I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited about the prospect of a new Rebecca Stead book, I literally could not push that request button quickly enough! When You Reach Me will always be my favorite, but I just love all of her books and I was excited to see a new one on the horizon.

Our main character is Nathan, and he’s an alien - but he’s been raised on Earth. His parents are Kast - they were raised on a space ship. They spent most of their lives traveling to Earth to be explorers, so they don’t have any memories of their home world either. Nathan has to do all kinds of weird things to maintain his human form - including brushing his teeth several times a day with a special pink toothpaste. But after his family takes their first ever vacation, Nathan comes back…a little different. He’s grown a tail. He knows this is bad - he’s failed at being a human. And he’s not certain, but he’s pretty sure the consequences for this are being banished back to the Kast home planet. Nathan’s is actually one of several alien families in various cities around the US (it’s interesting that they are concentrated in one particular country rather than all over the world - although we do learn there’s a reason for this). In the last few months, several of the alien kids have disappeared. Did they also grow tails? Or is something fishy going on?

With the help of his best friend Victor and his tail, Tuck, Nathan sets out to find out the truth behind his (and his parents’) origin story.

This is fun - as is always the case in a Rebecca Stead joint, Nathan feels like a real 6th grader. He’s not really dealing with the standard 6th grade growing pains (which are typically friend-related) given that he has bigger things on his mind. I did like his buddy Victor, though. And there are intelligent cats who spy on the kids and report back to the parents! It’s sci-fi that doesn’t feel too silly or weird, which can sometimes be the case with middle grade stuff. There are a few plot points I wanted more of, but I’ll save those complaints until closer to the release date.

The Experiment is such an interesting book! I love when a plot is different than anything I've seen before. Nathan's journey is an exciting trip that will leave you questioning everything!

This was a tough book to get all the way through. I thought it would fit my interests- but I struggled to keep going. The concept was a bit out there for my personal preferences.

This is such an imaginative, suspenseful novel that sci-fi fans will eat up, but isn't "too sci-fi" for other readers. I loved how the details of Nathan's life slowly unfolded, and the plot twists were timed perfectly. I never quite knew where the story was going, and that made for a really fun read. Kudos to Rebecca Stead for writing a twisty, fast=paced, adventurous novel that totally immersed me - in under 300 pages! This was very cleverly written, and I predict it will be a big hit with middle grade readers!

I’ve been a huge fan of Stead’s previous works but this one missed the mark for me. I felt like the climax was rushed and the resolution confusing.

Rebecca Stead is an amazing YA/Children's author, and The Experiment is another example of her incredible storytelling. The plot is intriguing and unique, with a perfect mix of mystery. She has a talent for tackling deep themes in a way that is both engaging and accessible. If you love YA books with strong characters and thought-provoking plots, then this one is a must-read! But really is is a must-read for all!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of The Experiment by Rebecca Stead

The Experiment offers a fresh twist on the typical sci-fi alien-on-Earth plot. The characters are well developed, though the story feels a bit rushed near the end. Despite that, the ending is satisfying. Also, there is a cat in the book called Toto, which I thought was a delightful addition.

6th grader Nathan is not your typical middle schooler. He and his parents are from another planet sent to observe humans. They live normal lives except for a few things required by the experiment. Once a month, all the families meet virtually to discuss their findings. As time passes, Nathan notices that the other children are starting to disappear. When Nathan grows a tail, he and his parents head back to the mother ship. Things on the mother ship are not as they seem, and Nathan isn’t sure who to trust. What really happened to the children? What is the experiment?

The plot is engaging, full of mystery, and a great introduction to the science fiction genre. The characters are engaging, well developed, and believable. The world building is well done and draws the reader into Nathan’s world. Readers who like science fiction, mystery, and alien fiction will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 5 stars, Gr 4 to 8.

Stead, Rebecca, The Experiment. Pgs. 288. Macmillan Children’s Books, 2025
Nathan and his family are from another planet. They are on earth to learn about humans, but their time on earth may be coming to an end. They as well as 12 other families live normal lives. Once a month, they all get on a virtual call. As they get on the calls, Nathan notices that some of the children have disappeared. When Nathan grows a tail, he and his parents head back to the mother ship. Things on the ship aren’t what they appear. Nathan isn’t sure who to believe. Are they truly from another planet? What has happened to the other children?
The plot is well written, engaging, and full of mystery. The characters are well developed, realistic, and enjoyable. The world building is well done and draws the reader into the story. Readers who like science fiction, mystery, and aliens will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 5 stars, Grades 4 to 8.

Nathan feels different from everyone else. He works really hard at fitting in – really hard. He’s been told he’s an alien, like the kind from another planet, and some of the other almost 12-year-olds from his alien zoom group are starting to disappear. What will this mean for Nathan and his tail?
Wonderful and enjoyable book about growing up, changing and realizing what you really are. A great adventure with relatable characters. Loved every word of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this DRC.
#TheExperiment #NetGalley

The Experiement by Rebecca Stead was a delightful and thought provoking read for readers ages 11-13. I enjoyed this look into science fiction and who the aliens might be. This book makes us think about who the aliens really might be and how we should treat every living thing. I give this book 5 stars.

I opened this one expecting to knock out a chapter or two and ended up reading it all in one sitting! The short chapters made it very easy to fly through and the way it thrusts the readers directly into the weirdness of these alien kids on earth was super gripping. The framing was a great way to explore more mundane, relatable feelings tweens have and the mid-book twist reminded me a lot of Running Out of Time--one of my childhood faves. The ending slowed things down a bit for me but, on a whole, a worthwhile read.

Stead’s “The Experiment” kept me riveted all day. I truly had no idea what to expect from each page flip. This story was heartfelt, suspenseful, and quite humorous. A fun and thought provoking read.

Nathan has known his whole life that he's an alien disguised as a human. It's hard hiding a secret from the entire world. It becomes even more challenging when he starts growing a tail with a mind of its own.
This was a fun entry into the middle grade sci-fi genre. The subject matter was not heavy, but immediately engrossing. There's nothing wrong with messaging built into middle grade books. In fact, I usually love it. However, in my experience, kids do not love it. This book had high stakes without making any deeper environmental, political, or emotional statement. I know many kids who would be sitting at the edge of their seat to find out how Nathan will get out of a seemingly impossible situation. The plot was not overly complex and I'm normally not surprised by plot twists, but I didn't see this one coming.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Nathan from New York has always had to keep secrets from his friends. When a new development threatens to reveal everything that his family has tried to hide, Nathan finds out that even he didn't know the full truth about who he is and where he came from.
Rebecca Stead is a genius author for young readers. The Experiment has every ingredient it needs to be a huge hit with kids: short chapters, fast moving plot, cats, aliens, and friendship. I can't wait to put it in the hands of 3rd-5th graders in September.

What a fascinating, clever, action-packed, and unique new science fiction middle grade novel from one of my favorite authors of all time! This book sure made me think, it made me question a lot about humanity, it made me wonder what to believe, and I devoured it in a single day. But it was also so entertaining and enjoyable!

First of all, the originality was top tier. This is an idea that is so clever, and yet I can't talk much about it without giving away some of the book, which includes some surprising reveals throughout. So let me highlight the themes and why I couldn't put it down.

The book starts off with main character Nathan revealing that his family is from another planet. They are on Earth to learn about humans, and if the aliens from their home planet can habituate Earth in the long-run. They are part of an Experiment of 12 families, and live fairly normal lives, except for a few things that they must adhere to as part of the Experiment. Every month, Nathan and his parents do a virtual call with the other families in the Experiment. But Nathan starts noticing that some of the kids have disappeared.

The action is nonstop in this book. From the moment Nathan shows symptoms different than the other kids in the Experiment, it is clear that something big is happening. He starts to question everything he's been told, and with the help of some friends, including a surprising addition, sets off to uncover the truth. The details are vast and fascinating.

Aliens may be a big part of the story, but above all, The Experiment is a book about family and friendship and what it means to be human. It's also a story about propaganda and beliefs, and what happens when we start questioning everything that has ever been told to us. Lots of layers woven in that will make for an excellent discussion.

Recommended for ages 9+.

I love science fiction and dystopian books with a setting to which I can relate. Nathan is in sixth grade in New York City, and his family is slightly different. His mom manages everything in Nathan's life like a science experiment. The weird things their family does get weirder when Nathan discovers he has a tail. This is where this book starts to feel like "A Wrinkle in Time." This is a fast-paced middle-grade novel about aliens, family, friendship, and adventure. If you enjoyed "The First State of Being", you will enjoy this novel.

An alien boy who just wants to be normal, but that's pretty difficult when you grow a tail one day. The parents are keeping secrets, his friends could never understand, and even his cat is spying on him. Sounds like normal life for a middle schooler. This title has plenty of action and mystery to keep kids reading.

Sixth-grade Nathan from New York knows he and his parents are aliens. He hates that he can’t divulge more to his soul-brother, Victor. Each month, he meets with his nine”friends” until some of them start disappearing, alarming Nathan especially when his “girlfriend” Isabel from Illinois goes missing. When Nathan starts to grow a tail, the D.P. (Decommissioned Parents) come for him to return him to the Wagon. Nathan desperately wants to find Izzy, and in his pursuit, he discovers everything is not as it seems. This middle-grade novel has twists and turns to keep readers interested, with the bonus of great writing.

Nathan and his parents are from another planet and he has been raised on Earth as an experiment to see if the they can survive and pass as human. His mom keeps careful notes on his behavior and everything he eats so there is exact data to work with. As other kids in the experiment start to go missing and Nathan has an unexpected development in his own life, his family goes back to the ship where his parents grew up.

This book keeps the reader engaged in trying to figure out what is going on and who to trust. I enjoyed reading it and its exploration of the concept of questioning what you have always believed and accepting new truths. I would have liked some more at the end fleshing out how everyone feels and deal with the events of the book but overall it was well wrapped up.