky one night, and then when they all went to the woods to investigate, they ended up missing for 24 hours, and all of them returned but one.

what i didn't like though from the very start was the tons of info dumping. i understand it's to introduce the characters, but i do believe that there are more creative ways to do that without being boring. this is just an idea from a plain reader like me, but i think the storytelling would've been a lot better if it didn't jump from one character’s pov to another, especially if they're all just experiencing or thinking the exact same thing. it felt like a big, heavy drag to read through the pages that's been said by a different character from a previous chapter. it felt like the author was just stretching the story so the second half could start.

it would've helped if the characters were interesting, but they aren't. they felt two-dimensional, with characteristics just written in the paper. the dialogues weren't interesting nor funny, and the interactions between them always felt awkward! i feel like one of the most important elements this story is missing is the trope i like in stories, which is found family. my brother in christ, they didn't like each other!!!!!! they didn't even trust each other! oscar even thought they killed teddy ffs. caroline didn't like hugging bunny, which story-wise didn't make sense at all, because she felt drawn and attached to john, but why not bunny too, if she'd been friends with her “like a sister”? after going through something traumatic together, you would've thought they'd feel closer to each other, but they didn't, especially this very unlikeable girl called Caroline.

god how i disliked how she was written. i like how brave she is, how outspoken she sometimes could be, but most of the time i just couldn't stand her. she always thought about how she disliked Bunny, which felt like inner misogyny fr. she was also either crying or being a meanie. i dislike how she's all about trauma! all the story had given her was loss. lost her brother, her best friend for shock value, and her daughter for some reason.

also, why is oscar here? what's the point or the importance of his character? he's just like an extension of frank. he didn't even have his own pov even though he isn't dead he is a part of the Skywatchers club. you could delete oscar out of this story and everything would still end up the same.

the second half was where everything actually felt like a real story, but even this seemed rushed this time. there were real stakes that were horrifying, like ending up in the wrong reality, or being taken by the Ruu, but everything that happened was the best case scenarios, so it was always anticlimactic. like, oh, that's it? they're alive and well under three pages? ok….

when teddy returned and everyone reunited frank didn't even feel like “interrupting” them, which is why ! i said this story is really missing an important trope that makes stories like this heartfelt: friendship!!!! frank felt like an outsider which isn't the kind of feeling i didn't want to see in his perspective, because he's supposed to be a part of them, so it's sad!

i understand if the author didn't want them to be friends at first, and that's ok, but if she's not going to do anything about it i feel like there'd be no depth into these characters at all. no connection, no friendship, nothing. i would've wanted to see caroline visit bunny without thinking because when she lost emily bunny had been the one comforting her. because in the ruu universe they'd been tight friends. then bunny and caroline would feel confused, or shocked, because why does bunny feel the need to comfort caroline, who she has no memory of being friends with, and why does caroline has this gnawing feeling of needing bunny’s comfort despite “disliking” her? instead we only see this happen with john and caroline for the sake of romance. it throws off whatever bunny and caroline had in the ruu universe. it doesn't make sense. it's like friendship isn't all that important in this story. it's really upsetting.

what else?

1. what kind of name is bunny! and teddy! makes sense they like each other.
2. there was also a part where it showed how caroline was feeling even though it was frank's pov.
3. i may be just stupid, or i may have just missed it, but i also didn't understand the time ratio from the real world and the ruu world. how is 24 hours 7 years in the ruu world, but two weeks in the real world is only 10 years in the ruu world? is the author afraid of making teddy a senior citizen by the time bunny comes back?
4. what happened to the man who took the blanket? if he'd said he picked up the blanket, why didn't the officers take a look at it & see if it belonged to any of the kids missing? was this answered and i just missed it?

anyway, this is all just my opinion from my own reading experience. i guess i expected way too much. still, despite all this, the story still made me care about the characters. i also like the chapter lengths, they weren't too long or too short, so it was easy plowing through the pages. the description of the aliens were also really creepy! so yeah, i’m glad everything went well.

rip eleanor, you would've loved to be there.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book to review. I loved it... until the ending. Carrie weaved a fabulous terrifying tale up until the end. The ending felt rushed and a little random. A lot of it just didn't make sense to me. It seemed all over the place. She's a fantastic writer though and the story is great. I just wish there would have been a better ending.

[Aliyah Prater (Poemesome.mo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unputdownable! I loved the story, I got very invested into the characters in a way I never expected to. The author wove science in with fiction in such a beautifully original way. I want more!! I can’t wait to buy a physical copy when it hits shelves in August!

** thank you to Penguin Teen & the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review**

[Lady Foxreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second read: Yep, right up my alley. Even second time was incredible. I can see a movie comin from this unpopular book.

First read: I like this book a lot. It had me goin and goin until its finished. The idea was fairly simple and nothing is really new but somehow it got me hooked right from the start. Love it.

[Marija · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skywatchers blends history with mystery and science fiction. Such a combination should have plenty to interest readers. While the story has much to offer, it attempts to take on too many themes and ideas that impact the pacing, leaving the reader with a story that feels unbalanced.

The book starts out strong. Acros does fine job of weaving fiction with history, providing readers necessary context without having the story feel like an imposed history lesson. With the McCarren-Walter Act, the Ground Observer Corp, Project Grudge and perhaps even Project Blue Book to some degree, I’m sure that even some instructors might find themselves learning additional details about the federal legislation and government program initiatives that were in place during the 1950s.

Early on, Arcos also succeeds in offering readers glimpses into the science and technology of the times through her characters. Readers are introduced to a curious, passionate and well-read group of teens—teens who enjoy reading fiction—sci/fi, mystery, comics and the like—but also supplement their reading with books on programming, astronomy and physics, simply because they want to know and understand the science behind the stories that they’ve enjoyed. For them, it’s all new—a world full of mystery and discovery—and they want to be a part of it.

Yet when the mystery and sci/fi elements are introduced, the balance shifts. While the mystery is established early on, the book doesn’t offer very much in detail that would support and develop it, until the final third of the book. The reader is offered snippets of truth here and there, as the characters begin to remember what had happened; but these truths are not sustained by having the characters fully share and discuss them with each other. Readers might think this out of character, especially when recalling the characters’ passion and drive at the start of the story. The majority of the book tends to focus on character introspection: Readers are offered ample opportunities to reflect upon how different traumas can change one’s sense of self, and how this can impact beliefs, motivations and one’s sense of security. Though some readers might find this turn interesting, others may find these sections lacking enough drive to sustain the pacing of the plot, especially as the questions continue to mount.

The inconsistent pacing becomes more apparent when readers are offered a rapid-fire resolution, which some might find jarring. Events occur in immediate succession, leaving little time to offer compelling explanations and answers. History and science don’t necessarily offer much support to the mystery; there’s simply an acceptance, without the immediate drive to learn more. Readers who may find themselves comparing this sentiment to the sense of wonder in discovery that’s presented at the start of this book, might find such a turn of events disappointing.

[Sophie T · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley from the publisher*

In post-WWII America, a number of teenagers join the Skywatchers, a group created by the military that uses American citizens as the first line of defense against enemy aircraft by having them watch the skies. These teens include Caroline, a smart girl who is still grieving the loss of her younger brother; Teddy, who wants to be in the Air Force; John, a Japanese-American baseball player; and Bunny, who recently moved to the town from New York City. One night, while on watch, a light appears in the sky. It's not like any aircraft the teens had ever seen before, and when it lands in the woods those four go after it. But after they go into the woods they disappear...and nothing will be the same.

I would describe Skywatchers as a sci-fi mystery. I see some people assume it's historical fiction, but it really isn't. The focus is more on the unexplainable mystery of what happened to Teddy, Bunny, Caroline, and John. I really enjoyed this book and all were captivated by the plot. While the characters were a little bland at times the plot managed to make up for it.

I saw people saying how the outcome was predictable, but I feel differently. Throughout the book they want to you to think one specific thing happened. But that's not really the case. And I thought the reveal of what actually happened was really interesting. Though that could be because it's the third book I've read this year with a similar plot.

I like stories that make you think, "huh, is that possible?" That's part of what makes sci-fi such a captivating genre. There is so much we are still learning about science and space; so much that still could be possible that we have yet to discover. I really enjoyed Skywatchers and would highly recommend to anyone looking for an intriguing sci-fi novel, or an exciting mystery!

[Lisa McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huge thank you to the Penguin Teen Influencer program, Philomel Books, and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Prior to receiving the Penguin Teen influencer Fall 2020 ARC email I had not heard about Skywatchers by Carrie Arcos. The cover immediately caught my eye so I had to check the book out. I was super intrigued by the plot.

Skywatchers tells the thrilling story of a group of teens in the 1950’s who are a part of the “Operation Skywatch” club. Their job is to watch the skies for enemy aircraft. The club is pretty boring, at least until one night when a strange light appears in the sky. Four of the teens go to investigate, but they all disappear. The teens return, but all of their memories of the incident have been erased, and one of their group is still missing. Skywatchers is an exciting mystery that combines sci-fi and history.

Skywatchers was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed the suspense and the mystery! The story took a turn for me once the teens started to regain their memories. I liked the way the author went back in time to reveal what happened to the teens. I liked the big reveal, but everything happened very quickly. The reveal, the climax, and then the resolution felt very rushed.

Overall I really liked this story. It was a fun mystery that is outside my normal realm of reading. I enjoyed the suspense and the sci-fi aspects. The ending was just too rushed and resolved too easily. However, it was still super fun and exciting!

SKYWATCHERS WILL BE RELEASED ON AUGUST 18TH BY PHILOMEL BOOKS & PENGUIN TEEN.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The boys always brought the cigarettes, matches, cards, and magazines.

In 1952, the United States is on edge worried about an imminent Soviet attack. The government asks civilians to watch the skies, keeping an eye out for foreign aircraft. Seven teens in Monterey volunteer to spend afternoons in the tower keeping watch. One afternoon their lives change forever when a strange green light appears in the sky. Half the group goes to investigate the light and they disappear. What could have happened to them?

I was excited for this book since it is set in a time period that is not usually seen in YA historical fiction, and I was excited for the sci-fi element as well. Unfortunately I didn't find it as good as I had hoped. The book reads like middle grade, but I wouldn't classify it as that because the characters are all older teenagers and some of the situations they find themselves in are a bit too mature for a middle grade audience in my opinion. I felt like there was more telling than showing in the book, and I didn't find myself connecting with the characters. I felt there were too many POVs and it was not always easy to differentiate between them (this problem was probably exacerbated by listening to it on audio where there was only one narrator for the whole story).

What I did like about this book was the diverse cast of characters, showing that the 1950s weren't all white like some stories would have you believe. I liked that the book and the characters talked about WWII and the Interment of Japanese Americans instead of just pretending that it didn't exist. It would stand to reason that teens would be affected by things that happened when they were children. The sci-fi part was interesting, but I would have liked more there. It felt a bit like a concept that wasn't as fully fleshed out as it needed to be.

I recommend this book to those looking for something a bit different in YA historical and science fiction. The blurb compares it to Stranger Things which I have not watched, but if you are a fan of the show you may want to give it a try.

CW: death of a prominent character, deceased sibling, depression, drug use, gore, guns, kidnapping/abduction, medical procedures, racial slurs, war

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I should have given a few more pages before setting it aside, because this book was wonderful! The story starts slow - several teenagers sitting in a tower studying the sky (hence the Skywatchers thing) in the early 1950s. They're part of a program designed to spot enemy invasions. What no one expects is the enemy they spot.

When a UFO flies out of nowhere, the kids go chasing after it to find out where it might have crashed in the woods. Then promptly disappeared. The rest of the book is piecing together the puzzle of what happened and where the kids had gone.

This is one of those books which feels a little difficult to get into, in part because there are so many character's heads to get into. We have a lot of different POV chapters all at once, followed by a lot of questions which we are slow to answer. I actually laid this book down for a time and came back to it a couple of months later. As I said, I should have stuck with it back when I started it originally. I was sucked in and could not stop reading, plowing through the rest of it in the course of an afternoon.

I loved how complex and twisty this plot became. Every detail led to more questions, and I had to keep going to find out what happened. I'm sorely disappointed that this book ended with no more about them. I would happily follow these characters into future books.

I'll definitely be on the hunt for other books by the author. Definitely one worth reading.

[Haley M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a future re-read!

Science fiction is something I have been reading more and more lately and "Skywatchers" by Carrie Arcos is just what I needed right now! This novel has the feel of Stranger Things, Super 8, and a smidge of Star Trek. The four main characters Caroline, John, Bunny, and Teddy are so well written! I loved all the banter between the four of them. All four teenagers are very different, but it is a sort of "Breakfast Club" scenario where it all ends up working out perfectly.

Set in 1952, we are dropped into the era of the UFO hysteria. I cannot tell you how excited I was when "Project Blue Book" was mentioned! I am fascinated by all things PBB and getting another perspective on American life during the 50s UFO scare was excellent.

The main mystery that surrounds the three teens throughout the novel is a perfect example of a page-turner. I just needed answers! So many of the questions I had were answered, but after finishing it, I have even more! I hope we get more of this world at some time in the future!

My only problem is that I found the ending to be a bit rushed. I don't think there was enough time spent on the rescue and overall the conclusion could have been a bit more exciting as at times it was a bit anti-climatic.

4/5 stars!