First of all, thank you to Sourcebooks for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

I loved the previous Chelsea Sedoti books I read, especially The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett and was coming in with high expectations. 

Sedoti's writing continues to be fresh, humorous, and engaging. Her strength really lies on the relationships she builds, how real they feel. I loved the sibling relationships with Gideon, our MC, his rebel brother Ishmael, and sister Maggie. The friendships and romantic relationships were also believable and important for the plot, even if the latter did tend to run a bit into high school drama cliche of the "oh you could do so much better" variety. 

However, the faux aliens issue, which is what the whole plot hinges on, really, was hard to swallow. I didn't find the reasons why all these characters who knew the whole thing was a hoax went along with it. I can't go into detail without spoilers, but I kept thinking... would you really go to these lengths because of that? Same for much of what Maggie does. 

Perhaps it would have worked better if we the readers didn't know that it was a hoax, so there would have been some suspense and some of the plot points could have rested on that "do these kids really think there were aliens?" as opposed to "why are they going along with this nonsense?" 

Another problematic issue was the underage relationship between a grown man, aptly characterized as a snake oil manipulator, and a teenager. While the adult does get his comeuppance, it never feels like the issue is appropriately dealt with from the teen's side. If we're bringing in heavy topics, we need to give them the time they deserve. 

The format was innovative, with the narration including interviews and collected data. This sometimes worked really well and at other times took me out of the story in a way I didn't appreciate. 

Aside from the solid writing, what made me give it three stars (which is a good thing in my rating book, by the way) was the fact that there was diversity in the characters. Our MC is on the spectrum, he's a bit of an outcast, a science fanboy, and he's gay. His boyfriend is a popular athlete and student body president and he's nice. The police chief is a woman. No cliches here. Sedoti also wrote something uncommon: a family with parents present. Often times in YA books, much like in teen TV shows, parents seldom appear thanks to convenient plot devices, so the kids can run wild. I liked seeing the family dynamics at play. 

Overall, it's a fun book with a unique storyline that might not be for everyone, but the writing and the characters really shine.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The whole situation– the explosion that leads to the alien encounter hoax– is kind of funny. I’m generally a fan of stories in which the characters land themselves in bizarre situations and then have to panic-slash-mastermind their way out of them only to have unanticipated consequences result. So this story definitely scratches that itch for me.

I just… didn’t like Gideon. I appreciated his intelligence. And I sympathized with his struggle to communicate his emotions and his aversion to sticky foods. But all of it seemed so selfish to me. He seemed so selfish. Even the idea that he could perpetrate this large-scale lie without any remorse, because it’s for science! I had a lot of trouble connecting with him.

Even though I didn’t connect with Gideon, I read the whole book because I hoped that it would have the kind of resolution that would make it all make sense and that if he really learned his lesson, it’d be worth the investment in the book.

And he does learn some things and make some changes. There’s growth. One of the things I didn’t like (and I’m going to be vague for spoilers reasons) was that toward the end, Gideon is faced with someone who has committed two different types of crimes. In my mind, one was much more personal and damaging than the other. But it felt like because the other frustrated Gideon more, he prioritized reporting it.

All in all, I thought the idea was fun, and the story was interesting, but this one isn’t for me. If you like goofy heist or prank stories, though, IT CAME FROM THE SKY is one I think you’ll want to check out.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Posted to Goodreads: Gideon has always dreamed of going to MIT but he knows he’s application may not be enough to get him noticed. Gideon plans to cause a seismic event that will get the prestigious school to notice him. However, when his brother, Ishmael gets involved what was supposed to be a small event turns into a large explosion. The brothers tell one little lie to cover up what they did and that lie grows into something that neither of them could control. 

I had a very mixed reaction to this book. On the surface, the book lacked character development and was in no way realistic. However, in another way, this book was just really entertaining. The book is very quirky with silly moments that will make you laugh out loud. Also, the plot verges on the ridiculous to the point that it is almost a farce. Yet, those are the reasons that it is so much fun to read. Gideon and Ishmael hatch a far fetched plot without any real plans that unravel in a way that was just really entertaining. Readers looking for a serious book should avoid this one but if you just want a fun story told in a unique way then you should definitely read it.

What a delight!  Gideon and Ishmael find themselves in a pickle when Gideon's experiment goes wrong.  So, of course, as one would, Ishmael decides they'll put out the word that aliens came to their small town.  And, of course, as older people might have guessed but these two did not, that brings in a horde of people all wanting to see the aliens. It's funny, it's smart, it's got some pointed commentary on the world.  Know that it's not a straight-line narrative but rather told through blog posts, interviews, and so on.  I'm not the target audience for this but it made me laugh- and root for these kids.  Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.  Definitely one for the YA crowd but older readers will enjoy it as well.  Two thumbs up.

I was thrilled when I got a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine how you would react if everyone in your small town suddenly believed there was aliens in your midst? I would be excited because a believer in all things paranormal and a resident of a similar small town I would love the possibility of knowing we aren't alone.

A fan of Sedoti's charming and easy to read writing style and how she always features life-like characters that reside in small towns, and usually are aiming for greatness.

The main characters Gideon and Ishmael are brothers who balance each other out. Ishmael is a practical joker and prank war champion, and Gideon is the scientist who understands the how and why behind extraterrestials.

As per usual, I couldn't put it down just like Sedoti's other books and eerily Sodie always slips stuff in her books that makes me think we may in fact be twins.




It Came From The Sky! will be released on my birthday August 4, 2020 from SourceBooks, and will be available wherever books are sold. You can connect with the YA author at her website.

I absolutely loved this original tale of two brothers, Gideon (16) and Ishmael (17) Hofstadt who live on a farm in the small town of Lansburg PA, 30 miles south of Pittsburgh. What starts as a lie to avoid getting into trouble over an experiment gone wrong (one which leaves a huge crater in one of their farm's fields!) takes on a life of its own and soon gets attention from the whole town. As more and more is reported of the strange happenings in this small town, it soon finds itself inundated with Seekers, reporters and people from all over the country. Even the FBI comes to check things out!

The boys struggle to keep up with and in control of what began as their story. Gideon (a serious boy with a wonderfully dry wit) and Ishmael (easy going and always up for whatever comes) learn more about life, themselves and others over the course of a few months than they ever could have imagined. This galloping romp of a read is told through blog entries, text messages, journal entries, interviews, and research notes among other methods.

Kudos to everyone involved in this project - it's one of a kind!

My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebook Fire for allowing me to read a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I was really looking forward to this. I enjoyed Chelsea's book As You Wish very much, and I expected another fun, frothy, light hearted read. I kind of got what I was looking for, a bit?

First, what I liked. The relationship between the brothers was great, and I enjoyed seeing it grow and develop as they got deeper into the prank. Also, the occasional moments of pure random fun, like Ishmael insisting on introducing himself exactly the way you're thinking he does, or running into the woods at night after a cow. Owen seemed perfectly nice, the little time we spent with him. The style, with the insertion of blogs, articles and interviews, was intriguing.

However.

I didn't connect with the main character at all. And as an introvert, with an interest in space and science...though not, admittedly, to the point of building my own lab and blowing things up...I should have been able to. He just didn't seem like a real person most of the time, not to me. Honestly, I knew Ishmael for about six lines and I knew why he was asking how to make the explosion bigger. Brainy Gideon couldn't figure it out?

It's not a dreadful read! I enjoyed parts of it, and the climax is appropriately satisfying. (Although it didn't occur to Oz to claim that the audio was manipulated?) I'll be looking out for more books by Chelsea. I love the way she mixes something a little bit weird into an otherwise normal world.

(But what was going on with Maggie? I never did understand that.)

YA books usually don't appeal to me as it was a long time ago, but this was different and I loved it. 2 brothers, one Mr Popular and the other Mr Scientist, combine their talents to take a major oops on their part to a national media event. Gideon wants to get into MIT and then work for NASA so if he documents this, he feels it will help him stand out a bit more than the average applicant. Add in social anxiety, a really cute guy who wants to be his boyfriend, a flamboyant friend in a tutu and a few others, like Oz the wonderful, for a group of amusing characters. One can't help but cheer them on. 

I really enjoyed this and hope there is a possibility of a sequel? I'd love the story to continue. Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was a pretty fun read. I really enjoyed how a small intentional lie was suddenly the talk of the town and how quickly it got out of control. Many people outside of the main characters, suddenly saw lights and were being carried off by aliens. Such fun.

What I liked about the story:

Gideon is an introvert, which you don’t see often in books. I could totally relate to him and his socially awkward, science loving mind.
Ishmael and his pranks, plus how well he got along with everyone.
The relationship between Gideon and Ishmael. (Loved their names too) It was nice to see two brothers that were so opposite of each other, still getting along and supporting each other.
Their younger sister, Maggie, starting a cult just to see if she could.
Gideon and Owen’s relationship and how hard it was for Gideon to admit his feelings for Owen.
Gideon’s friendships with Arden and Cassidy, even when it was difficult for him to be open and be honest with Arden.
The whole hoax story line, was at times hilarious and I could so easily seeing it happen.
I liked the different formats that were used to tell the story. Interviews, transcripts, news reports and blog posts. I even liked the footnotes, which I often found very amusing.
The parents were pretty awesome, letting the boys dig their own hole and face the consequences. They maybe should have stepped in sooner, but I liked that they trusted their kids to know when to stop.
What I didn’t like:

Gideon’s mom wanting to “fix” him, because he wasn’t as social as the rest of the family. It just rubbed me the wrong way.
Quincy Oswald, Oz, and the whole myTality scam. Also Oz was just very creepy and I kept cringing whenever he was on the page. That whole story just didn’t work for me and didn’t seem to add to the story except as a way to end the hoax.
The blind date his mom fixed up for him also didn’t seem necessary, but added a bit to Gideon’s overall growth.
If you like funny and smart characters, a small town setting and a story full of heart and good relationships then this is a story you should consider reading.

I picked up the arc of It Came from the Sky because I loved Chelsea’s The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett. Like her prior book, this one is filled with idiosyncratic characters and off-beat humor. I laughed out loud at the trouble Gideon and his brother get themselves into with understandable yet short-sited decisions.

This book started a bit slowly for me because Gideon is an up-tight, science-nerd, but this is exactly what makes him wonderful to follow as the alien mess gets bigger and bigger and he becomes increasingly worried about how it will impact his goal of getting into M.I.T.

At a deeper level, the story explores issues of pranks, marketing scams, and fake news. It considers why people might start a fake story and why others might believe them. Its theme of bravery covers not just big issues like admitting the prank after it has spun out of control, but also every-day decisions like trusting friends and allowing yourself to be vulnerable in relationships.

Yet the humor throughout allows the book to nonetheless be a light, enjoyable read, perfect in a time when we’re dealing with so many heavy issues.

It Came from the Sky will appeal to readers interested in pranks, fake news, friendship & sibling stories, and/or stories about gay male characters in small-town America.

Highly recommended.

I received a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This review will be on The Winged Pen July 28th. I'll post the review to Goodreads now and to Amazon and Barnes & Noble when it comes out.

Reading this novel made me realize that I did not have nearly as much fun as I could have had when I was a teenager. Would it have bitten me in the end and made me regret a few things? Oh, sure. But what entertainment would I have had in the meantime!

Whenever an introverted character makes its debut among the pages of a book, I instantly feel a draw toward them. I think that's the case for quite a few of us. Gideon is quite happy with his world revolving around science and his experiments, with his lack of a desire to be among most of humanity, and being forced by family and friends to step out of that comfort zone is physically painful for him. But the beautiful thing about this type of person is that when they decide to be vulnerable before others, and push themselves so that they can experience more of life, they flourish. The moment that Gideon agrees with his brother Ishmael to prank the rest of the town into believing that aliens have made contact, he begins that journey.

It Came From the Sky is not just the tale of two brothers starting mayhem and watching the world around them go wild. It's at times heartwarming as Gideon learns more about himself; it's about emotional and mental growth; it's about family and friendships; and it's about learning that no matter what path you have set out for yourself, things don't always work out according to plan and you need to not just adapt, but find and fight for new goals.

While there are a few different stories developing at the same time along with the main plot, they all come together cohesively in the end to present a full picture for the reader. And the diary entries, private messages and interviews that accompany the regular storytelling are a nice addition. It's not just about the aliens—they're merely what sets off into motion a case of incidents that increase in drama and devilry. By the close of this tale, I don't think that Ishmael and Gideon missed pushing any buttons that they may have been able to push. And despite how different the two of them are, it was great to see how well their personalities complement each other. They have no idea at the start of things, but they eventually realize how much they care for one another and how willing they are to stand by each other through the downfall of their actions. Relationships are the core of It Came From the Sky, and they're what truly make the novel so special.

What begins as an amusing and slightly dangerous sociology experiment, turns into a young man learning who he is and what he is capable of, despite his imagined shortcomings.

Trigger Warnings: on-page branding and discussion of cow mutilation, pedophilia/underage relationship/statutory rape (no graphic scenes).

I discuss these tw's in this review.

This review contains spoilers.

It Came From the Sky follows the story of Gideon, an aspiring MIT student and NASA engineer, who conspires with his prankster brother, Ishmael, to invent and carry out a hoax that aliens have visited their small town .  . . 

And it all started with what was meant to be a small explosion, to test out the ability of the seismograph. Except Ishmael does not listen to his brother, and was curious to see how much more of a big bang they could create . . . and bam. A crater is formed & the lie begins. 

Throughout the novel - and especially in the beginning - I found it hard to connect with Gideon. While I related to his awkwardness, introverted nature, and his curiosity about space, I often struggled with the way he talked. While part of his characterisation was being closed of to those around him for fear of rejection, failure and humiliation, it extended from the page and to the reader. I don't feel like I ever truly connected to Gideon. While he went on a character arc and journey, I think a lot of the emotional weight was missed by not letting the reader in to his thoughts more & allowing us to connect with him & his struggle to connect with people on a social and intimate level. The scenes where he did finally open up to Ishmael, Owen, Cass, Arden and his dad were good (I shed a tear with the latter), I feel they missed the emotional weight. Especially since once it was shared, it was like 'right! On to the next!'

Sedoti combines 'normal' narrative prose with various mixed media formats such as interview transcripts (Gideon's interviews he conducted, and the police), newspaper articles, and posters (some of these were incredibly pretty and felt very authentic with the horrible, but common, comic sans type). 

(I think the only thing I did not enjoy was the footnotes, and that's because I have not long finished writing my dissertation and degree, so I am feeling sensitive to them lmao. Stop haunting me).

My favourite element of this novel though was the relationship between Gideon and Ishmael. I really enjoyed seeing them become closer and more understanding of each other, and the support they provided the other. They had an enjoyable dynamic.

Again, I liked the relationship between Gideon and Owen, but the novel failed to invest time in to developing them and exploring that dynamic that it felt lackluster. As stated, Gideon has his reservations about everyone, and this leads him to making some really!! silly!! decisions!! that have not only an impact on him, but Owen. While the author gave this a resolution in the end, I felt incredibly frustrated that the entire novel spent time showing Gideon treating Owen badly for it to end in a conversation. I really liked that Owen did not just immediately accept or forgave Gideon, and was like this is something we need to work on. Before that, it was just text messages of leave me alone, Gideon moping before he finally realises that, despite his feelings, he was a massive jerk and needs to make things better. I don't know. I think I would have liked a few more conversations and investment in the relationship other than Gideon being rude and Owen just sighing at him, for it to then end like this. 

As for the hoax, it was incredibly wild - and fun - to see how one small lie about the crater being formed by a meteorite then snowballed in to seeing lights, shapes . . . and then seeing how it got picked up on by conspiracy theorists, and how others then began saying they had 'close encounters' as well. I think the only thing I didn't like about this whole hoax storyline is that in the end, they essentially just got away with all the destruction that they caused?? And there was no concern for their mental state (I mean Ismael literally had Gideon BRAND him with a crop circle design to sell the story. Gideon states at the end that he is going in to theory, but that's more to work on his social skills and those feelings, which is GREAT, but also what about Ishmael?!).

Another thing I did not like was the relationship between Oz and Arden & how the author handled it. It was thrown in for shock factor - and another reason to show how much Oz is the absolute worst - and to push Gideon/Arden closer together, and that was . . .  it. The whole thing was mostly brushed over, everyone being more concerned with the fact that Oz is a scam artist as opposed to the fact that he is a pedophile. In the end, he is arrested as Gideon asks Arden to come forward, seeming as the police/FBI do not think they have sufficient evidence to arrest him for scamming (Gideon compares this to Al Capone being arrested for tax evasion). So, while it was good that Oz got arrested for that & will hopefully face the consequences . . . I do not feel it was handled well at all. It was thrown in for the shock, and then dismissed, and then in the end it only became relevant again for Gideon to use to get himself out of trouble.

Overall, It Came From the Sky is not an awful book, but it misses many of it's emotional punches and fails to treat topics with the seriousness and care that they deserve. It would have benefitted from cutting down on these storylines/characters, to give more focus and attention to the main dynamics and topics.

“I hate when people act like we can change our personalities, like it’s that easy to become something we’re not,” I said, thinking of all the times I’d been coaxed to be more social, more emotional, more outgoing.  As if the personality I was born with was deficient, and if I simply put effort into it, I could be a better person - a person who didn’t resemble my true self.”

Gideon and Ishmael are brothers, but they couldn’t be more different.  

Ishmael is outgoing, confident, popular and loved nothing better than a good prank.

Gideon is awkward, a total science nerd who loves nothing better than hanging out in his lab doing experiments and talking to his cat Kepler.  He has emotions, but doesn’t understand why everyone thinks he should express those emotions all the time.  His relationship with Owen is a secret because he believes that eventually Owen will find someone better than him and he’d rather not suffer a public breakup.

Gideon is determined that his future lies in attending MIT and then working as an engineer for NASA.

But one night he lets Ishmael help him with his latest experiment to test his seismometer and suddenly the rather small explosion he had planned turns into a rather sizeable one.  And what starts off as small white lie to their parents that the sudden crater on their farm was actually caused my a meteor becomes national headlines when it is suggested that it was in fact aliens who created the crater and Ishmael and Gideon decide to run with it.  Ishmael because it is the ultimate senior prank and Gideon as a sociology experiment to make his MIT application stand out.

Alien abductions, stolen cows, a would-be teenage cult leader (just to see is she could), a charismatic pyramid scheme leader and the ultimate hoax - there are many layers to this story.  

But ultimately, it is the story of Gideon and his journey to understanding that being himself ifs enough and that even if the Universe is vast, that doesn’t make him insignificant.


Thanks to NetGalley and sourcebooksfire for an advanced copy to review.

Two brothers, science loving Gideon and fun loving Ishmael, have to think fast when a science experiment goes wrong and decide to blame it on aliens. For very different reasons they decide to see just how far they can take this story turned hoax. They just never expected it to take over their lives so thoroughly or test so many relationships. As people come from all over, believers, skeptics, and people who just want to look up and see more, Gideon quickly finds himself struggling with control. 
***
This was an interesting concept. Told in a report style, complete with interviews, transcripts of conversations, articles, and more Gideon tells the story of what happened with the alien hoax he and his brother created. It is a goofy, hilarious story. Gideon is an awkward person that doesn’t really know how to handle human interaction (relatable) and keeps making a mess of things due to his inability to read social cues or having a handle on them in general. Gideon really starts to find himself though and step out of his comfort zone and learn there is more to the world than the tight parameters he’s set for himself, and doesn’t have to change who he is to come to these realizations. He doesn’t become magically extroverted but he puts himself out there a bit more to the people closest to him and gets a better handle on himself and I love it. 
There are a lot of great things in this story, the different relationships Gideon has for example. His family, especially his brother, are a big part of his story throughout (I adore Maggie). His friends and his relationship with them changes and grows and reflect his own growth. His relationship with his boyfriend was interesting, we don’t see much of him, and a lot of that has to do with Gideon’s problem of how he perceives and internalizes things at the beginning, and his relationship with his boyfriend reflects a lot of his problems. Owen was incredibly patient and kind in handling things the way he did, it would have been very frustrating for him to be treated as he was. 
***
Overall I enjoyed the book, it was slow going and incredibly ridiculous and strange and fun all in one.
***
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

What seems like the perfect prank for two teen brothers ends up taking over their lives.  Aliens!  Just the word strikes fear or curiosity into your heart but for two brothers it was a way to get out of trouble over a science experiment gone wrong.  A light hearted story of a "War of the Worlds" lie that gets out of control and takes on a life of its own.  Great fun for young adults and older middle school readers.  My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I enjoyed every minute of this crazy, bizarre, hilarious book and the brothers who engineered this quirky town's biggest hoax.

Gideon, a science genius, and Ishmael, his Hawaiian shirt-wearing brother who prefers to coast through life, are polar opposites in almost every way and go into this hoax with different objectives.  Ishmael is looking to top his record for practical jokes at their high school.  Gideon, with a lifelong goal of working for NASA, visualizes it as a way to distinguish him from thousands of other applicants for MIT and ensure his acceptance.  Obviously, everything about this is a bad idea, but watching the story unfold and spiral out of control makes for such a pleasurable read.  

In the midst of all this, Gideon is also learning to navigate a relationship with his first boyfriend.  Being science-oriented, he prefers to deal in facts and rules, so personal relationships and the emotions and nuances that come with them are difficult for him to understand.  His character arc is strong, heartfelt, and one of my favorite things about this novel.  

As the description indicates, the narrative is broken up by interviews, blog posts, footnotes, etc., and while some readers felt them a distraction, I thought they worked well with the tone of the story.  Some of them also caused me to burst out laughing.  

Along with the hijinx, supposed alien abductions, a giant lava lamp, and a runaway cow named Muffin are incredibly supportive friendships, strong family bonds, and powerful life lessons on acceptance and self-worth.  If you're looking for a light-hearted, entertaining read, grab a copy of It Came From the Sky.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

IT CAME FROM THE SKY is by far one of my favorite reads of 2020. As we're wrapped up in a global pandemic and enduring political and social unrest, I found this book to be absolutely refreshing. It felt like turning on a contemporary version of Netflix's STRANGER THINGS in book form (only everything is fake!) and I was sucked in from the moment I started the book until I finished it. There was no political overtones, no ulterior agenda this book was trying to prove—it was simply a book about teens, a hoax that gets completely out of hand and the adventure that ensues.

After Gideon and his brother Ishmael accidentally set off a gigantic explosion that makes a giant crater, they claim that aliens were involved and the a hoax is born. As the days go by and the alien hoax starts to get out of his control, Gideon questions how far is too far without ruining everything he's worked for in his own personal life in pursuit of his own goals.

This book has aliens, LGBT representation, a likable protagonist, a thrilling and comedic storyline, the greatest footnotes, and important life lessons for teenagers and adults alike. It's a story about growing, about becoming, and having a laugh and doing sometimes ridiculous things all for the right reasons.

Give this book all of the awards—it totally deserves it. (Also @Netflix please make this into a movie because it's amazing.)

5/5 stars

In order to get out of trouble for a science experiment gone wrong, two teens convince their entire town that aliens have landed. Soon the hoax spins out of their control, and the brothers have just as hard a time as anyone else remembering that the aliens “came” because of them. Author Chelsea Sedoti treats her characters with humor and compassion in the funny YA novel It Came From the Sky.

Gideon Hofstadt has one simple rule for involving his older brother, Ishmael, in science experiments: not to involve him. Even at 16, Gideon is a serious scientist, and Ishmael is…not. He’s a goofball, more interested in enjoying his senior year of high school. It’s better not to let him help so that Gideon can conduct his experiments and work toward admission to MIT and his dream job at NASA.

Except Ishmael keeps badgering him to help with the one experiment that’s truly a two-person job. Gideon caves and lets Ishmael set the explosives around their family farm in Lansburg, Pennsylvania, so he can create literal waves on a seismograph in Ohio. Doing an experiment that will manifest on a scientific instrument hundreds of miles away makes Gideon so excited he doesn’t consider what could possibly go wrong.

And it does with a blast. Instead of a small explosion, Ishmael’s “help” craters the farm. As in, an actual crater is blown into the land. When their parents and the police arrive, Ishmael blurts out that aliens visited the farm. The news starts to spread like wildfire.

Before long people from across the region and then across the country start to trek to the site of the “alien landing.” Some totally believe the aliens were there; others are just curious about all the fuss. They’re coming to town in droves, though, and setting up camp, waiting for the aliens to come back.

One of these people is J. Quincy Oswald, the creator and CEO of a line of health products called myTality. Gideon can’t stand the guy, but his mother is enamored with the man. As a top distributor of the myTality product line, Gideon and Ishmael’s mother swears by the stuff. 

Things really start to get weird when Oswald claims to have been visited and even abducted by aliens himself. Gideon doesn’t know what to make of it all at first, but he figures out soon enough that Oswald must be running a hoax of his own. The more he digs, the more he realizes that hoax might have darker implications. Now it’s a matter of who out-hoaxes who…that is, if Gideon can keep ignoring that little voice in the back of his head that urges him to give himself up and do the right thing.

Author Chelsea Sedoti builds a three-dimensional, relatable character in Gideon. His frustration with his brother is balanced by his affection for him. The two of them created the mess together, and even as Gideon’s discomfort with the hoax makes him hesitant to perpetuate it he can’t deny that Ishmael is right there with him every step of the way. The focus on the brothers’ relationship is refreshing and fun to watch.

Sedoti also gives Gideon a love interest and all the trappings of teenage love with it. Gideon views himself as a loser and doesn’t know why anyone would want to stay with him. As the hoax grows by leaps and bounds, so does his lack of confidence in his ability to keep his relationship intact. The juxtaposition Sedoti offers is an interesting one and true to life for the book’s target audience.

On the surface, the book’s premise might seem a touch incredulous but Sedoti backs up every single outlandish development with a real-life scenario just plausible enough to make it happen. While Sedoti might be faulted for making Gideon a little too much like characters from “The Big Bang Theory,” she still gets full marks for rounding out Gideon’s superior intellect with uncertainty. He’s a smart kid, but he’s also fully aware that even his most intelligent experiment is having consequences in a big way.

Readers who enjoy a fun book with a plot that blurs the lines of reality will certainly like this. I recommend they Bookmark It Came From the Sky.

This is the first book I have read by this author but won't be the last.  It focuses on a lie that starts small but quickly grows out of hand when two brothers invent a story to cover up an experiment gone wrong.  Definitely a fun story!

For me the characters felt really relatable. Especially Gideon and Arden. They felt real and while there wasn’t that much development for some characters I still felt like it was enough. I definitely loved to see a healthy brother-brother relationship, because I don’t feel like we see that portrayed very often.

The plot in this book is great. There might be a thing or two that I would’ve changed but I immensely enjoyed the story. I liked how the book was built and how it was fast paced. The town Lansburg was perfectly made and if I would’ve lived there I would’ve believed in those aliens too.