Strange Days
Alex Mata doesn't want to worry about rumors of alien incursions--he'd rather just skate and tag and play guitar. But when he comes home to find an alien has murdered his parents, he's forced to confront a new reality: aliens are real, his parents are dead, and nobody will believe him if he tells. On the run, Alex finds himself led to the compound of tech guru Jeffrey Sabazios, the only public figure who stands firm in his belief that aliens are coming.
At Sabazios's invitation, Alex becomes a Witness, one of a special group of teens gifted with an ability that could save the Earth: they can glide through time and witness futures. When a Witness sees a future, that guarantees it will happen the way it's been seen, making their work humanity's best hope for stopping the alien threat. Guided by Sabazios, befriended by his fellow time travelers, and maybe even falling in love, Alex starts feeling like the compound is a real home--until a rogue glide shows him the dangerous truth about his new situation.
Now in a race against time, Alex is forced to reevaluate who he can love, who he can trust, and who he needs to leave behind.
Debut author Constantine Singer's fresh-voiced protagonist leaps off the page in this captivating novel that weaves sci-fi and contemporary fiction.
School Library Journal:
Alex Mata is interested in playing guitar, hanging out with his friends, and getting his hands on the latest technology. He isn't too concerned about rumors that aliens might be real and might be kidnapping people. That is, until he comes home to find his parents murdered -- by aliens. Shocked and confused, Alex is recruited to be a Witness by Jeffrey Sabazios, who claims that his technology can protect Earth from the alien incursions. As a Witness, Alex travels through time to observe future events and lock them into place. In Sabazios's compound, Alex finds his purpose and begins to grow closer to some of the other Witnesses. Alex's ability to move through time, however, is greater than that of his friends, and because of this, he uncovers secrets that he and the other Witnesses are not supposed to know. Faced with the truth, Alex has to make tough decisions about whom to trust as he tries, once again, to save the world. Alex narrates in a unique voice that will appeal to eager and reluctant readers alike. Featuring a diverse cast, this sci-fi novel is grounded in the real world: Alex tackles questions of identity and his own interactions with others all while trying to deal with the alien incursions. Fast-paced and intense, this is a compelling choice for readers looking for science fiction set closer to home.
Other Reviews:
"As an impending alien invasion threatens Earth's future, 17-year-old Latinx Alex Mata grapples with self-doubt, loss, and love in Singer's assured debut." -- Kirkus Reviews
"STRANGE DAYS is an awesome read--fun, thrilling, and creative, with a wonderfully nuanced protagonist!" -- Romina Russell, Author, ZODIAC series.
"With a clever premise, unforgettable characters, and a plot that is complex yet enthralling, Strange Days proves to be a smart and nail-biting adventure that teen audiences are certain to enjoy." -- Germ Magazine
"Debut author Singer delivers a fast-paced adventure with a diverse cast and an intriguing premise... ...the tense atmosphere and memorable characters will keep readers turning the pages to the ambiguous ending, which leaves the door open for a sequel." -- Publishers' Weekly
"Singer plays clever tricks with time travel and the ways in which it can affect past and future knowledge, and leaves readers hanging and eager for the sequel." -- Booklist