Alienated

Today’s post is on Alienated by Melissa Landers. It is the first in her Alienated series. The cover has the two main characters Cara and Aelyx with Cara looking up and Aelyx looking down from their planets. The intended reader is young adult but it very well written so most people would enjoy it. There is some mild language, kissing, and some violence but nothing too strong. Mid-teens and up should enjoy this book the most. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters moving from one to the other as needed. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Two years ago the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L’either exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eithrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing thought: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by the anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life- not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

Review- With civil rights still being fought out this book has a good heart and a unfortunate truth. Whenever we leave this planet and if we contact other life forms like ourselves we are going to be racist. That is the heart of this book that both humans and L’eihrs are racist and that is a very bad thing. I did not feel that Landers was beating me over the head with the theme but it is there. Aelyx is very racist at the start. He thinks of humans as sub-creatures and is trying to poison the planet so that we will die. Yes the hero has a very far journey to make. Cara is not much better but she comes around quicker. She is the best of humanity. Cara is everything that we need to be in order to make any real changes for the better. The dialog is good, the plot is solid, and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series. Landers does not sugar coat racist or how a small number of people can make decisions for the group. She holds up a mirror to humanity and makes the reader look. Good thing for teens to think about and for adults to revisit.

I give this book a Four of if Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.