We don't have a "What are you Reading?" thread, so I guess this thread fits:
I just finished re-reading these. Fantastic reads! Review ahead:
This was my favorite series of books as a kid. And re-reading them as an adult, I can see why. It's very well-written science fiction from beginning to end, with a great message about humanity's future and the direction we should be heading. (Keeping in mind that it's aimed at pre-teens.)
The first two books start off as your average, alien-invasion story with the characters trying to convince the rest of their town that aliens are already here, and are planning on abducting kids to study. But then at the end of the 2nd book and into the 3rd book, it suddenly changes to a VERY sci-fi story with lots of detailed descriptions of aliens and their technology, as well as their different ways and how different the aliens are physically.
Soon the characters discover that the aliens only wanted to abduct the kids to try and resolve "The Earth Question." They want to see why we treat our planet and each other the way we do (no other alien species act this way). Humanity is at the end of faster-than-light travel and doesn't realize is. Except they are the only species in over 10,000 to reach this point, but at the same time haven't stopped war, greed, and poverty. The aliens are afraid what will happen if they join the greater galaxy and the destruction and chaos we will cause. They are debating what to do with us (including destroying us). It's up to the characters to work together with the aliens both convincing them of humanity's need to survive and learning from them. Along the way some very emotional moments happen including a father-son reunion that truthfully made me tear-up a little.
Check this one out, even though it's aimed at pre-teens. Sci-fi fans (especially Star Trek fans) should really enjoy it. They are quick reads, considering the target audience, too. So it's not a big commitment or anything
