Alien Nate

This short and silly graphic novel adventure follows the eponymous pizza-obsessed purple alien and his terrestrial escapades. When the inhabitants of planet Vega encounter the Voyager 1 probe, they find a pizza accidentally left onboard by NASA and become obsessed. Sent to Earth to bring back more, Nate crashes his spaceship, drawing the attention of two government agents ("Men in Beige"). Fazel, a young immigrant, comes to Nate's rescue, taking him home, bringing him to school in disguise, and teaching him all about life on Earth--and the many varieties of pizza ("Who puts pineapples on a pizza? I mean, that's just... odd!"). When Nate grows homesick, Fazel and some new friends must help him brainstorm ways to fix his ship and return home. The episodic pacing and present-tense narration are easily digestible for emerging or reluctant readers, and thickly outlined, brightly colored art by Whamond (Acting Wild) has cartoon sensibilities effective for joke delivery. Though seasoned readers may prefer a narrative with more heft, this lighthearted story successfully touches on themes of inclusivity, friendship, and the importance of imagination. Ages 6-9. (Apr.)

Gr 2-4--Twenty-five years after NASA scientists accidentally leave a pizza on board Voyager 1, a ship from the Vega System finds the probe. The aliens, or Vegans, adore the pizza (which is still, inexplicably, tasty) and send Nate, a purple extraterrestrial with a bulbous head, to Earth in search of more. Nate crash-lands in the woods and is discovered by a boy named Fazel. The "Men in Beige" are hot on their trail, so Fazel disguises Nate using his father's toupee, and no one--not his parents (too glued to their phone and TV screens) or his clueless teachers--is any the wiser. This narrative about a stranger in a strange land ultimately falls flat. Clichés abound, and many of Whamond's jokes will go over kids' heads, such as the jabs at veganism ("Why is he eating those weird little tablets?" "Oh, he's a Vegan." "Yeah, my aunt's a vegan, too. They have really strict diets."). Featuring exaggerated cartoon illustrations in a purple palette, the book makes some forced stabs at exploring what it's like to feel different. Fazel tells Nate that he, too, felt like an alien when he "first came to this country," but no other details of his origins are offered. And when Nate worries that the other students will notice he's purple, Fazel reassures him that his classmates "come in all sorts of amazing colors"--an awkward attempt at celebrating diversity, especially considering that most of the students, apart from Fazel, appear to be white. VERDICT A cheesy take on the typical clueless alien story.--Amy M. Laughlin, Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT