Mothership

Gr 8 Up—Mothership is pure bubble gum in a novel. The plot is thin, the characters are limited, the scenario is sheer silliness-and yet, it is a blast to read. The premise is that in 2074, a group of pregnant teens are on a spaceship to finish high school and give birth. Then the ship is attacked three weeks before Elvie's due date, and she has to use her mechanical and survival skills to save all of the girls. While doing so, they meet friendly aliens, who, it turns out, are the ones who have impregnated them (and are the reason they were sent into space). Of course, all of the good aliens are hot guys, and help to rescue the girls. Yes, there are giant plot holes, and the story borders on ridiculous. But in the tradition of a good B movie, all of that actually works in the book's favor. Give this one to teens who just want a fun, junk-food-style novel, or to add a bit of silly science fiction to your collection.—Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ