The Truth About Martians

Gr 4–7—It's 1947 in New Mexico and Mylo, who never really believed in aliens, would rather read his comic books, play with his friends, or visit his brother's grave. One night, after something is reported to have crash landed next to his ranch in Roswell, Mylo hears a voice asking for help. The army claims the crash was a weather balloon, but Mylo and his friends decide to investigate. Although the characters seem young at times, they are realistic, engaging, and draw readers into the story. The plot is well developed, easy to follow, and has a good pace. Descriptions are vivid and detailed. Subtle inclusions of classic comic book references like Buck Rogers and Wonder Woman add to the historical setting, though a scene mentioning Mylo and his friends playing "Cowboys and Indians" is normalized and left unexamined.