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Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences

by Brian Yansky
Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences by Brian Yansky High School Candlewick 229 pp. 10/10 978-0-7636-4384-3 $15.99 g
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Jesse is sitting in history class when most of the human race is annihilated, instantly, by invading aliens with extraordinary powers of the mind. A small minority of "product," as the aliens term their new colony's inhabitants, is kept alive to serve as slaves, Jesse among them. He and his ilk are deemed superior because they can "hear," or receive the aliens' telepathic communications. But as Jesse bands together with fellow slaves Michael, Lindsey, Lauren, and Catlin, they find that their own mental powers are increasing and make a daring plan to escape. Meanwhile, Lord Vertenomous, leader of the Sanginian invasion, is losing control of the operation (species rights organizations on his home planet are demanding an investigation, threatening a political scandal) and decides to have all hearing product destroyed. Alien Invasion is nothing if not action-packed, and yet it is provocative, profound, and wickedly funny as well. Yansky takes on questions philosophical, ecological (the Sanginians abhor machines and won't be cutting down any more rainforests; is the Earth better off?), religious, moral, and social. The satire is right on target. Toward the end Jesse encounters a rogue Sanginian anthropology professor ("America is my specialty") who shares his hilarious research-based misconceptions, including his declaration that Davy Crockett "lives on forever in the heart of every American" and his wish to find "the cereal that the great champions of your games ate"—i.e., Wheaties. MARTHA V. PARRAVANO
Gr 9 Up—When aliens invade Earth, it only takes them seconds to conquer the planet and neutralize most of the people. Some are left alive because of their ability to hear the telepathic commands of the aliens and that makes them prime slave material. Jesse relies on the imagined voice of his father, reminding him to never give up and to always stay alert to ways of gaining advantage over an adversary. Years of wrestling and martial-arts training come in handy when outwitting the Sanginians. When Jesse's powers of communication begin to progress and other abilities manifest themselves, he decides it's time to make a break for freedom, taking the friends he has made along with him. But how do you fight an alien invasion and find hope for a future? Jesse's down-to-earth first-person narration alternates with coldhearted communiqués from the alien conqueror, Lord Vertenomous. Yansky handles a typical sci-fi theme with a sense of humor. The irreverent attitude of youth that distinguishes Jesse and his friends keeps the story from becoming morose and stereotypical. There appears to be a sequel in the making, as the book ends with a beginning.—Debra Banna, Sharon Public Library, MA
Jesse is sitting in history class when most of the human race is annihilated by invading aliens. A small minority of "product" is kept alive to serve as slaves, Jesse among them. The story is action-packed, provocative, profound, and wickedly funny. Yansky takes on questions philosophical, ecological, religious, moral, and social, and the satire is right on target.
Reviewed by Debra Banna , Sep 01, 2010

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