Roswell Johnson saves the world! by Chris Colfer
Roswell Johnson saves the world! is a book, by a celebrity author, that is a fun and worthwhile read for Middle school readers, especially if they are fans of Star Wars, space and science. And if readers are not fans of the space/science genre, then Roswell Johnson saves the world! could just spark that interest.
The author of Roswell Johnson saves the world!, Chris Colfer, is a #New York Times bestselling author and Golden Globe-winning actor. Colfer's best-selling series of children's fantasy books, The land of stories, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Roswell Johnson saves the world!, described as Guardians of the Galaxy meets The land of stories, is the first book of a much anticipated new series. It is well structured; a circular story, with Roswell (the central character) leaving and then returning to the family farm after a step-by-step intergalactic quest is completed. Each chapter is preceded by full-page black and white interiors.
Colfer has a funny, whip-smart and warm authorial style. Time and time again, laugh out loud situations and conversations occur. Roswell Johnson is a great central character who the reader cannot help but want to cheer on. He is an 11 year-old orphan, living with his grandparents on the Johnson family chicken farm in Cherokee Springs county, Oklahoma. He is named after Roswell, New Mexico where one of the most famous sightings of a UFO occurred. Roswell is obsessed with all things UFO and the book introduces him presenting at the ubiquitous school Science Fair. Despite his obvious intelligence (or perhaps because of it) he is a lonely oddity - a nerd - but a delightfully smart and switched on one. After he fails to win the prize for the best exhibit, he tells his grandmother...'It doesn't matter how hard I work on something! People don't like me, they don't like my ideas, or they don't like the colour of my skin...I give up.' His grandmother tells him...'Life isn't always fair or easy...but life has also blessed you with a brilliant mind...' Colfer shares much wisdom for the young reader through the trials that await the young characters in the book.
At the end of chapter one there is a cliffhanger. The disappointed, shattered Roswell imagines himself climbing into a spaceship and leaving Earth, his classmates and '...although it was impossible for him to know it then...in just a few hours that's exactly what would happen...' Roswell is accidentally abducted by aliens and ends up leading a team of disparate other-wordly beings in an action-packed race to save the world from evil and disgusting reptoids. Each of the team represents different planets and constellations (some real and some imaginary) and each offers different skills that make them successful as a team. A mysterious UFO saves them from certain death at times and questions start to arise around Roswell's special status and this puzzling craft.
Themes of the destruction and pollution of Earth, the greed and war-mongering of humans as a species and questions about whether life as we know it is doomed sit behind Roswell Johnson saves the world! Compared to extra-terrestrial life forms, humans have only achieved a second grade rating; they are not nearly as sophisticated as more evolved and civilised E.T.s. Colfer's story though places agency in the hands of young people and the message is to use intelligence, band together with good allies, brave everything and work it out.
Roswell Johnson saves the world! is a rollicking story, with engaging characters, important messages and much imparted wisdom. In the Author's Note, Colfer encourages readers to research further the strange and true events that are described in the story. Roswell Johnson saves the world!, besides being an exciting read, is a book which will spark interest in many branches of Science.
Themes: U.F.O.s, Extra- terrestrial beings, Space, Middle school science.
Wendy Jeffrey