Amazon.co.uk Review
Way up in the sky I spotted this really bright star. I didnt think Id ever
seen a star glow and shine like this one. Look at that! I cried. But Sam was
already looking at it. Just fooling about, I shouted out to the star. Hey,
youre really skilful. Come a bit nearer. Thats when it began to move

Like ghosts, ghouls and monsters, aliens have always had a particular draw for
young children, fascinated by TV shows like Star Trek and The X-Files, their
young minds are much more open to the possibility of little green men than
stuffy, rationally thinking adults. So Johnsons timely tale of an alien
encounter proves a popular addition to his series of Corgi Yearling books.
Another great cover gives a tantalising taste of whats to come as the story
unfolds through the eyes of two best friends, Freddie and Sam. Both children
are without their parents and this adds an unusual dimension to all the alien
goings-on. Sam knocks herself out by accident and then she starts to have weird
nightmares about an alien being with large, haunting eyes. Freddie is Mr
X-files and believes that he knows everything there is to know about aliens and
is of course excited by the prospect that Sam might be a target for
extra-terrestrial invaders. But even with all his knowledge, Freddie has no
idea what shocking secret he and Sam are about to unearth and the profound
effect it will have on their friendship.

This story is a great deal of fun and keeps you hooked from the start, the
alternative narrative serving to add to the readability. Each childs voice is
entirely different from the other so their friendship and fear shines through.
There are some tough issues dealt with here, most notably how the loss of a
childs parents can have a sometimes dramatic effect on a young child. Its
hard at times not to think that perhaps Sams dreams and visions are only in
her head and the alien-story she claims is real is a smoke-screen for some more
earthly, psychological issues. The fantastic twist, when it comes, is a show
stopper and will have children arguing among themselves over who claimed to
have worked it out first. The beautiful interior artwork by David Wyatt is a
real bonus and adds to the suspense and mystery. All in all, a superb tale
expertly told by an author who never fails to deliver stories than go beyond
the supernatural and into the true heart, and soul, of what its like to be a
child of today. This title cannot be recommended enough. Jonathan Weir

Sam and Freddie, both fostered by the same family, are best friends. But when
Sam has an accident and knocks herself unconscious, she begins to have weird
nightmares about a strange figure with alien eyes. Freddie jokes that the
aliens must be after her. But its just his imagination, isnt it?