Area 51

by Ken Karst

Whatever happened to the city of Atlantis? Is there a conspiracy afoot to cover up alien activity at Area 51? Some of history’s Enduring Mysteries involve tales so incredible that they blur the lines between fact and fiction. As much evidence as can be examined about the curious phenomena associated with five legendary sites and creatures is explored in this new series, with notable examples of popular culture references and famous seekers and hoaxes. The truth is out there—for someone to find. This title takes an investigative approach to the curious phenomena and mysterious circumstances surrounding Area 51, from conspiracy theories to claims of extraterrestrial sightings to hard facts.

48 pages, Library Binding

First published July 1, 2014

Reviews

[Rick]

An interesting primer that is perfect for young readers interested in UFOs and government conspiracies.

[Stasia]

...maybe don't read before bed...🤦🏻‍♀️😂Or, don't do what I did, which was, read this before bed, and then become intrigued by the alien abduction stories mentioned, and fall down that rabbit hole of googling those... 🤣

[Kirsten Barber]

I was disappointed in Area 51. The book received a starred review from Booklist. When I checked it out from the library, I was impressed by the full-page, vivid photographs. However, upon reading the book, it just didn't live up to the hype. I felt like the content was very disorganized. Karst jumps from topic to topic without clear transitions, making for a confusing read. I feel like a linear approach to organizing the content would have been more effective than the book's attempts at categorizing information by subject.

Moreover, Karst assumes that the reader has prior knowledge of the subject by not giving readers enough background information or not supplying background information until much later in the book. For instance, Roswell is referenced in multiple places throughout the book, but the author does not explain what Roswell actually is until the last page of text! Many readers of this children's title will be new to the subject or have limited knowledge and will be confused by all of the unfamiliar people, places, and events. There is a small glossary in the back of the book that helps a little, and some background information is given, though usually not in a logical place in the text and not often enough.

48 pages was not really enough space for the author to properly cover all the topics that he tries to include, so the reader is left wanting more at best and hopelessly confused at worst. I will say that for the reader interested in secret military aircraft and Area 51's involvement, this book may whet his or her appetite. But aliens, the role of conspiracy theories, and potential explanations for UFOs are not given the coverage they deserve in a comprehensive overview of the topic. Pass on this one.

Ages 10-13

[Abraham Ray]

good book of the unknown.