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Reviewed by:
  • The Drake Equation by Bart King
  • April Spisak
King, Bart The Drake Equation. Disney Hyperion,
2016 [320p]
ISBN 978-1-4847-2552-8 $16.99
Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 4-6

Seventh-grader Noah is an avid birdwatcher, keeping his binoculars and his field notes close at hand. This attention to scientific detail comes in handy when he finds a mysterious disc in the woods. He quickly realizes the device is far too scientifically advanced to be from Earth, and it also draws the attention of those who would to use its power for less than noble purposes—and those who lost the device and want it back. The story quickly becomes a lot of plot to sort out with aliens, bullies, birds, and the fate of the whole planet in the balance, but Noah’s a strong enough character to snag interest and keep it. His narration, often as clueless as readers might feel, allows for them to get caught up as he fumbles along trying to understand his rapidly changing life. However, the fictional field notes interspersed throughout are distracting (and may not even evoke bird-watching for the unfamiliar), feeling more like a cheap way to sneak in some easy character development, particularly when they interrupt Noah’s own voice. Nevertheless, if it is too much book to fit comfortably between the covers, there’s at least some clever humor and a great central protagonist to carry readers along through to the end.

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