Margot and Mateo Save the World

Gr 4–6—Margot Blumenthal, an Olympic-bound wrestler, is relatively new to West Cove Middle School. When she observes the usually easygoing Mateo Flores punching his best friend in the nose on the school bus, she decides to see what's up. It turns out that Mateo has an alien slug attached to his back that is controlling his actions. Using her wrestling skills, Margot de-slugs Mateo, only to discover that many adults in the town also have slugs controlling them. The two kids team up with Calvin Biggs, a research assistant at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in town to help remove a 47-ton sperm whale decaying on the town beach), in a heroic effort to stop the alien slug invasion that is underway. In the process of working together to save the world, Mateo, a perpetual people-pleaser, and Margot, a friendless know-it-all, become true friends, a welcome change for both. The wacky plot is fast moving, and both Margot and Mateo are relatable and likable characters.