"
Five Star, Dec 2003, 25.95, 235
ISBN 1594140669
An UFO crash lands in Elderton, Illinois and the alien inside doesn't know where he is or who he is. He just understands that he will bring change to this small town. The Astonished Eye tabloid hears the rumors of the flying saucer crash landing and sends Ben Savitch to report. Ben, who lived in Elderton until he was six, hopes that the rumors are true so that he can finally make it into the big leagues of journalism.
The town is nothing like Ben expects. It is filled with magic that allows people to live after they die. The heart of the town is Almo Parish the last munchkin from the wizard of Oz who is still alive. Each Fall there is a small ceremony in which Almo points out the first leaf that will drop from the trees signifying that the season has arrived. Jeffrey Sprague has run away from the last of a long line of foster homes and winds up in Elderton where the adults subtly take care of him. He might make a home for himself there if can get used to the magic that engulfs him. Cynical Ben finally believes in the magic after he realizes he can not stay in the place of his birth.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Tracy Knight Scholar
Click above for the new Obama Girl Parody video!
Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy story on current Earth
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena
Parody
Yes
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- journalist
Age:
- 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- none
Setting
Earth setting:
- current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
How much dialogue?
- significantly more dialog than descript
