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Far Out!
From the author of Blue Skies comes a lively middle grade novel about a young, alien-loving girl trying to clear her grandmother’s name in this mystery that has humor, hijinks, and heart in equal measure.
It’s 1964, the Space Race is well underway, and eleven-year-old Magnolia Jean Crook and the other residents of Totter, Texas, are over the moon about UFOs.
The whole town is gearing up for the First Annual Come on Down Day—in just one week, they are hoping to host any and all space aliens who would like to visit Earth. But right before the kick-off party, a meteorite goes missing—and MJ’s beloved grandmother Mimi, who is the vice president of the Totter Unidentified Flying Object Organization, is the prime suspect.
MJ is desperate to show the town that this Crook is not a thief. The only problem is that there is a lot of evidence against her, and Mimi herself isn’t helping things. She’s acting suspiciously, pulling disappearing acts, and worst of all, can’t seem to answer any questions about where she was or what she was doing.
But much like UFOs, extraterrestrial visitations, and sending people to space, the impossible has been known to happen.
It’s 1964, the Space Race is well underway, and eleven-year-old Magnolia Jean Crook and the other residents of Totter, Texas, are over the moon about UFOs.
The whole town is gearing up for the First Annual Come on Down Day—in just one week, they are hoping to host any and all space aliens who would like to visit Earth. But right before the kick-off party, a meteorite goes missing—and MJ’s beloved grandmother Mimi, who is the vice president of the Totter Unidentified Flying Object Organization, is the prime suspect.
MJ is desperate to show the town that this Crook is not a thief. The only problem is that there is a lot of evidence against her, and Mimi herself isn’t helping things. She’s acting suspiciously, pulling disappearing acts, and worst of all, can’t seem to answer any questions about where she was or what she was doing.
But much like UFOs, extraterrestrial visitations, and sending people to space, the impossible has been known to happen.
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
4 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Anne Bustard
7 books77 followersBorn and raised in Hawaii, with a few years in California sandwiched in between, Anne Bustard moved to Texas to attend college and stayed. A former elementary school teacher and then bookseller, she co-owned Toad Hall Children's Bookstore in Austin, Texas. Her innovative summer writing program for children earned her the Lucile Micheels Pannell Award.
After selling her interest in the bookstore, Anne began teaching in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. There she received a Texas Excellence Teaching Award for her work.
Anne's first children's book, T IS FOR TEXAS (Voyageur Press) has been a popular seller. She has also written numerous articles for the MAILBOX MAGAZINE group featuring classroom connections to children's literature.
BUDDY: THE STORY OF BUDDY HOLLY (A Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) is her most recent publication.
Anne presents at local, state and national conferences.
Today, Anne Bustard lives and writes in Austin, Texas.
After selling her interest in the bookstore, Anne began teaching in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. There she received a Texas Excellence Teaching Award for her work.
Anne's first children's book, T IS FOR TEXAS (Voyageur Press) has been a popular seller. She has also written numerous articles for the MAILBOX MAGAZINE group featuring classroom connections to children's literature.
BUDDY: THE STORY OF BUDDY HOLLY (A Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) is her most recent publication.
Anne presents at local, state and national conferences.
Today, Anne Bustard lives and writes in Austin, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 12, 2023
I initially wanted to read Far Out! with my son, but after a few chapters realized it wasn't quite a good real aloud for us as it was advanced for him. So I devoured it quickly on my own. You see, the main characters are fifth graders, and there's a big difference in reading level with my lower elementary kiddo. Plus, these fifth graders seem super mature! So I would say this is more of a middle grade or advanced upper elementary read.
I mean, our main character is MJ and her best friend Nick mows Mimi's lawn - Mimi is MJ's grandmother. When I was 12 was I mowing other people's grandmother's lawns? HA! I was collecting Lisa Frank binders and playing with my dolls still. It's also the mid-60s so maybe the kids during those times had different expectations. So yea, mature kiddos. And not only are they great helpers in their family, they also do a lot for their community. And, the best part, they are amateur sleuths.
As a kid I devoured kid sleuth novels, so this one was a good read for me. Especially with the space aliens theme, with their Come on Down Day and all the town celebrations of an infamous brother and sister pair who tour sharing their alien encounter story.
I also loved the characters names. We have MJ Crook and Nick Lawless, of the newly formed Crook and Lawless Detective Agency. How adorable! The story begins with the theft of a meteorite from the museum, and poor forgetful Mimi being the prime suspect of the theft. MJ and Nick set off to prove it wasn't her, running into road blocks from Adults, as kids always seem to do.
MJ's dad is the town Sheriff, and I didn't like him at first. He seemed way too strict - arresting his own mother! But it made sense in the end, so many secrets being held between the grown ups. I'm a grown up now and I remember hating the trope of parents keeping secrets. There should be no secrets, it's safer for everyone that way. When parents keep secrets it teaches kids to keep secrets and could put them in danger. Anyway off my soap box and back to the story.
While it was Nick and MJ who finally figured out who the true thief was, I'm not sure they would have if someone else didn't tell the truth first. There were some deeply held lies and repeated stories going on. Can't trust anyone these days sheesh.
I also liked how this book introduces Dementia in a gentle way and shows how the entire family rallies around Mimi. What a great lesson for kids to understand and relate to if someone in their lives is showing forgetful signs.
One more thing to add - I really liked the illustrations at the beginning of the chapters. They kind of give you a hint who the main players in that chapter will be.
A fun read, I would recommend it to kids who enjoy kid detectives and believe in - or want to believe in - space aliens.
I mean, our main character is MJ and her best friend Nick mows Mimi's lawn - Mimi is MJ's grandmother. When I was 12 was I mowing other people's grandmother's lawns? HA! I was collecting Lisa Frank binders and playing with my dolls still. It's also the mid-60s so maybe the kids during those times had different expectations. So yea, mature kiddos. And not only are they great helpers in their family, they also do a lot for their community. And, the best part, they are amateur sleuths.
As a kid I devoured kid sleuth novels, so this one was a good read for me. Especially with the space aliens theme, with their Come on Down Day and all the town celebrations of an infamous brother and sister pair who tour sharing their alien encounter story.
I also loved the characters names. We have MJ Crook and Nick Lawless, of the newly formed Crook and Lawless Detective Agency. How adorable! The story begins with the theft of a meteorite from the museum, and poor forgetful Mimi being the prime suspect of the theft. MJ and Nick set off to prove it wasn't her, running into road blocks from Adults, as kids always seem to do.
MJ's dad is the town Sheriff, and I didn't like him at first. He seemed way too strict - arresting his own mother! But it made sense in the end, so many secrets being held between the grown ups. I'm a grown up now and I remember hating the trope of parents keeping secrets. There should be no secrets, it's safer for everyone that way. When parents keep secrets it teaches kids to keep secrets and could put them in danger. Anyway off my soap box and back to the story.
While it was Nick and MJ who finally figured out who the true thief was, I'm not sure they would have if someone else didn't tell the truth first. There were some deeply held lies and repeated stories going on. Can't trust anyone these days sheesh.
I also liked how this book introduces Dementia in a gentle way and shows how the entire family rallies around Mimi. What a great lesson for kids to understand and relate to if someone in their lives is showing forgetful signs.
One more thing to add - I really liked the illustrations at the beginning of the chapters. They kind of give you a hint who the main players in that chapter will be.
A fun read, I would recommend it to kids who enjoy kid detectives and believe in - or want to believe in - space aliens.
March 26, 2023
”Be curious.”
Far Out! by Anne Bustard is a sweet middle-grade fiction about one town’s reaction to the Space Race in the 1960s. Totter, Texas, is ready to welcome intergalactic friends during the first annual Come on Down Day in the fall of 1964, but disaster strikes when the meteorite on display is stolen! After eleven-year-old Magnolia Jean (MJ) Crook and her best friend, Nick Lawless, find the space rock in her grandmother Mimi’s shed, the game is now afoot!
While 1964 was a long time ago, several aspects of this delightful story are still applicable. Most people love adventure and solving mysteries, which is why so many old-fashioned books have stood the test of time, such as Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes. In Far Out!, Come on Down Day is only days away, and MJ and Nick must become amateur sleuths and gather evidence and identify suspects to determine who swiped the meteorite (twice!) and then framed Mimi for the crime. As the clues pile up and as Mimi languishes in the clinker, the mystery becomes as hazy as a nebulous cloud. MJ and Nick must accelerate their gumshoe efforts to oust the true culprit and set Mimi free.
Anne Bustard delivers a supernova of a story that is out of this world, far out, and right on! UFO sightings have captured the imagination for forever. This cleverly written tale is fiction, but the historical basis offers just enough truth to spark the interest to research real well-documented UFO stories and sightings. While Roswell, New Mexico, is super famous, what about the 1897 spaceship crash in Aurora, Texas, and the subsequent burial in a nearby cemetery? MJ and Nick and everyone else in Totter have certainly done their homework on otherworldly visits and now wait with welcoming hospitality for their outer space friends to show up on Come on Down Day.
Far Out! can be quite silly, but it does have a serious element that is relevant today. MJ’s Mimi has been showing signs of cognitive decline, and the characters in this sweet story treat Mimi and her increasing forgetfulness with respect and compassion. This reality does not dim the lightheartedness of the story but instead keeps it solidly planted on terra firma.
The author expertly weaves a quick-paced tale of both truth and fiction that will surely appeal to readers of all ages, throughout the ages. Far Out! has many takeaways, such as the price of greed and the unfailing tenacity of eleven-year-olds; however, a clear message is that while things change over the years, such as technology, innovation, and discoveries, some things remain the same, such as curiosity, friendship, and family. For me, Far Out! can be summed up in the famous words of Casey Kasem: “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.” That is exactly what young Magnolia Jean Crook is doing as she continues to believe that visitors from outer space will one day land in Totter, Texas, and continues to love and care for her beloved Mimi, no matter what.
Is a sequel to Far Out! on the horizon? Sure hope so because the newly formed Crook and Lawless Detective Agency sounds like a sure-fire winner. Neato!
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Far Out! by Anne Bustard is a sweet middle-grade fiction about one town’s reaction to the Space Race in the 1960s. Totter, Texas, is ready to welcome intergalactic friends during the first annual Come on Down Day in the fall of 1964, but disaster strikes when the meteorite on display is stolen! After eleven-year-old Magnolia Jean (MJ) Crook and her best friend, Nick Lawless, find the space rock in her grandmother Mimi’s shed, the game is now afoot!
While 1964 was a long time ago, several aspects of this delightful story are still applicable. Most people love adventure and solving mysteries, which is why so many old-fashioned books have stood the test of time, such as Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes. In Far Out!, Come on Down Day is only days away, and MJ and Nick must become amateur sleuths and gather evidence and identify suspects to determine who swiped the meteorite (twice!) and then framed Mimi for the crime. As the clues pile up and as Mimi languishes in the clinker, the mystery becomes as hazy as a nebulous cloud. MJ and Nick must accelerate their gumshoe efforts to oust the true culprit and set Mimi free.
Anne Bustard delivers a supernova of a story that is out of this world, far out, and right on! UFO sightings have captured the imagination for forever. This cleverly written tale is fiction, but the historical basis offers just enough truth to spark the interest to research real well-documented UFO stories and sightings. While Roswell, New Mexico, is super famous, what about the 1897 spaceship crash in Aurora, Texas, and the subsequent burial in a nearby cemetery? MJ and Nick and everyone else in Totter have certainly done their homework on otherworldly visits and now wait with welcoming hospitality for their outer space friends to show up on Come on Down Day.
Far Out! can be quite silly, but it does have a serious element that is relevant today. MJ’s Mimi has been showing signs of cognitive decline, and the characters in this sweet story treat Mimi and her increasing forgetfulness with respect and compassion. This reality does not dim the lightheartedness of the story but instead keeps it solidly planted on terra firma.
The author expertly weaves a quick-paced tale of both truth and fiction that will surely appeal to readers of all ages, throughout the ages. Far Out! has many takeaways, such as the price of greed and the unfailing tenacity of eleven-year-olds; however, a clear message is that while things change over the years, such as technology, innovation, and discoveries, some things remain the same, such as curiosity, friendship, and family. For me, Far Out! can be summed up in the famous words of Casey Kasem: “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.” That is exactly what young Magnolia Jean Crook is doing as she continues to believe that visitors from outer space will one day land in Totter, Texas, and continues to love and care for her beloved Mimi, no matter what.
Is a sequel to Far Out! on the horizon? Sure hope so because the newly formed Crook and Lawless Detective Agency sounds like a sure-fire winner. Neato!
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
January 29, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Magnolia Jean Crook lives in the small town of Totter, Texas in 1964. The residents are all very interested in UFOs, and have a variety of organizations promoting intergalactic understanding. They are hosting a "Come on Down Day" where they hope that a UFO will visit, and are selling raffle tickets to see who will get to take a tour of the spacecraft, should one come. There is a display of a piece of meteorite, but when it goes missing, everyone is dismayed. The blame falls on Magnolia Jean's grandmother, Mimi, when the piece shows up in her shed. Mimi had access to the meteorite, even if she doesn't have a motive, and before too long Magnolia's father, the town sheriff, has to have his own mother arrested and put in jail. When she is let out on bail, she goes missing. Magnolia is worried, and lets her parents know right away. They are sure that Mimi has just gone to visit a friend, but when she is not there, and doesn't return, the police search for her. Magnolia tells her parents that Mimi has gotten confused before, and they all seem to know that Mimi is struggling with significant memory loss. When she returns, she hands over her car keys, and has to go back to jail because she broke bail. this makes Magnolia even more determined to find out who actually stole the meteorite, and she ramps up her investigations in town, evesdropping at the local diner and interviewing people who might have also had access. Of course, with the "Come on Down Day" approaching, everyone is looking forward to meeting extrterrestrials. Will Magnolia Jean be able to clear her grandmother's name?
Strengths: Bustard always does a good job with historical details (Blue Skies and Almost Paradise) and definitely captures the feeling of a small Texas town well. The obsession with space exploration and space aliens is well described and typical of the period. Magnolia Jean does a good job of investigating, and this has a little flavor fo flim noir as well. Mimi's descent into dementia plays a larger role in this book than I would have expected, but it is done well and worked into the plot nicely. I really enjoyed the page decorations at the beginning of the chapters. I'd love to see more middle grade books have those.
Weaknesses: Putting the grandmother in jail for the missing meteorite seemed a bit of a stretch, even with the father being the local law enforcement.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Bow's Simon Sort of Says, Keller's Jennifer Chan is Not Alone, Murray's Alien Summer, or other titles that combine an interest in space aliens with more serious, realistic problems.
Magnolia Jean Crook lives in the small town of Totter, Texas in 1964. The residents are all very interested in UFOs, and have a variety of organizations promoting intergalactic understanding. They are hosting a "Come on Down Day" where they hope that a UFO will visit, and are selling raffle tickets to see who will get to take a tour of the spacecraft, should one come. There is a display of a piece of meteorite, but when it goes missing, everyone is dismayed. The blame falls on Magnolia Jean's grandmother, Mimi, when the piece shows up in her shed. Mimi had access to the meteorite, even if she doesn't have a motive, and before too long Magnolia's father, the town sheriff, has to have his own mother arrested and put in jail. When she is let out on bail, she goes missing. Magnolia is worried, and lets her parents know right away. They are sure that Mimi has just gone to visit a friend, but when she is not there, and doesn't return, the police search for her. Magnolia tells her parents that Mimi has gotten confused before, and they all seem to know that Mimi is struggling with significant memory loss. When she returns, she hands over her car keys, and has to go back to jail because she broke bail. this makes Magnolia even more determined to find out who actually stole the meteorite, and she ramps up her investigations in town, evesdropping at the local diner and interviewing people who might have also had access. Of course, with the "Come on Down Day" approaching, everyone is looking forward to meeting extrterrestrials. Will Magnolia Jean be able to clear her grandmother's name?
Strengths: Bustard always does a good job with historical details (Blue Skies and Almost Paradise) and definitely captures the feeling of a small Texas town well. The obsession with space exploration and space aliens is well described and typical of the period. Magnolia Jean does a good job of investigating, and this has a little flavor fo flim noir as well. Mimi's descent into dementia plays a larger role in this book than I would have expected, but it is done well and worked into the plot nicely. I really enjoyed the page decorations at the beginning of the chapters. I'd love to see more middle grade books have those.
Weaknesses: Putting the grandmother in jail for the missing meteorite seemed a bit of a stretch, even with the father being the local law enforcement.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Bow's Simon Sort of Says, Keller's Jennifer Chan is Not Alone, Murray's Alien Summer, or other titles that combine an interest in space aliens with more serious, realistic problems.
March 28, 2023
Anne Bustard creates a magical story of family love combined with a plan to welcome extraterrestrial visitors to the small town of Totter, Texas, circa 1964. This chapter book features Magnolia Jean Crook, MJ, and Nick Lawless. MJ wants to help solve the mystery when the meteorite, the event’s centerpiece, disappears. She and her friend Nick use the same methods as the Hardy Boys mysteries to evaluate the list of suspects and uncover clues. They are likable complementary characters. When it seems MJ’s grandmother stole the meteorite the investigation goes into high gear. MJ refuses to believe Mimi’s guilty. MJ and Nick carefully evaluate the opportunity, motive, and reason for each suspect.
Nick loves music but keeps his eyes and ears open to collect clues with MJ. His first goal is to perform at the tenth anniversary of the Totter Unidentified Flying Object Organization (TUFOO). The town leaves no stone unturned to open its hearts and minds to welcome visitors from outer space. Most of the town folk are believers.
I felt at home in this small town. The wide array of quaint characters seems invested in community activities. The tenth annual welcome the aliens event highlights people of this era’s fascination with space travel. Families seem to unite for a common cause. MJ illustrates this with her determination to rescue her grandmother from an unfair charge. Regardless of Mimi’s peculiarities, she’s innocent until proven guilty.
Young readers will enjoy this exciting middle-grade science fiction. The characters are believable for the times depicted in dialogue, mannerisms, and surrounding activities. The underlying conversation on afflictions of aged family members delivers a great perspective on opening the subject to all ages. An entertaining mystery for young folks to learn logical deduction. Nicely done.
Nick loves music but keeps his eyes and ears open to collect clues with MJ. His first goal is to perform at the tenth anniversary of the Totter Unidentified Flying Object Organization (TUFOO). The town leaves no stone unturned to open its hearts and minds to welcome visitors from outer space. Most of the town folk are believers.
I felt at home in this small town. The wide array of quaint characters seems invested in community activities. The tenth annual welcome the aliens event highlights people of this era’s fascination with space travel. Families seem to unite for a common cause. MJ illustrates this with her determination to rescue her grandmother from an unfair charge. Regardless of Mimi’s peculiarities, she’s innocent until proven guilty.
Young readers will enjoy this exciting middle-grade science fiction. The characters are believable for the times depicted in dialogue, mannerisms, and surrounding activities. The underlying conversation on afflictions of aged family members delivers a great perspective on opening the subject to all ages. An entertaining mystery for young folks to learn logical deduction. Nicely done.
July 18, 2023
First sentence: When your last name is "Crook" and your best friend is Nick Lawless and your daddy's the sheriff, then folks never forget you. That's A-OK by me. I'm proud to be Magnolia Jean Crook from Totter, Texas. Especially the Totter part. Especially now. Because we are fixing to host our First Annual Come On Down Day. In just one week our small town aims to welcome any and all space aliens who wish to visit. No RSVP required.
Premise/plot: Historical mystery set in a small Texas town in 1964. Far Out! is just that--a bit far out. Magnolia (MJ) and Nick set out to solve a mystery. Someone has stolen a meteorite that was on display at the local public library. It is privately owned and was on borrow. The meteorite is found in MG's grandmother's shed--her grandma who admittedly does have keys to the library--is suffering from Alzheimer's. (Though they may not use that term exactly. Just "old age" and "forgetfulness"). These two kids believe that she is being framed by the real crook, and they have a list of suspects. But the sheriff and deputies must follow the clues...despite personal feelings and intuition.
Meanwhile, the town continues to prepare for a HUGE celebration. (All this takes place in one week in November 1964).
My thoughts: This was an odd read. The town wants a claim to fame and they are hoping that UFOs are the way to go. Though perhaps some are genuine believers? It blends the mystery of who stole the meteorite--and why--AND the town preparing for the UFO landing party. (Spoiler alert--no aliens come to visit; no UFOs are sighted.) I typically enjoy small town mysteries. I didn't not enjoy this one. It just wasn't my favorite in the genre.
Premise/plot: Historical mystery set in a small Texas town in 1964. Far Out! is just that--a bit far out. Magnolia (MJ) and Nick set out to solve a mystery. Someone has stolen a meteorite that was on display at the local public library. It is privately owned and was on borrow. The meteorite is found in MG's grandmother's shed--her grandma who admittedly does have keys to the library--is suffering from Alzheimer's. (Though they may not use that term exactly. Just "old age" and "forgetfulness"). These two kids believe that she is being framed by the real crook, and they have a list of suspects. But the sheriff and deputies must follow the clues...despite personal feelings and intuition.
Meanwhile, the town continues to prepare for a HUGE celebration. (All this takes place in one week in November 1964).
My thoughts: This was an odd read. The town wants a claim to fame and they are hoping that UFOs are the way to go. Though perhaps some are genuine believers? It blends the mystery of who stole the meteorite--and why--AND the town preparing for the UFO landing party. (Spoiler alert--no aliens come to visit; no UFOs are sighted.) I typically enjoy small town mysteries. I didn't not enjoy this one. It just wasn't my favorite in the genre.
June 12, 2025
The year is 1964, and the town of Totter, Texas is preparing for their first annual "Come On Down Day;" welcoming space aliens who wish to visit their town. However right before the kickoff celebration is supposed to start, things don't go as planned when it is discovered that the meteorite that's supposed to be on display in the town square is missing.
When Mimi Jean Crook, Magnolia Jean Crook's grandmother, the vice president of TUFOO aka the Totter Unidentified Flying Object Organization and organizer of the meteorite display ends up being the prime suspect, it's up to eleven-year-old Magnolia Jean (MJ) and her best friend Nick Lawless to solve the mystery of the missing space rock and help try to clear her grandmother's name.
But the missing meteorite isn't the only thing that's worrying Magnolia Jean and her family; Mimi has been acting rather strangely, not like her old self.
I loved this story; and I adored the characters. I loved how close-knit Magnolia Jean's family was to each other and how much they cared for Mimi, I loved how much Magnolia Jean, and Nick become amateur sleuths (even watching Perry Mason), and how Magnolia Jean never gave up trying to solve the case.
Also loved the cute character illustrations at the beginning of each chapter! Definitely recommend this mystery middle-grade!
When Mimi Jean Crook, Magnolia Jean Crook's grandmother, the vice president of TUFOO aka the Totter Unidentified Flying Object Organization and organizer of the meteorite display ends up being the prime suspect, it's up to eleven-year-old Magnolia Jean (MJ) and her best friend Nick Lawless to solve the mystery of the missing space rock and help try to clear her grandmother's name.
But the missing meteorite isn't the only thing that's worrying Magnolia Jean and her family; Mimi has been acting rather strangely, not like her old self.
I loved this story; and I adored the characters. I loved how close-knit Magnolia Jean's family was to each other and how much they cared for Mimi, I loved how much Magnolia Jean, and Nick become amateur sleuths (even watching Perry Mason), and how Magnolia Jean never gave up trying to solve the case.
Also loved the cute character illustrations at the beginning of each chapter! Definitely recommend this mystery middle-grade!
October 31, 2023
Set in the 1960s at the height of the space race, the residents of the town of Totter, Texas have UFO fever. One resident even claims to have had an encounter with an alien! Totter is so UFO-crazy, they host “Come on Down Day” when they invite aliens for a visit. The centerpiece of the celebration is the meteorite that will be proudly displayed at the town library. When the meteorite disappears on the eve of “Come on Down Day,” Magnolia Jean’s grandmother quickly becomes the chief suspect. Can MJ and her friend solve the mystery – and clear MJ’s grandmother – before the aliens arrive for the festival?
February 11, 2023
Review copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster for Young Readers through Edelweiss
A great mystery that digs into UFOs and small town intrigue, and even is a piece of history even if it took me a few chapters to realize it was a historical fiction (why isn’t anyone using their phones, I wondered). Recommended for elementary libraries, particularly where readers love conspiracy theories and far out stories!
A great mystery that digs into UFOs and small town intrigue, and even is a piece of history even if it took me a few chapters to realize it was a historical fiction (why isn’t anyone using their phones, I wondered). Recommended for elementary libraries, particularly where readers love conspiracy theories and far out stories!
April 11, 2023
See my in-depth review here: The Real World According to Sam
A really fun and enjoyable middle grade mystery. I love the themes of family and that this is kind of like a historical fiction-lite novel. It takes place in the 60s, so it isn't as far back as some, but it still throws back to an older time. This is a really fun Texas read.
A really fun and enjoyable middle grade mystery. I love the themes of family and that this is kind of like a historical fiction-lite novel. It takes place in the 60s, so it isn't as far back as some, but it still throws back to an older time. This is a really fun Texas read.
April 7, 2023
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.4.
April 10, 2023
This is an out of this world mystery! Do the aliens come to visit Totter, Texas for come on down day? That’s not the only question that needs an answer.
July 7, 2023
A really fun mystery centered around space and family! Also, aliens!!!
November 7, 2023
Great MG mystery! Small town obsessed with aliens and a grandmother with Alzheimers! Great, fun book!
#bookposse
#bookposse
December 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2026-2027 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee. This was a gentle middle grade mystery of a missing meteorite. I expected more UFO information. But I feel the story was more about the small town’s goings on and how one family deals with Magnolia Jean’s grandmother getting more symptoms of Alzheimer’s than the missing meteorite.
August 30, 2025
A fun and exciting children's chapter book that will entertain older readers, too!
Far Out! is the new children's historical mystery by author Anne Bustard that will also entertain and delight older readers. With the main character, Magnolia Jean Crook, and her best guy pal, Nick Lawless, on the case of the missing meteorite, everything is sure to work out fine.
The story's setting is in the small town of Totter, Texas, in November 1964. LBJ is President, and America is smack in the middle of the space race. I loved the idea of the town capitalizing on the country's fascination with all things space and alien with not only the festival but the decorations around town, simple and spectacular (the spaced-out dolls on the square were a hoot and probably one of my favorite images of all time!)MJ and Nick are sure to appeal to readers of all ages, and there are plenty of other named characters to get to know. I enjoyed the small-town vibe of everyone knowing everyone else. I was surprised by Mimi's official arrest even though I understood the reasoning behind it, trying to treat all suspects equally. A quibble, though, the Miranda Warning issued by the arresting deputy in the story was not in use until after 1966 and, frankly, not in wide or consistent practice at the local level well into the 70s.
I enjoyed the mystery the two new young sleuths pursue and how they worked their investigation into their daily activities. MJ's use of questions and comments she's heard used on TV detective shows was fun and made me laugh. The issue of dementia will resonate with many readers. Chapters are compact and of convenient lengths, perfectly sized for young readers.With its pair of relatable young sleuths, nostalgic mid-60s timeframe, small-town Texas ambiance, and the unique and appealing underlying subject matter of visitors from outer space, I recommend FAR OUT! to readers of all ages but especially upper elementary school-aged readers looking for an exciting yet approachable chapter book.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.
January 10, 2024
I read (with my ears) this delightful middle grade book with characters who pop to life. Who couldn't love Magnolia Jean Crook from Totter, Texas? Set in the '60s, the story will be an eye-opener for contemporary kids who rely so heavily on their devices, and the story will likely spark some interest in a time when UFO sightings and alien stories were all the rage. There's mystery, humor, and author Anne Bustard even gently brings in dealing with dementia. The narrator does an outstanding job and gets the characters just right. Definitely recommend this book and could easily see another installment coming. If so, I'm IN.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews