Title & Author : Hello, Nebulon! (Galaxy Zack #1) by Ray O’Ryan
Genre: Early Chapter Book (Grades K-2)
Publisher: Little Simon
Book Challenge Category: A book that can be read in a single day
Description:  In Hello, Nebulon!, Zack makes the big move from Earth. He is already nervous about starting school and making new friends, but it only gets worse when he dreams that his classmates are slimy aliens with tentacles, pizza comes covered in gross bugs, and he can never communicate with his Earth friends again! Fortunately, when Zack arrives at Sprockets Academy for his first day of school, he meets and befriends Drake Tucker, a Nebulite boy who also loves to explore and learn about the planets. Nebulon isn’t as awful as Zack’s dream, but there are a lot of differences between Nebulon and Earth, and they make Zack miss his home in Dubbsville, Texas, even more. But things start to look up when he receives a mysterious surprise. What could it possibly be?

Review: When I decided to take the 2K16 Book Challenge, I knew that I was going to need some help choosing books. I let Miss Jenn pick the “book that can be read in a single day” and she decided that she would pick a book that I wouldn’t otherwise read. Miss Jenn adores the Galaxy Zack series!  I appreciate how supportive Zack’s parents are – moving is always stressful for children, but even more so when the move is across the galaxy! Too many books have child characters who have to rely on themselves to get through the plot’s challenges and it’s refreshing to see literary parents who are there to comfort and guide their children. I think I like Zack’s teacher, another earth transplant, and I’m almost positive I like Zack’s new friend, Drake, but, honestly, I found it difficult to get to know the characters. To be fair, it is a book for young readers, so the character development isn’t terribly sophisticated, but the whole thing reminded me a little too much of The Jetsons. There are flying cars, a robot (well, AI anwyay) butler, and a blond haired protagonist who’s too cute for words.  If I were an elementary student or if I were more of a sci-fi fan, I probably would have liked Galaxy Zack a little more than I did. I don’t regret reading it, but I don’t think it’s going to stick with me, either.

One challenge book down, eleven to go!