Ben Archer and the Alien Skill

Alien Skill #2

by Rae Knightly

ALIEN OR HUMAN? Government agents continue to search for a boy, Ben Archer, and his alien friend, Mesmo. In spite of the constant fear of being caught, the undercover life they create for themselves along the Rocky Mountains could almost be called pleasant. Ben loves his new school and makes friends with a girl called Kimi. But while Kimi struggles with family issues, Ben is fighting his own inner demons. The alien ability is taking hold of him, making him terribly sick. Is his body rejecting the skill? How can he ever come to terms with what he is becoming-something that is neither human nor alien? A freak... When tragedy strikes, Ben realizes he must come to terms with his true self, even if it means giving in to the ability that is killing him. The quest to find out why aliens crossed the universe and crashed their UFO's on Earth continues in book two of The Alien Skill Series, a science-fiction adventure series for teens. Readers of Percy Jackson, Harry Potter and Keeper of the Lost Cities will enjoy this fresh, age-appropriate story with a scifi twist the likes of A Wrinkle in Time and Animorphs. These middle grade books have won the hearts of young and old alike, turning them into a best selling, award winning coming-of-age series filled with alien powers, hidden enemies, shapeshifters and a thought-provoking glimpse into the way we treat our planet.

Genres: Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Aliens

296 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2018

About the author

Rae Knightly is a sci-fi/fantasy author for teens and the young-at-heart.

Rae was raised in various locations on Earth, during which time she picked up four languages and came to appreciate this blue pebble floating in the confines of space.

Her current human mission is to keep the stars shining in her two children's eyes, while hopefully igniting new ones within others across the globe.

Rae spends her time spirit travelling to distant galaxies or exploring the breathtaking landscapes of British Columbia, Canada, before returning with more adventures for her ALIEN SKILL SERIES.

NEWSLETTER
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Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 is absolutely wonderful! I am completely enthralled! I have a new favorite author! Rae Knightly!
I should mention there are lots of surprises. These books are impossible for me to put down!

[Meenaz Lodhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides aliens after Ben and his mother, the government hard on their heels, both running for their lives with their loving dog, Ben coming to terms with his alien skill, this has been a roller coaster! Wouldn’t I just love to have the skill! The plot unraveling has been excellent, realistic, keeping me intrigued all the time, the characters are well defined with a wonderful in-depth.
All in all, a great rush, that kept me on my toes throughout the book. Looking forward to the next installment!
I am voluntarily giving a review of an advance copy I received from the author.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, blown away by this story w/this 2nd book. These are so action packed, & full of danger & suspense that I just fly through them. Can’t say a lot since this is book 2, but I’m so in love w/this series so far. There is a sad part in here that got to me some(I’m only human after all, not alien lol), but it’s apart of the story & where it’s going. It’s also a powerful scene that amazingly represents the beauty & love of something I find essential in this life. The way the storyline progresses is perfect. There had never been a dull moment, & it has kept me intrigued & fully entertained the whole time. The characters are absolutely amazing, & are so well established & full of depth & each identifiable & different. We meet some new characters in here that I really enjoyed, & I hope we see more of. For example I loved Kimi & the dynamic b/n her & Ben. Plus, I have so many questions about the last part she is mentioned in the book-what?? Need answers! Tike is still the most amazing fictional dog in the world. What a companion. We learn more about Mesmo, where he comes from, Ben’s skill, & more in this one. We also got some more questions to go along w/the so far unanswered questions too. That combined w/everything else I’ve touched on just makes you want to devour this whole series in one go. Especially the way the author ends each book so far. They have a talent for making an epic ending you love, & at the time time so excited & eager for the next book-seriously lol. Mesmo & Tike still have my heart. There are also some great things discussed in here, important things-addiction is touched on, & being of 2 cultures-in this case Canadian & First Nation(Dakhona). I also loved when a word was spoken in the Dakhona language, the author put a number beside it, & the English definition at the bottom of the page. Highly recommend! Another amazing cover by PINTADO too!💜

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Archer And The Alien Skill is a fast paced, engrossing, daring extraordinary, un-put-downable, adventurous, magical, and thrilling story! This is the second book in The Alien Skill Series which is recommended for 10-12 year olds. In my opinion, the age range should be 10-100. This book series completely captivates me. I LOVE it! The world building, characters, plot, action level, voice, and unexpected twists are all phenomenal. The Alien Skill Series is one of the best middle grade book series ever written!

Ben Archer with his newly found alien skill and Mesmo the alien are still on the run from government agents. Things start to look up as they create a new life in the Rocky Mountains. Sure things aren't perfect but Ben goes to school, finds friends, and relaxes enough to enjoy himself. However, things start going downhil when the alien skill begins to make Ben sick. He wonders what is happening to him. Is he a human, alien, or something in between. Shockingly his new friend Kimi might have the answers. With so many questions, unknowns, and the biggest question of all, why aliens crossed the universe in the first place, still looming Ben is spurred into adventute with little time to think.

[Giselle Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome characters, Awesome story, Awesome plot, Awesome adventure!

Things have definitely gotten harder and more complicated for Ben and Mesmo. Ben is in hiding, Mesmo is further in trouble than anyone can realize, and the Canadian Government is unknowingly working with the enemy. Then there is the emotion, the relationships, the loss, the fear. Take all this and have it lead through the most dangerous trek in the world and Readers will not be disappointed.

[M.K. Tufft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addicting series

Amazing plot, characters, and twists. I guess I’ll be binge reading to get through the series. Unputdownable! Great series - can’t wait for the next one.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Ben Archer and the Alien Skill
Author: Rae Knightly

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 19 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
19 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
19 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“I’m now on the Moon Paradox which I think is book three. They just keep getting better. Keep on writing them.” Female reader, aged 13
“Ben is the best character in the story. He has it really difficult in this book, which I loved. The plot is mega-clever and I'd recommend it to any teenager who enjoys fantasy and sci-fi.” Male reader, aged 15
“I love when I can get into a set of books and follow the story all the way to the end. I like seeing how the characters progress from book to book. A good example of this is The Maze Runner which I also loved. This book is almost as good as I never guessed what would happen next.” Female reader, aged 14
“I think this book is even better than the first book, which I also liked. This author is amazing at telling an exciting story teenagers will enjoy. It's so easy to relate to the characters and I liked that they weren't always perfect. I'm now going to hunt out the third book and enjoy that too.” Male reader, aged 15

To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced young adult thriller packed full of twists and turns. A SILVER MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Rae Knightly]

“Mom!” Ben yelled, panic surging through his body when he realized what was happening. He dropped Tike and heaved himself up a snowy ledge to rush to his mother’s aid. Instead, his feet slipped beneath him, and he skidded several feet down. Tike bumped into his head as he collided with a tree. He blinked the stars from his eyes and got up immediately, then realized that Mesmo was a little way up with his hands placed in the snow. He had turned the slope into ice.
“What are you doing?” Ben yelled furiously, trying to get up but sliding back every time. “Bordock’s got my mom! We have to save her!”
Mesmo reached him with a couple of strides and stared at him intensely. “No! That’s exactly what Bordock wants. If you go after him, that will be the end of us.”
“But my mom!” Ben shook all over.
“Calm down!” Mesmo urged.
“Calm down?” Ben howled. He threw himself at the alien, only to land headfirst in the snow. “Let me go! Let me help her!” he yelled, punching at the air where Mesmo stood. It was useless, of course. Ben gasped for air and let himself drop to the ground.
“We’ll save her,” Mesmo said sternly. “But not now. Not like this. We have to get you as far away as possible from the police, find cover, and wait out the storm.”
Ben’s cheeks were wet with tears. “No!” He felt like a small child who would not listen to reason.
Mesmo crouched beside him. “You must!”
Ben stared at the alien, his mind whirling. His heart couldn’t bear to think of his mother spending another minute with Bordock, but his mind knew it was inevitable, for now.
He glared bitterly at Mesmo, then picked up Tike, tucked him back into his jacket, and stepped into the darkness.

[Madam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that Ben and his mom, Laura, are safely settled in Thomas Mombecko’s home, with Mesmo posing as dad & husband, he starts school as Ben Archer and makes friends with a First Nations girl, Kimi, whose own situation is as difficult as Ben’s. However, he’s disturbed by the psychic messages Tike sends him and deliberately pushes them away, hurting his closest companion. He also starts receiving messages from other animals, such as an injured crow he and Kimi take to her mother, Maggie, a former veterinarian, which makes Ben question whether he’s losing his humanity to his gift. At the same time, Laura discovers that Mesmo has a very brief window to return to his planet, while his physical body is still trapped in the detention center. And, of course, Agents Hao and Connelly are still on their trail, while Mesmo sees the man in charge of his imprisonment on TV, the head of a failing oil company who just happened to be Ben’s Grampa’s neighbor and knows the truth about the Cosmic Fall.

Forced once again to run, Ben & Laura take off in Maggie’s old truck and flee into the mountains, closely pursued by Hao & Connelly, but between Mesmo’s water gift and Ben’s gift to telepathically communicate with animals, they’re able to fend off the agents. However, their escape is harrowing and costly, and as they hitch a ride to the greyhound station in Calgary, both Ben & Laura are weighed down by grief … not knowing that across the mountains, Kimi receives a visit from the recovered crow, bearing a positive sign …

[Teresa Ershbock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Once I started I couldn't put it down - even my 4 yr old granddaughter coming over to visit couldn't tear me away (although I did multi-task and read while playing with her).

Sometimes the 2nd book in a series isn't as good as the first but this one is definitely worth reading. If you haven't read the first book, Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall, fear not...this book does just as well as a standalone

This book is much deeper and somewhat darker than the first one without resorting to a lot of gratuitous violence and drama. I want to tell you all about it, but I'd rather you read it yourself and form your own opinions and ideas.

I can't wait for the next book. Mostly to see what happens with Mesmo - do they find him? what is his mission? But also because these characters are now like friends to me and I want to know that things are going to work out for them.

[Mererid Evanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent middle-of-series novel. Nothing is resolved, but pieces are beginning to fall into place. We learn more about the characters, more about the background to the conflict between the aliens (though still only hints about the "mission"), more about the animal communication "skill" imposed on Ben, which he has a hard time coming to accept. Much of the book is set in a very pleasant small town in the Canadian Rockies - really, all the townspeople are nice as pie and it starts to feel like home. Eventually though, the agents do catch up to them and there is an almost-too exciting chase sequence in the snowy mountains. And Ben talks to a grizzly bear!

There is an emerging conservation theme. The book is quite emotional in places and tackles some difficult matters, so I'd put it at the high end of middle grade. Ben turns 13 in the course of the story.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. I breathed a small sigh as Ben and his mother found a place to settle that seemed to be safe. I felt for Ben as he struggled with accepting his alien skill. I was entertained by the antics of Ben and his classmates. I held my breath as Ben and his mother were forced to run again. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I enjoyed A W Dickson's narration, and his performance enhanced the story's impact. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Emanuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I'm beginning to see why this might not necessarily be the best fit for more demanding readers. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty good story but it oversimplifies situations that in the adult world, just don't make sense. The frozen accounts of Ben's mom is a good example. She's got no money but they've been able to escape and travel and get fed throughout the entire story so far.

Also, I'm sorry, but this was a £4.99 book. That's €5.8/$6.5. Same for the next in the series. I think that's a bit expensive for (Kindle) books you read in 2-3 hours. Now I know my OCD will probably kick in at some point and will not accept not finishing a series, but for now, I think I'll stop here.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series. Ben and his mother have found a place to stay and for awhile, Ben was able to go to school and make friends. He tries his skill connecting with animals more and more but finds he gets sick and sometimes loses himself when he connects with them. They are still being chased by Hao and the alien chasing Mesmo. When Ben helps a classmate, his location is found out through social media and they soon have to run for their lives. This is a fast paced, action adventure that students age 10 or more would enjoy.

[Miss E Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book despite being nearer young pensioner than young adult. In a lot of this book they are on the run or in hiding. Ben goes to a new school and makes friends, which is new for him. As in the first book this one deals with relationships with family and friends and love of all kinds. If you've read the first book some of your questions will be answered here but more will be raised. I'm now waiting on book 3.

[Guy Venturi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben has an alien skill. Is he an alien?

Or is he a translator? A human? A mutt?

The world swirls with sound, snow, and situations that test a boy's courage and friendships.

Who is the shapeshifter and why does he want Ben? Why is the good CSIS officer so bad? And the bad one a grizzly bear?

The number of open questions begs a sequel, so just wait for it. It will be worth it.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was a really interesting book and even though this is the second book and I hadn't read the first book I easily picked up what was going on. Though I would recommend reading the first one first. I loved the character's interactions with each other and there were a good few laugh out loud moments.

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful! This tale is filled with great adventure and lots of suspense. I must say that even though this book is geared towards middle-school readers, adults of all ages will certainly enjoy this story as well. This is a voluntary and well-deserved review of a review copy graciously supplied by the author.

[Pamela Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Alien skills series in which a young boy and his grandfather along with four o the people witness a crash of a space ship .

This book was and emotional rollercoaster so much is happening so heartbreaking poor Ben and his Mom can't get a break and tike just NO why so yeah on to the next book what's gonna happen can't wait to find out .

[Sonia Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! So much humanity, outer worldliness and action. Ben Archer is a very believable hero, grappling with his new found skills, attempting to settle into a new community whilst being chased by forces he doesn't understand. This book is a real page turner with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge ofyour seat right to the end. Can't wait to read book 3.

[Jay Storey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful new installment in the Ben Archer series. Ben begins to come to terms with what happened to him, and even uses it to his advantage. Lots of action and suspense, some great new characters, and spectacular settings in the mountains of Alberta. Can't wait for the next one!

[Marilu Coelho · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving the relationship that is building between Ben and Mesmo, and Mesmo and the mother. But that ending... so sad. I was literally in tears. And that cliffhanger. I was onto the next book immediately to see if they found and rescued Mesmo. This series is so intense and suspenseful!

[Theresa L. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Surreal Adventure Continues

Ben and his Mom are hiding in plain sight.

Ben makes new friends, while trying to hide who he really and terrified at what he may be becoming.

The sequel is even better than Book 1. Can't wait to read the next book!

[cynthia r. brooker · Rating 3 out of 5]

So very sad!

What was so very good àbout these books was the relationship between the boy and his dog. And then the dog had to die. Ruined it all for me. I would have stopped at the first book had I known this.

[Glenn Hangaard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed

The first book and 3/4 of the second book of Ben Archer were good and interesting.
But! I do not read books to be lectured about the environment or anything green related.
Post that Amazon.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series continues to be absorbing. The plot continues to develop and there is no lack of twists and turns.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me up reading until the end. I was so tempted to go on to the next in the series!

[Alder Blacksmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me at the edge of my seat. So many exiting twists and turns, and Ben in the middle of it trying to figure out his new alien skill. And that ending... What a cliffhanger.

[Camden Kerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tike dies ): but I liked Kimi.
UPDATE: I just dinked off a star from my original review because I’m still grieving Tike’s death a couple months later. Why do the dogs always die?