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Ethan Fairmont #1
Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont
Something cool happening in Ferrous City? Not a chance.
Until one day . . . when self-proclaimed genius inventor Ethan Fairmont runs into an abandoned car factory to avoid a local bully and accidentally stumbles across his ex-best friend Kareem, new kid Juan Carlos, and an extraterrestrial visitor. Cheese (the alien) is stuck on Earth in need of some serious repairs, spicy snacks—and absolute, total secrecy. That’s easier said than done when mysterious agents descend on Ferrous City to search for Cheese. With time running out and their family and friends in potential danger, can Ethan, Kareem, and Juan Carlos pull off an intergalactic rescue before they’re all found out?
Until one day . . . when self-proclaimed genius inventor Ethan Fairmont runs into an abandoned car factory to avoid a local bully and accidentally stumbles across his ex-best friend Kareem, new kid Juan Carlos, and an extraterrestrial visitor. Cheese (the alien) is stuck on Earth in need of some serious repairs, spicy snacks—and absolute, total secrecy. That’s easier said than done when mysterious agents descend on Ferrous City to search for Cheese. With time running out and their family and friends in potential danger, can Ethan, Kareem, and Juan Carlos pull off an intergalactic rescue before they’re all found out?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2022
4 people are currently reading
1867 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 12, 2022
People judge middle-grade books too hard. Especially adults. But as an apparent grown-up human reading a book for a much younger target audience than myself (thank you, kindly, for the review copy), I have to shamelessly admit that middle-grade might be one of my favorite genres.
Especially when there are robots involved. And aliens named Cheese.
The ending of this book made me cry. Because it's a book about friendship, and not judging someone's situation when you don't know the whole story, and fearlessly being exactly who you are whether the world says it's fine or not.
Give it a read. Give it a try. I dare you.
Especially when there are robots involved. And aliens named Cheese.
The ending of this book made me cry. Because it's a book about friendship, and not judging someone's situation when you don't know the whole story, and fearlessly being exactly who you are whether the world says it's fine or not.
Give it a read. Give it a try. I dare you.
January 20, 2023
This story is basically E.T. with BIPOC characters, except less imaginative. Also, the problematic policing aspects of this story are not organically integrated. Finally, the main character is repeatedly referred to--including by himself--as a "super genius inventor." However, there is no evidence of that in the story. The kid is a thinker, at best. It is a classic case of an author telling the reader something without showing it in the story.
November 12, 2022
E ARC provided By Edelweiss Plus
Ethan lives in Ferrous City, in a close knit neighborhood. His father is looking for work, his mother is a nurse, and their small house is crowded with four boys. Ethan loves to tinker with electronics, so takes refuge in the attic, where he has his guinea pig, Nugget, as well. He also goes to an abandoned factory in town where people discard many electronics, and where he has a small lab of his own where he can work on inventions like his Handy-Bot. He's supposed to be helping an elderly neighbor, and also making friends with a new boy his age, but instead spends his time at the factory or trolling Gadget Beach, another unofficial dump site, for more materials for his inventions. The new boy, Juan Carlos, follows him to the factory, and the two are surprised by a big silver "pinball" that seems to have crashed there. There's even an alien creature who picks up Ethan's interjection of disbelief, "cheese and crackers", whom they then call "Cheese". Cheese obviously needs help, and a lot of food, so Ethan and Juan Carlos try to figure out what's wrong with his spaceship to see if Ethan can fix it. Unfortunately, they must also deal with local bully, RJ, his sister Diamond, and Kareem, Ethan's erstwhile best friend, who give them a hard time. Cheese's arrival has alerted local authorities as well, who run a check point in town. Ethan's parents have just given him and his brothers "the talk" about how to interact with policemen, but when authorities arrest his father, it's hard for Ethan to stay quiet. Kareem tries to help, and Ethan learns about some things that went on in his life that made him create distance between him and Ethan. Will the three boys be able to work together to keep Cheese safe, fix his ship, reconnect him with his family, and keep the situation in Ferrous City from becoming volatile?
Strengths: I enjoyed the fact that Ethan wasn't into sports as much as his brothers were, but his parents didn't make him feel bad about it, except when he took his father's hat for a guinea pig carrier without asking! He's able to create a lot of inventions, and his brothers just rib him lightly. RJ is a bit of a threat, but not for too long. It's good to see him make a new friend in Juan Carlos, and it was interesting to see that both boys are given a lot of freedom to run around their neighborhood, as long as they are home by the time the streetlights come on. Of course, working in the reality of being a young Black man out and about was timely and important, and done in a way that made sense within the story. There's still a lot of adventures to be had, and Cheese, despite his lack of communication, is a sympathetic life form the boys want to help. There are complications, of course, and the Handy-Bot sees some hard use, but things turn out well at the end. A fun, upbeat adventure with lots of geeky gadgets!
Weaknesses: I could have used a little more information about Ferrous City, especially about The Factory and Gadget Beach, both of which seemed environmentally dangerous. Also, I felt like I was missing something at the end when The Factory is turned into a community center.
What I really think: I'll definitely purchase this one, since it will appeal to young readers because of the adventure and general goofiness, and it will appeal to adults who like books to have serious messages. Had a little of the feel of Stewart's The Wild Huntsboys, mainly because of the ensemble cast.
Ethan lives in Ferrous City, in a close knit neighborhood. His father is looking for work, his mother is a nurse, and their small house is crowded with four boys. Ethan loves to tinker with electronics, so takes refuge in the attic, where he has his guinea pig, Nugget, as well. He also goes to an abandoned factory in town where people discard many electronics, and where he has a small lab of his own where he can work on inventions like his Handy-Bot. He's supposed to be helping an elderly neighbor, and also making friends with a new boy his age, but instead spends his time at the factory or trolling Gadget Beach, another unofficial dump site, for more materials for his inventions. The new boy, Juan Carlos, follows him to the factory, and the two are surprised by a big silver "pinball" that seems to have crashed there. There's even an alien creature who picks up Ethan's interjection of disbelief, "cheese and crackers", whom they then call "Cheese". Cheese obviously needs help, and a lot of food, so Ethan and Juan Carlos try to figure out what's wrong with his spaceship to see if Ethan can fix it. Unfortunately, they must also deal with local bully, RJ, his sister Diamond, and Kareem, Ethan's erstwhile best friend, who give them a hard time. Cheese's arrival has alerted local authorities as well, who run a check point in town. Ethan's parents have just given him and his brothers "the talk" about how to interact with policemen, but when authorities arrest his father, it's hard for Ethan to stay quiet. Kareem tries to help, and Ethan learns about some things that went on in his life that made him create distance between him and Ethan. Will the three boys be able to work together to keep Cheese safe, fix his ship, reconnect him with his family, and keep the situation in Ferrous City from becoming volatile?
Strengths: I enjoyed the fact that Ethan wasn't into sports as much as his brothers were, but his parents didn't make him feel bad about it, except when he took his father's hat for a guinea pig carrier without asking! He's able to create a lot of inventions, and his brothers just rib him lightly. RJ is a bit of a threat, but not for too long. It's good to see him make a new friend in Juan Carlos, and it was interesting to see that both boys are given a lot of freedom to run around their neighborhood, as long as they are home by the time the streetlights come on. Of course, working in the reality of being a young Black man out and about was timely and important, and done in a way that made sense within the story. There's still a lot of adventures to be had, and Cheese, despite his lack of communication, is a sympathetic life form the boys want to help. There are complications, of course, and the Handy-Bot sees some hard use, but things turn out well at the end. A fun, upbeat adventure with lots of geeky gadgets!
Weaknesses: I could have used a little more information about Ferrous City, especially about The Factory and Gadget Beach, both of which seemed environmentally dangerous. Also, I felt like I was missing something at the end when The Factory is turned into a community center.
What I really think: I'll definitely purchase this one, since it will appeal to young readers because of the adventure and general goofiness, and it will appeal to adults who like books to have serious messages. Had a little of the feel of Stewart's The Wild Huntsboys, mainly because of the ensemble cast.
February 3, 2023
Adventure abounds in this quick-paced read which packs in an alien to adore, friendship, tense moments, and a main character, who has a lively personality.
Ethan is a genius, who can build anything out of anything...although his parents aren't always excited to have their stuff go missing. He also has a tough time making friends. When a new boy moves in across the street, his mother insists he stop by and say hello, but Ethan has other plans. He needs to finish his robot at his secret hide-out. But not only does the new kid keeps stumbling in on him, but there's now an alien to deal with.
This is a energetic, adventure-packed read with a trio of main characters to jump right in with. It takes a bit of weaving for the three to get on friendship terms (one of the themes), but when they do, it's a great fit...and they need to work together considering what they're dealing with. Each character holds personality and rounds off the other as they head up against amazing odds and situations, exactly the kind to draw readers in and keep them wondering how things will turn out in the end. Of course, the alien adds a nice twist and lets fantasy fly. And then, there's the adults... the family situations can be sticky but have warmth and support, while other characters make life more than difficult. I had to smile at one of Ethan's comments—adults assume they understand kids, since they were once kids, but never think about asking if a monster chased them home or not. (I'm going to be asking my kids all sorts of weird things now).
The writing keeps this tale moving. The dialogue holds punch, humor, and heart, while feeling natural and letting the characters come to life. I was a little disappointed to see Ethan's own constant claim of being a genius without any shown backing (outside of inventions with no real basis). There are too many books out there for this age group, which dribble in, at least, a miniscule amount of actual terminology, research, or know-how. This book isn't pure ridiculous humor, so a tiny bit would have gone miles. Otherwise, it's a fun read and let's imagination loose in all the right ways. I could see many readers wishing they could join the trio in on the fun and help save the alien, too.
Ethan is a genius, who can build anything out of anything...although his parents aren't always excited to have their stuff go missing. He also has a tough time making friends. When a new boy moves in across the street, his mother insists he stop by and say hello, but Ethan has other plans. He needs to finish his robot at his secret hide-out. But not only does the new kid keeps stumbling in on him, but there's now an alien to deal with.
This is a energetic, adventure-packed read with a trio of main characters to jump right in with. It takes a bit of weaving for the three to get on friendship terms (one of the themes), but when they do, it's a great fit...and they need to work together considering what they're dealing with. Each character holds personality and rounds off the other as they head up against amazing odds and situations, exactly the kind to draw readers in and keep them wondering how things will turn out in the end. Of course, the alien adds a nice twist and lets fantasy fly. And then, there's the adults... the family situations can be sticky but have warmth and support, while other characters make life more than difficult. I had to smile at one of Ethan's comments—adults assume they understand kids, since they were once kids, but never think about asking if a monster chased them home or not. (I'm going to be asking my kids all sorts of weird things now).
The writing keeps this tale moving. The dialogue holds punch, humor, and heart, while feeling natural and letting the characters come to life. I was a little disappointed to see Ethan's own constant claim of being a genius without any shown backing (outside of inventions with no real basis). There are too many books out there for this age group, which dribble in, at least, a miniscule amount of actual terminology, research, or know-how. This book isn't pure ridiculous humor, so a tiny bit would have gone miles. Otherwise, it's a fun read and let's imagination loose in all the right ways. I could see many readers wishing they could join the trio in on the fun and help save the alien, too.
March 29, 2023
“As long as you’re here, we’ve got your back.”
Cheese twirled around, confused.
“No, we didn’t actually take your back,” I said, smiling. “It means we’re going to help you, ‘cause that’s what friends do.”
Juan Carlos nodded and smiled. “Friend welcome you, even if you’re new and alone and scared.”
Kareem said, “Friends are there for you when you feel like everything is going wrong, and they take you back even if you made a mistake.” Kareem and I bumped fists.
I cleared my throat. “And most importantly, friends help each other out when there’s a problem.”
.
In the words of Ethan Fairmont, “Cheese and crackers!!!” Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont is:
1. An incredible title, like, wow, I love it so much
2. So much fun!!!
Nick Brooks has given us a lovely middle grade adventure perfect for kids looking for diverse representation, while also introducing some of the real world issues that children might be beginning to notice and understand in an age appropriate way.
There’s a lot to love in this book filled with humor, heart, science, and extraterrestrial wonder and whimsy. Ethan and his friends are adorable, and so is little Cheese! Thanks so much to Union Square & Co. for my copy!
Cheese twirled around, confused.
“No, we didn’t actually take your back,” I said, smiling. “It means we’re going to help you, ‘cause that’s what friends do.”
Juan Carlos nodded and smiled. “Friend welcome you, even if you’re new and alone and scared.”
Kareem said, “Friends are there for you when you feel like everything is going wrong, and they take you back even if you made a mistake.” Kareem and I bumped fists.
I cleared my throat. “And most importantly, friends help each other out when there’s a problem.”
.
In the words of Ethan Fairmont, “Cheese and crackers!!!” Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont is:
1. An incredible title, like, wow, I love it so much
2. So much fun!!!
Nick Brooks has given us a lovely middle grade adventure perfect for kids looking for diverse representation, while also introducing some of the real world issues that children might be beginning to notice and understand in an age appropriate way.
There’s a lot to love in this book filled with humor, heart, science, and extraterrestrial wonder and whimsy. Ethan and his friends are adorable, and so is little Cheese! Thanks so much to Union Square & Co. for my copy!
October 3, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.
Terrific premise and really fun middle grade action packed novel! I loved the writing style and the story itself was clever, heartfelt, and downright hilarious at times. With a tagline of Stranger Things meets E.T., I was sold. Ethan is intelligent, curious, and resourceful. He's an inventor and needs to fix his Handy Bot robot, which is why he finds himself rummaging through places like The Factory and Gadget Beach for parts. Along the way he meets the new kid, stands up to bullies, finds a very hungry alien, reunites with his former best friend, and learns a lot about life.
Everything that I enjoy in a middlegrade action novel! I think my kids will have a lot of fun reading this one.
Terrific premise and really fun middle grade action packed novel! I loved the writing style and the story itself was clever, heartfelt, and downright hilarious at times. With a tagline of Stranger Things meets E.T., I was sold. Ethan is intelligent, curious, and resourceful. He's an inventor and needs to fix his Handy Bot robot, which is why he finds himself rummaging through places like The Factory and Gadget Beach for parts. Along the way he meets the new kid, stands up to bullies, finds a very hungry alien, reunites with his former best friend, and learns a lot about life.
Everything that I enjoy in a middlegrade action novel! I think my kids will have a lot of fun reading this one.
May 12, 2024
This is a charming and humorous adventure about a group of kids trying to help an alien fix his ship so he can return home. Beyond that, it's also a story of friendships (new and old), family, and community. It's an easy read and at only 236 pages, a pretty quick read. I think this story will appeal to a wide audience (would be a great classroom read-aloud), but with all the crazy adventure and funny moments, may be an especially good recommendation for those boys who don't really love to read. I'll definitely be talking up this one to our middle schoolers.
August 4, 2022
4.5 rounded up. I would describe this as ET meets Batteries not Included. This is a charming and grounded middle-grade sci-fi about friendship and being there for your friends...with lots of fun inventions and an alien! I had fun reading this one and enjoyed the writer's voice. I wasn't too into the plot, but the plot was adorable, and the characters were all fun, so they kept me interested.
Thank you to the published and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the published and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2022
Nothing interesting ever happens to Ethan Fairmont…until he meets an alien. Ethan is an inventor. He spends his time alone, creating new inventions after his best friend moves, switches schools, and starts hanging around with the boy who bullies Ethan. But when Ethan finds an alien in his secret sanctuary, he’ll do anything to help it fix its ship and get back to its family. Family, friendship, and science, along with some issues of discrimination, bullying, and police brutality.
April 5, 2023
Whiz-kid, inventor, science buff, and self proclaimed genius Ethan Fairmount, and his new neighbor Juan Carlos, and ex-best friend Kareem while evading neighborhood bullies stumble across a UFO hiding out in the abandoned car factory. Befriending the alien and naming him Cheese, Ethan tries to help him fix his disabled spacecraft to return home. A fun read in what hopes to be the start of a good series.
March 13, 2024
Ethan and his friends are relatable characters, with adventures that are just beyond believeable. A fun and engaging read. I read half and listened to half of the audiobook--audiobook was difficult to listen to as narration was choppy and had unusually precise diction. It felt like listening to an upper elementary student doing a fluency reading for the teacher. Print book recommended, audiobook not so much. Grades 3-6
February 25, 2023
This was a bed time read for my 11 year old. I typically hate middle grade books, but I found this one sweet and very funny. It has: robots, aliens, nerds, cool kids, dorky dads, friend fights, and forgiveness, and the invisible but strong bond of family. I thought it was well written and look forward to reading more books like this to my son.
September 24, 2022
This book was a give away win from Goodreads. My son absolutely loved this book, in his own words, it was exciting, adventurous, and cool.
November 26, 2022
Entertaining mg sci fi in the real world....I appreciated that it confronts the threat the police pose to black kids and their families.
Read
January 17, 2023this is practically pitch perfect middle grade and while I didn't *love* it I know exactly what tweens and teens will.
March 10, 2023
This was okay, I think others will enjoy it more than I did.
July 7, 2023
Great read. Now I need a movie to be made.
December 13, 2023
For kids: 5 Stars (the demographic it was written for)
For Adults: 3.5 Stars
It’s silly, fast but still tackles some important subjects like race relations but does so in an age appropriate way.
For Adults: 3.5 Stars
It’s silly, fast but still tackles some important subjects like race relations but does so in an age appropriate way.
Read
December 2, 202406/2024 Booktalks
February 8, 2025
A sixth-grade genius inventor works with his ex-best friend and new neighbor to help an alien finds its way back home. Humor and a smart black protagonist made this a fun read aloud.
March 10, 2024
What would you do if you found an alien in your town? Ethan Fairmont is faced with that question which drives the entire rest of the book. My favorite part was Ethan’s scientific mind and how he uses it to deal with all the situations that he faces in the book. I also loved the friendship in the book as it felt real because it showed true up and downs.
Educators' Guide: https://www.unleashingreaders.com/27408
Educators' Guide: https://www.unleashingreaders.com/27408
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews