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Deborah is starting to notice things about her best friend, Willy—like how cute he looks in his Halloween costume and the adorable way his red hair curls just above his collar. He's the coolest boy in sixth grade, and the closest friend she's got . . . that is, until her alien parents tell her she has to eat him for dinner. After all, she's an alien, too—even if she and her family do live in disguise.
Should she keep Willy alive and survive on forbidden hamburgers and chocolate . . . or point her tentacles at her best friend and gain approval from alien kind?
There are times when everyone feels like they're from outer space. A zany adventure and a close and sympathetic look at middle-school friendships and rivalries, Alethea Eason's wonderfully unique first novel satisfies that craving to fit in.
Should she keep Willy alive and survive on forbidden hamburgers and chocolate . . . or point her tentacles at her best friend and gain approval from alien kind?
There are times when everyone feels like they're from outer space. A zany adventure and a close and sympathetic look at middle-school friendships and rivalries, Alethea Eason's wonderfully unique first novel satisfies that craving to fit in.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Alethea Eason
25 books5 followersAlethea Eason is the author of the fantasy novel HERON´S PATH and the middle grade sciene fiction novel HUNGRY. STARVED, the sequel to HUNGRY,
can be found at
starvedthenovel.wordpress.com.
Alethea has taught all levels in both public and private schools. She worked at St. Margaret´s British School for Girls in Concon, Chile as a literacy specialist and English teacher. She currently works at Minnie Cannon Elementary School, Middletown, California as an EL teacher and reading specialist.
can be found at
starvedthenovel.wordpress.com.
Alethea has taught all levels in both public and private schools. She worked at St. Margaret´s British School for Girls in Concon, Chile as a literacy specialist and English teacher. She currently works at Minnie Cannon Elementary School, Middletown, California as an EL teacher and reading specialist.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 20, 2022
Fun read
November 9, 2012
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
Halloween this year is looking pretty bleak to 11-year-old Deborah (or Dbkrrrsh, which is her real name). Her best friend, Willy, has managed to clash with their teacher over his constitutional right to dress as a vampire all October long. He can't get the hang of algebra, no matter how much Deborah tries to help him. All the while, she thinks she may be falling for him, and, to top it all off, her parents insist that she will have to eat him and his parents to prove her loyalty to the Home Planet.
The long-awaited invasion is finally upon them, but although Deborah's stomachs continue to rumble, she's not sure if she can live up to her species and betray her best friend. As her family grows more involved in the plans to ransack Earth and turn every human into a slave, she wonders if she's been misguided all along. Is human food really poisonous? Could it provide another way to survive? Or should she give in to the memories flowing through her blood that insist upon her own superiority to her would-be meals?
One alien's struggle to discover her place between the life she knows and encroaching familial history can provide a humorous perspective to anyone else who is trying to find their way. Luckily, one doesn't need tentacles to feel a connection with the main character.
Halloween this year is looking pretty bleak to 11-year-old Deborah (or Dbkrrrsh, which is her real name). Her best friend, Willy, has managed to clash with their teacher over his constitutional right to dress as a vampire all October long. He can't get the hang of algebra, no matter how much Deborah tries to help him. All the while, she thinks she may be falling for him, and, to top it all off, her parents insist that she will have to eat him and his parents to prove her loyalty to the Home Planet.
The long-awaited invasion is finally upon them, but although Deborah's stomachs continue to rumble, she's not sure if she can live up to her species and betray her best friend. As her family grows more involved in the plans to ransack Earth and turn every human into a slave, she wonders if she's been misguided all along. Is human food really poisonous? Could it provide another way to survive? Or should she give in to the memories flowing through her blood that insist upon her own superiority to her would-be meals?
One alien's struggle to discover her place between the life she knows and encroaching familial history can provide a humorous perspective to anyone else who is trying to find their way. Luckily, one doesn't need tentacles to feel a connection with the main character.
May 23, 2011
what ive found out in the past hour ive been reading is that the fleet's ship is hovering over earth and Deborah's grandmother and two others have come down to earth to check out the atmoshpere. they disguise themselves as regular humans and spend the night at a casino. deborah was too tired to remember anything else last night. thing like the two aliens eating humans!meanwhile, willy is having an easy time in schol and a hard time noticing that he is the cutest boy in school. this book is medium paced and very funny. i think this book is interesting because it is a mixutre of science-fiction and humorous with just a pinch of romance. my new favorite part is when deborah's grandmother gets her hands on a shooting arcade game!wil the SWAT team find the "killers"? will earth be drained of its resources? what will become of willy? will grandma ever stop her shooting dojo? ill just keep on reading...
August 21, 2012
I read this a while ago, after having ordered it, and it was hysterical. Deborah struggles with the usual middle school stuff--a boy friend who might be a boyfriend, nasty girls putting other people down, making the math challenge team--oh, and being a human-eating alien. Deborah is bummed when her parents tell her that instead of her usual feeding on random humans this Halloween (when their normally-hidden tentacles don't stand out), she will have to show her commitment to their impending invasion and eat her best friend, Willy. And just when she was starting to think of him as more than just a friend!
Deborah's smart and sassy voice adds the humor this potentially grim scenario needs. Being an alien stands in for feeling like a misfit, and her parents' controlling maneuvers, including lying about her dietary needs, chafe Deborah just as parental control bugs most kids. Will Deborah follow the family rules and betray her friend?
Fun and silly, but with lots to talk about.
Deborah's smart and sassy voice adds the humor this potentially grim scenario needs. Being an alien stands in for feeling like a misfit, and her parents' controlling maneuvers, including lying about her dietary needs, chafe Deborah just as parental control bugs most kids. Will Deborah follow the family rules and betray her friend?
Fun and silly, but with lots to talk about.
June 12, 2008
makes you think.
January 11, 2025
This is a cute, simple story about a precociously bright sixth grader who also happens to be an alien predator in an advance party getting ready for the big invasion. However, she’s been having second thoughts about her role in the upcoming carnage since she enjoys playing human & interacting with the other kids in her class.
Then she’s told that she must “prove herself” by killing & eating her best friend. The result gives the rest of the story. The strangeness makes it fun to read even though it’s more of a YA sci-fi.
Then she’s told that she must “prove herself” by killing & eating her best friend. The result gives the rest of the story. The strangeness makes it fun to read even though it’s more of a YA sci-fi.
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July 6, 2019 Young Reader Reaction: I picked this book because it was about aliens. It was pretty cool, and I liked the descriptions because I could picture the aliens in my mind. It was easy to read, but fun. This book taught me about friendship and how it doesn't matter if you're an alien or not.
August 19, 2022
Wow that was a trip. There's really no way to tell what's going to happen from one page to the next.
July 22, 2024
It was a good book and the perfect length but kind of weird.
February 27, 2008
What would you do if your parents wanted you to eat the boy you're beginning to crush on, who also happens to be your best friend? If you were an alien family living undercover on planet earth, this scenario would sound more plausible, right? That is just what is happening to poor Deborah, I mean Dbkrrrsh. She and her parents have been staking out Earth in order to help when it's time for the upcoming Invasion. While Deborah has always been able to feed on anonymous humans before, her parents want her to prove how loyal she is to the home planet by eating a human who is her friend. What's an alien girl to do?
One of the few hilarious sci-fi novels I've enjoyed in years, this is a refreshing coming-of-age story too. While there are lots of plot twists and complications, the story never stalls and is full of surprises. I recommend it - and it's always great to have a true juvenile sci-fi to recommend. Also, Deborah is not too girly, so this novel should appeal to readers of both sexes. And aliens too.
One of the few hilarious sci-fi novels I've enjoyed in years, this is a refreshing coming-of-age story too. While there are lots of plot twists and complications, the story never stalls and is full of surprises. I recommend it - and it's always great to have a true juvenile sci-fi to recommend. Also, Deborah is not too girly, so this novel should appeal to readers of both sexes. And aliens too.
July 6, 2010
This book reminded me vaguely of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but for kids and a more two-dimensional. It's a quirky story about a scouting party of aliens who are supposed to prepare for the rest of the alien race to invade and conquer Earth. It wasn't a bad read.
Readers who enjoy aliens should get a kick out of the alien species that eats people with their tentacles. Readers who appreciate a little humor might enjoy Deborah's growth squirts (sorry) or the corpse-bridey wedding on Halloween. And of course, the universal theme of just wanting to do what everyone else is doing (in this case, eating a plain old hamburger instead of a human) would apply to most everyone.
Aliens. Potty humor.
Readers who enjoy aliens should get a kick out of the alien species that eats people with their tentacles. Readers who appreciate a little humor might enjoy Deborah's growth squirts (sorry) or the corpse-bridey wedding on Halloween. And of course, the universal theme of just wanting to do what everyone else is doing (in this case, eating a plain old hamburger instead of a human) would apply to most everyone.
Aliens. Potty humor.
April 14, 2009
I thought the book was fun however the premise is a little disgusting. I enjoyed it in spite of the premise because it was written in such away that it was kind of like reading a cartoon. If I took it seriously, it would be too hard to take.
April 2, 2015
Does make you think about how one finds the right values when your parnets don't have them. It is though a strange book.
February 16, 2016
I have to admit that this one was not my favorite. It would have probably been better as something other than a dinner time read.
November 17, 2012
wow. this book is kinda weird...... creepy aliens eating people on halloween? not my fav, but pretty entertaining for laughs.
December 17, 2017
This was one of my favorite books when I was younger! I think I read this when I was about 11 or 12, and I have definitely reread it so many time since then. It will always be one of my favorites.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews