First sentence: In a fiery blaze. That's how they show themselves for the very first time. It's not like a Martian invasion is the first thing I think of when I see it, because I'm not crazy. But it's definitely the second.
Premise/plot: Mylo Affinito stars in Melissa Savage's The Truth About Martians. This one is set near Roswell, New Mexico, in the summer of 1947. Mylo witnesses a fiery blaze in the sky; he knows it couldn't be lightning. He knows that his very best friend, Dibs, would think it MARTIANS. But is it?! It may just be worth investigating in the light of day. And that's just what they do: Dibs, Mylo, Gracie, and a few other kids. What will they find in a farmer's field? Though Mylo is not looking for it--he may just find his "missing courage part."
My thoughts: I was expecting a humorous adventure story. I was not expecting a character-driven novel with HEART AND SOUL. But that is exactly what I got. This is a compelling coming-of-age novel with well-developed characters that you can't help loving.
I love Mylo. I love Dibs. I love Mylo and Dibs. I ached for both of them. I did. I was cheering for them both. There were other characters that I loved as well.
I love the honesty of this one. Mylo has grown up in a religious/spiritual family. The family attends church weekly and prays often throughout the day--as a family. But since his older brother died, Mylo has felt out of sorts. How could God let his brother die? Why didn't God answer his prayers to heal his brother? Throughout the book, Mylo struggles with his faith. But this struggle feels honest and genuine. Mylo LAMENTS. I recently read a book about laments--the steps of lamenting and how healthy it is to lament in response to grief or loss. The book features Christianity in a way that is not preachy.
The book addresses some big questions: why am I here? how should I live? what does it mean to love your neighbor?
© 2019 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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