April 15, 2023
Julia's father, David, believes he was abducted from their backyard by aliens a few years earlier. Julia is dealing with the reality that her parents are separated and her dad's now obsessed with the paranormal. The father-daughter duo are headed to Roswell, New Mexico, for a festival celebrating the anniversary of the famous UFO crash. Thoughtful, self-conscious Julia shares David's passion, to the perplexity of her overprotective mom and her best friend, Sara, even turning down a trip to Hawaii with Sara's family in favor of Roswell. Fellow young tourist Josh and his abductee parents give Julia new perspectives on her relationships and the unusual world David has brought her into. Miller paints David and the other abductees with compassion, never judging or pathologizing them even when noting the damage their preoccupations cause their loved ones. Julia's dad is fun and kind, and she shares good times with him--but he's also not steadily employed, has abandoned his former hobbies, and forgets things that matter to her. There's melancholy alongside the cheerful, animated character design and beautiful Southwestern landscapes with their vivid, inky starlit skies and luminous sunrises. The story ultimately doesn't settle on easy answers when asking what it means to care about someone who believes something that you're beginning to doubt. Julia and her parents read White; Josh has light brown skin and black hair. A poignant trip. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
May 1, 2023
The father of middle schooler Julia, who believes he was abducted by aliens, takes her to a festival celebrating the 75th anniversary of the famous Roswell, N.Mex., incident in this endearing graphic novel by Miller (the Mason Mooney series). Julia is excited about this trip with her dad, even if her best friend Sara doesn’t understand why Julia would turn down her invitation to Hawaii for an alien parade. Julia is fiercely protective of her father’s beliefs, and she resents Sara’s speculation that his abduction was a dream or hallucination. While Julia is invested in her dad’s tales, however, an increasingly present, if private, part of her is embarrassed by them. As the festival unfolds, Julia wrestles with the fear that he hasn’t been entirely truthful about his experiences. Miller’s lively depictions of the celebration, rendered in psychedelic full-color, artfully juxtapose the earthen, barren desert setting. Julia’s clearly loving and complex relationship with her father is portrayed with nuance and warmth, making for a contemplative exploration of one father-daughter bond and the lengths to which the duo will go to support and uplift each other. Ages 8–12. Agent: Alex Slater, Trident Media Group.
June 1, 2023
Gr 5-8-Julia has always believed her dad, David, when he talks about being abducted by aliens, even when no one else does. After her parents separate, Julia cherishes her time with her dad, joining him on a trip to a UFO festival in Roswell, New Mexico, even though it means passing up a vacation with her best friend. On their trip, she meets Josh, whose parents share David's UFO obsession. While Julia has always delighted in her father's interest, Josh resents his parents for depriving him of a normal childhood. Julia begins to doubt her father's abduction experience and grapples with embarrassment and anger toward him for seemingly abandoning his responsibilities to his family. Miller's characters are complex and likable. Julia's growing doubt and disappointment with her father is handled with nuance and without painting him as a villain. His beliefs are handled with respect while also honestly depicting the impact they've had on his relationships. Josh and Julia's friendship is a great example of finding community with others through shared trauma and life experiences. Julia helps Josh see the good qualities in his parents, while Josh encourages Julia to draw boundaries and not be afraid to question the things her father has told her. Miller's colorful illustrations and beautiful settings offset the often serious nature of the plot. This is a humorous and compassionate portrayal of the complicated and sometimes painful nature of parental relationships, and could be a powerful conversation starter about differences in beliefs among family members. VERDICT Recommended for all middle grade graphic novel collections.-Jillian Girardeau
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
May 31, 2023
Grades 4-7 Julia turns down a trip to Hawaii with her best friend to visit Roswell, New Mexico's annual UFO festival and, most important, help keep her dad's appointment with a spaceship. Believing he was abducted years ago, her dad's obsession has cost him much, though not his daughter's affection and faith. These are sorely tested on their road trip, though, and matters are further complicated by Josh, also the child of supposed abductees but with considerably less faith and tolerance. Miller's strategic use of eerie colors around the stories of abductees and witnesses and her deployment of double splash pages and thoughtful silent passages give effective weight to the varying emotional turns of the story. At the same time, the UFO subculture functions well as a metaphor and a gauntlet of potential humiliation. Because, in the end, this is not so much about what's really out there; it's about a girl who wants desperately to believe in her parent but needs care and respect of her own, both from her dad and from friends old and new.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
July 1, 2023
In a graphic novel set during the seventy-fifth anniversary of the alleged alien crash landing in Roswell, New Mexico, Julia searches for extraterrestrial life on a road trip with her dad while unexpectedly examining her Earth-bound relationships. Her father hasn't been the same since his supposed alien abduction, resulting in her parents' separation. Julia wants to support her dad but wrestles with her own doubt and disappointment. Her frustration is heightened once arriving in Roswell, thanks to the corny nature of the festivities and the cynicism of peers. Josh is also a child of self-proclaimed alien abductees, yet to Julia's surprise he vehemently opposes his parents' beliefs. ("Trust me, all these people are full of it.") After a series of mishaps -- including a miscalculated prank, a car breakdown, and their failure to contact aliens -- Julia reaches a hard-earned understanding of her father, shaped by acceptance and empathy. Miller's skillful cartooning enhances the storytelling throughout. Shifts in color effectively signal transitions between the present and the past. The sharp dialogue is believable, while wordless scenes are equally revealing. A consistent three-tiered page layout establishes a steady reading pace; however, Miller frequently shifts panel size, shape, and quantity for narrative impact -- from rows of numerous panels during fast-paced discussions to bold double-page spreads at emotional crescendos. A satisfying and nuanced encounter. Patrick Gall
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 1, 2023
In a graphic novel set during the seventy-fifth anniversary of the alleged alien crash landing in Roswell, New Mexico, Julia searches for extraterrestrial life on a road trip with her dad while unexpectedly examining her Earth-bound relationships. Her father hasn't been the same since his supposed alien abduction, resulting in her parents' separation. Julia wants to support her dad but wrestles with her own doubt and disappointment. Her frustration is heightened once arriving in Roswell, thanks to the corny nature of the festivities and the cynicism of peers. Josh is also a child of self-proclaimed alien abductees, yet to Julia's surprise he vehemently opposes his parents' beliefs. ("Trust me, all these people are full of it.") After a series of mishaps -- including a miscalculated prank, a car breakdown, and their failure to contact aliens -- Julia reaches a hard-earned understanding of her father, shaped by acceptance and empathy. Miller's skillful cartooning enhances the storytelling throughout. Shifts in color effectively signal transitions between the present and the past. The sharp dialogue is believable, while wordless scenes are equally revealing. A consistent three-tiered page layout establishes a steady reading pace; however, Miller frequently shifts panel size, shape, and quantity for narrative impact -- from rows of numerous panels during fast-paced discussions to bold double-page spreads at emotional crescendos. A satisfying and nuanced encounter.
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)