First, this front cover, while cool, is misleading. While the story appeared to be a kid's version of SF pulp magazines of yesteryear, the series had grown more philosophical and sophisticated by the third and fourth books. Anyhow, this is just the cover, the story is pure magic. Coville manages to tie up all, or most, of his loose threads into pretty bows. We readers have grown to love the aliens as friends and there is a bigger picture to contemplate. What happens to our favorite sixth graders and the aliens? You must read to find out. Coville has created another gem.

This series feels dated at times, but still really holds up. Love a middle-grade book series that spurs kids to ponder the deep philosophical questions about humankind's gifts and failings.

Then the alien said: OK, you got us. We gave you the television to make you stupid. But we have a new thing now for you, it is called the Internet. You will get so smart... all the information is readily accessible to you. No trick this time.

This might have actually been my favorite book in the series. For a bunch of cheesy sci fi kids novels, the finale really packs an emotional punch.

Read it when I was 11. Not my type of book at all. (Sci-fi type of stuff)

I bought this book series at the scholastic book fair, which for a budding book worm was the greatest day of the school year.


This one may have been a little deep for a child as young as I was.

I admit that I haven't read the entire series this book comes from. I read the first one, which was absolutely amazing, and now this one. One day I'll actually go back and find the two in the middle. For being a book aimed at preteens/ young teenagers I found myself really enjoying this book and the perspective it brought to thoughts regarding the human race. I won't spoil anything for those people that haven't read it but young and old alike I encourage everyone to pick up this series, or even just this book in the series (it gives a fantastic summary of the first three books) and read it. Read it and really start thinking about how you view the world.

Apparently TV is the reason people go to war.

I'm seriously sad about the covers. where is my childhood?! :(