*Starred Review* Eight-year-old Thaddeus Fong is insanely jealous of his baby sister and exploits his intelligence as a weapon against his social insecurities. Politics ranging from those of the family to those of state are explored and sent up as Yang unfolds a rich and spirited story that lays bare psychological and social truths, a parable in which ever-forgiving space aliens play a major role in advancing not just the plot but also character development. Using the flat, cartoony style of his award-winning American Born Chinese (2006), Yang pulls us in from the first page and packs in several surprises as well as clever asides within its 56, multi-paneled, single-strip pages, allowing plenty of white space to force readers to note the finest details of the action in counterpoint to Thaddeus' attempts to interpret every interaction as a personal slight. The color palette employed is soft, subtly contradicting Thaddeus' emphatic evil-versus-good outlook with its relative gentleness. Sf readers who value humor and humanity (not just slam-bang action), Christians, newcomers to graphic novels, and fans of Yang's simultaneously childlike and sophisticated ability to create and maintain tension should all be satisfied by his new book.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2010 Booklist

In 2006, Yang garnered a National Book Award nomination for American Born Chinese. Here, he depicts the antics of Thaddeus Fong, a precocious eight-year-old bearing a "rational disdain" for his younger sister, Maddie. Thaddeus feels his sibling has displaced him as the focus of their parents' affection, and his robust imagination spurs increasing paranoia and misbehavior. When his parents refuse to believe that Maddie is an alien, Thaddeus records her activity and shares it with the world via YouTube. Public embarrassment at school ensues. Humbled, Thaddeus ultimately discovers something far stranger about his sister and her purpose, relative to the universe. Yang's ample wit is evident throughout, particularly in the inventions and inventiveness of his main character and in the short but quirky story line. Verdict Readers young and old will enjoy this quick read, rendered with simple lines in a palette of oranges and grays. Siblings should be encouraged to read it together, and adults will identify with the patience required to navigate their children's flights of fancy.-John Gehner, Urbana Free Lib., IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.