''The Dark Side of Nowhere'' is a children's book written by

Neal Shusterman Neal Shusterman (born November 12, 1962) is an American writer of young-adult fiction. He won the 2015 National Book Award for Young People's Literature for his book ''Challenger Deep'' and his novel, ''Scythe'', was a 2017 '' Michael L. Print ...

and published by

Little Brown and Company Little, Brown and Company is an American publishing company founded in 1837 by Charles Coffin Little and James Brown in Boston. For close to two centuries it has published fiction and nonfiction by American authors. Early lists featured Emily D ...

in 1997. This 256-page science fiction book is aimed at readers aged 12 and up.

Plot

After his friend, Ethan, dies, Jason Miller realizes he hasn't been feeling like himself. More than that, much of his town is behaving strangely, including his parents. It turns out Jason's town has been infiltrated by alien invaders called Warrior-Fools, and Jason himself is a second generation invader. Jason is outfitted with an otherworldly power glove and called upon to lead the rest of the town's second generation. If that wasn't enough, Ethan's not dead, but merely the first of the Warrior-Fools to break through his human shell. With misgivings about his newly discovered destiny and imminent transformation, Jason balks at transforming his human girlfriend Paula into a Warrior-Fool and breaks up with her instead. Jason uses a vial of transformation serum to try to remain human as long as possible. Jason is revealed as a traitor and deposed as leader, leading to a confrontation at the alien base and a runaway ship crash. When Jason wakes up, he finds that he's lost his battle to stay human, but also that his parents have been secretly working to undermine the invasion.

Awards and honors

*2001: Illinois

Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (RCYRBA) is an annual award given to the author of the book voted most outstanding by students in grades four through eight in participating Illinois schools and libraries. It is named in honor of child ...

List *2001: Nebraska Golden Sower Award Honor *1999: Texas Lone Star Reading List *1998: Maine Student Book Award List *1998: American Library Association YALSA "Best Book for Young Adults" *1998: American Library Association YALSA "Quick Pick" – TOP TEN LIST

References

External links

Good Reads: Neal Shusterman

''The Dark Side of Nowhere'' – Good Reads
1997 American novels Little, Brown and Company books American young adult novels American science fiction novels 1997 children's books {{1990s-ya-novel-stub