Lights, Camera, Danger

Alien Superstar #2

by Henry Winkler

The out-of-this-world second book in superstar authors Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver’s newest middle-grade series
 
After escaping his oppressive home planet and landing a gig on a popular sitcom, Buddy Burger is ready for another wacky adventure! But as he gets more famous, will he be able to hide from his fans that he’s really an alien with suction cups for feet, a sensory enhancer that goes wild for gummy dragons, and six eyes? And will he be able to hide from the oppressive police force of his home planet forever? Action-packed and full of laughs, this is the second book in the exciting new middle-grade series that’s sure to be an intergalactic sensation.
 

Genres: Middle Grade

1 pages, Audio CD

Published November 10, 2020

About the author

Henry Winkler is instantly recognizable and admired by audiences of all ages for his role as the Fonz on the long-running series, Happy Days. In addition, he is an award-winning producer and director of family and children's programming. He is also the author of the critically-acclaimed Hank Zipzer series, which follows the everyday adventures of a bright boy with learning challenges.

Mr. Winkler has also continued his acting career on the big screen, including a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in Nightshift, a starring role in the box-office hit Scream, and co-starring roles in The Water Boy, and Holes. On television, he has guest-starred on ABC's The Practice and NBC's Law & Order: SVU. He recently starred on Broadway for nine months in Neil Simon's play The Dinner Party.

Mr. Winkler is deeply committed to children's welfare and works with numerous children's groups. He is involved with The MacLaren Children's Center (a facility for abused children), The National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped, The Special Olympics, and The Los Angeles Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival, as well as numerous teenage alcohol and drug abuse programs. He is a founding member of the Children's Action Network, a non-profit organization that sponsors informational briefings for writers, producers and directors on children's issues and serves as a clearing-house for the entertainment industry on children's issues.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Abrams Kids through NetGalley.
Book 2 in the series.
Buddy continues to learn about life on Earth. Unfortunately, the story opened with a scene back on his home planet. His grandmother has been captured and forced to share where she sent Buddy. A cruel officer is sent to retrieve him. Buddy and his friends and castmates share fresh adventures as they film their show and dodge the alien.
Humor abounds for middle grade readers.

[Mia Emslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my grandkids, ages 10 & 8, mostly on FaceTime during Covid. It was great! Interesting for all of us, humorous, exciting, lots of action, scary bits... checks all the boxes.
Synopsis: Buddy is a teenage alien escapee from a very oppressive planet through the help of his very smart grandmother, Grandma Wrinkle. He is now hiding in plain sight ...his blue 6-eyed alien body masquerading as an elaborate costume for his role in a popular kid’s TV show.
He Can transform into a human boy but is much more comfortable in his own skin. He has suction cups for feet, long 6-fingered hands, bald knobs on his head instead of hair & a singular appendage (with a mind of its own) coming out of the middle of his back!
Two or three close friends know his true identity & help him massively when he gets in ‘situations’.
Quirks: requires massive amounts of water to stay hydrated, craves avocados but strawberries (& kimchi) are very harmful. Tension mounts when Citizen Cruel shows up ‘to take him home for incarceration’. This adversary is big, strong, clever & Mean! How can his friends help keep him on earth?
The kids thought it was hilarious, with tense bits.
I good review all around!
Well-done Henry Winkler!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this three stars, mainly for Henry's narration (which is hilarious with his funny voices), but I didn't really enjoy this book as much as his others. Maybe if I had read it instead of listening to it. I had no idea it was upwards of five hours. I love Henry Winkler to pieces but that's a long time to listen to him reading.
Compared to the first book in this series, this one had a lot more action and adventure, but unfortunately I'm not really into all that. I'm going to read the third one to see how it ends, but the other series books Henry and Lin have written are more my style.

[Pam Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy the alien is quickly getting used to his star status on Oddball Academy. No one ever questions his huge appetite for water and avocados. He's trying to understand earth ways and be a good friend to Cassidy and Luis, the only ones who know his true identity, but often disappoints them. His happy life is threatened when shape-shifter Citizen Cruel arrives from Buddy's planet to force him to return home. Will Buddy, along with his friends and fans, be able to stop her? Set mostly on the back lot of Universal Studios, this is a fun series and would make a fine read-aloud.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #2 of the Alien Superstar series finds young alien Buddy Burger becoming very popular with fans of the TV show he is on. His new popularity, and his tendency to take everything literally, get him in hot water with his friends Cassidy and Luis when he makes some bad decisions. He is also being pursued by a nasty alien from his home planet, who has landed in the studio backlot and can change into anything...or anyone. This is an entertaining series for middle schoolers.

[Alma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun, action-packed book will keep its young readers laughing and on the edges of their seats to find out what will happen next to Buddy. Find out more about why I liked this funny book on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Virma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this 2nd book had it’s funny moments it still felt a little flat compared to the first book. I still liked it, just not as much as the first book. I’m sure this story will continue so I hope the next books get better.

[Mark Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty quick fun read. Buddy is an alien acting in a hit show and being pursued by one of his kind who intends on taking him back to their home planet. Only a few know he is an alien. This is the second book in a trilogy. Good for kids

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to Henry Winkler read it too.

[Norah S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have loved this series when I was a kid.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss 9 enjoyed reading this and is looking forward to reading Book 3.