The Area 51 Files by Julie Buxbaum || Funny, Compelling MG Mystery . . . With Aliens!

The Area 51 Files

Aliens, sassy hedgehogs, and unexplained disappearances . . . Oh, my! Discover the secrets of the universe in this hilarious, highly illustrated middle-grade series from New York Times bestselling author Julie Buxbaum.

When Sky Patel-Baum is sent to live with her mysterious uncle, she didn't imagine she'd end up here: Area 51. A top-secret military base with a bajillion rules and so classified not even the president knows its secrets.

Also, it turns out the place is full of aliens. Lots and lots of aliens. But they prefer to be called Break Throughs, thank you very much.

As Sky sets out to explore her extraordinary new home with her pizza-obsessed pet hedgehog Spike, she meets her otherworldly next-door neighbor Elvis and his fluffy pup, Pickles. But something mysterious is afoot in Area 51. Some of the Break Throughs have gone missing... at the exact same time Sky arrived.

Where could they be? How can Sky and her uncle convince everyone they had nothing to do with the disappearance? And why does the macaroni and cheese at Area 51 Middle have eyeballs in it? New best friends Sky, Elvis, Spike, and Pickles try to crack the case, but the clock is ticking...

Content Tags:

Perfect for readers who want:

• Story told through a mix of text and comic panels (perfect for struggling/reluctant readers!)
• A humorous reimagining of what Area 51 might be like
• Aliens!
• A compelling mystery to find some kidnapped aliens.
• Heartwarming family bonds.
• Not one but TWO adorable fluffer sidekicks (who love pizza)

Many thanks to Delacorte Press and TBR and Beyond Tours for an ARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The moment I saw the cover for this book, I just knew I had to read it! It’s so charming and adorable, right? Plus, it looks like the protagonists are getting into trouble, and I am all for that. Especially in a place like Area 51. The artwork is charming and engaging, and everything about this book just screamed READ ME.

The Area 51 Files is a funny, compelling mystery, perfect for reluctant readers, set in Area 51. It’s got not one but TWO adorable fluffer sidekicks, aliens, family bonds, an adorable squad, and plenty of humor!

I had so much fun with this one! I can see it being a huge hit among middle grade mystery fans, especially those who want a slight sci-fi bent, or ones who are conspiracy buffs. I thought for sure I’d be able to spot the culprit from a mile off, but it took a good chunk of the book before I was actually able to solve it. Before the protagonists, sure, but Buxbaum does such a good job with the mystery that I wasn’t convinced of my answer until just before the reveal!

Surprise! There are aliens at Area 51, as Sky is about to find out. But they’re probably not quite what you’re expecting.

The aliens were a little hit or miss for me, because some of them are sort of on the nose in terms of their names. However, I think this will hit a lot better with the target audience, who will appreciate the simple names and the puns!

For the most part, though, I really enjoyed seeing all the different aliens (called Break Throughs) living together and all the different ways they exist. Like Sky’s new best friend, Elvis, whose appearances changes depending on the viewer’s own personal and emotional projections. There are lots of pictures and descriptions of all the various ways people look, and even though everyone is different, they all live together in harmony. Mostly.

Still, it’s quite the adjustment for Sky, moving to Area 51. The rules alone! She has to give up basically everything about the outside world, including *gasp* phones and the Internet. Not to mention quite a few modern conveniences. The situation isn’t necessarily ideal, but for everything Sky gives up, she gains quite a few things in return. Like a found family!

There’s not one but TWO adorable fluffer sidekicks in this book: a hedgehog named Spike and a doggo named Pickles. Together, their adorable meter is off the charts.

Pickles has the bigger personality to me. In some ways, he reminds me of Rufus from Kim Possible. And yes, I realize how much that reference dates me, but I stand by it. Rufus was amazing, and so is Spike. Spike is an adorable hedgehog who is addicted to pizza and who sometimes tries to ride Pickles, his fluffy partner-in-crime.

Pickles, for his part, is also adorable, though less addicted to pizza and more addicted to Spike. Like a true doggo, he’s made a friend and now they’re just simply bonded for life and that’s that.

Though neither animal talks (because, you know, animals), they’re given little signs in some of the comics with their thoughts, which I thought was such a cute addition!

Sky finds herself at the heart of a mystery when her uncle (which she didn’t know she even had!) is accused of kidnapping some aliens. Of course she takes on the case, with some help from her new friends, despite his warnings.

Sky isn’t sure what to make of her Uncle Anish when she first meets him. He’s her mother’s brother and one of two living relatives, since her parents died when she was a baby, leaving her orphaned. Previously, she lived with her grandmother, and now she’s not sure if her uncle chose to take her in or was forced to do so. As one might expect, their relationship is a little awkward at the start. But family is family, right?

So when Uncle Anish is accused of something Sky is sure he didn’t do, she’s determined to prove his innocence. Even though it puts her in danger. The mystery is such a fun one! Well, not so much fun for the Break Throughs that have been kidnapped, I’m sure. But for the reader, it’s a fun ride trying to figure out who might have done it and why!

Even though this book is funny at its core, it still has some pretty deep, hard-hitting moments, too, which were all the more meaningful for the way they break up the otherwise light narrative.

The tone of this book is definitely a light one, but both protagonists (Sky and Elvis) are both orphans, which is something they often need to grapple with. They aren’t alone, per se, and they’ve created their own little families at Area 51, but it doesn’t replace missing their parents, of course. It’s a pain they can relate to.

Some of the characters are pretty shallow and not well explored, but all the main characters, despite being funny, have things they’re struggling with personally and emotionally. It’s nice to see that even though there’s some bigger problems in the area, the kids take time to address and recognize their own fears, worries, and insecurities along the way.

About Julie Buxbaum

Julie Buxbaum is the New York Times best selling author of Tell Me Three Things, her young adult debut, What to Say Next and most recently, Hope and Other Punchlines. She’s also the author of two critically acclaimed novels for adults: The Opposite of Love and After You. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Julie’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and more books than is reasonable.

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