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Alien Skill #1
Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall
When UFOs crash into the fields next to his grandfather’s house, twelve-year-old Ben Archer becomes a cumbersome witness in the eyes of the government. Not only that, but Ben discovers he has been entrusted with an alien power, the significance of which could jeopardize human life on Earth.
Government agents rush in to remove all evidence of spacecraft and extraterrestrials. The media are led to believe meteors fell in the area and they dub the event The Cosmic Fall. But when Ben's involvement comes in the spotlight, he is forced to flee with the sole survivor of the crash: an alien man called Mesmo.
And while the destinies of boy and alien become inextricably linked, one question hovers above their unlikely friendship: why did the aliens come to Earth in the first place?
The Alien Skill Series is a science-fiction adventure series for teens. Readers who enjoy Percy Jackson or Crime Travelers will enjoy this fresh, age-appropriate story with a scifi twist the likes of A Wrinkle in Time and Animorphs. These middle-grade books have won the hearts of young and old alike, turning them into a best-selling, award-winning coming-of-age series filled with alien powers, hidden enemies, shapeshifters and a thought-provoking glimpse into the way we treat our planet.
Government agents rush in to remove all evidence of spacecraft and extraterrestrials. The media are led to believe meteors fell in the area and they dub the event The Cosmic Fall. But when Ben's involvement comes in the spotlight, he is forced to flee with the sole survivor of the crash: an alien man called Mesmo.
And while the destinies of boy and alien become inextricably linked, one question hovers above their unlikely friendship: why did the aliens come to Earth in the first place?
The Alien Skill Series is a science-fiction adventure series for teens. Readers who enjoy Percy Jackson or Crime Travelers will enjoy this fresh, age-appropriate story with a scifi twist the likes of A Wrinkle in Time and Animorphs. These middle-grade books have won the hearts of young and old alike, turning them into a best-selling, award-winning coming-of-age series filled with alien powers, hidden enemies, shapeshifters and a thought-provoking glimpse into the way we treat our planet.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2018
863 people are currently reading
1759 people want to read
About the author
Rae Knightly
28 books149 followersRae Knightly is a sci-fi/fantasy author for teens and the young-at-heart.
Rae was raised in various locations on Earth, during which time she picked up four languages and came to appreciate this blue pebble floating in the confines of space.
Her current human mission is to keep the stars shining in her two children's eyes, while hopefully igniting new ones within others across the globe.
Rae spends her time spirit travelling to distant galaxies or exploring the breathtaking landscapes of British Columbia, Canada, before returning with more adventures for her ALIEN SKILL SERIES.
NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to Rae Knightly's mailing list and get a free prequel to The Alien Skill Series at www.raeknightly.com
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www.amazon.com/Rae-Knightly/e/B079V2K6PN
Rae was raised in various locations on Earth, during which time she picked up four languages and came to appreciate this blue pebble floating in the confines of space.
Her current human mission is to keep the stars shining in her two children's eyes, while hopefully igniting new ones within others across the globe.
Rae spends her time spirit travelling to distant galaxies or exploring the breathtaking landscapes of British Columbia, Canada, before returning with more adventures for her ALIEN SKILL SERIES.
NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to Rae Knightly's mailing list and get a free prequel to The Alien Skill Series at www.raeknightly.com
www.facebook.com/rae.knightly.37
www.instagram.com/raeknightly/
twitter.com/RaeKnightly
AMAZON
www.amazon.com/Rae-Knightly/e/B079V2K6PN
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
June 1, 2023
Delightful book and so clever! These books soulfld be read in order so I’ll start book 2 tonight!
The characters are so interesting! You will think you know them. Character development is truly amazing.
The characters are so interesting! You will think you know them. Character development is truly amazing.
July 29, 2021
*More like 3.8 stars than 4.*
A great and unique concept with characters you really root for.
The execution was sometimes questionable; the writing style was a little amateur-ish and overly wordy. Not to mention there were a few spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes littered around. They really took away from this book because after the first time I noticed it, I spent the rest of my time subconsciously searching for mistakes.
The plot itself was very all over the place. It only really picked up around the halfway mark but all that happened from there on out was laced with intriguing mystery and exciting action which pretty much made up for the slow start. Geographically speaking it was all over the place too. The haphazard logic of all the back and forth running around felt rudimentary but I suppose it couldn’t have been discarded, perhaps it could have been improved though.
The characters themselves were all likeable enough (except for the antagonist, of course). I particularly loved Mesmo and his budding relationship with protagonist Ben.
After all that, I’ve still got a lot of questions because practically nothing was answered but all the questions I have were not yet posed within the book so it’s not irritating to not have been given answers. It just means that I’m invested enough now to continue reading the series till I find some answers!
A great and unique concept with characters you really root for.
The execution was sometimes questionable; the writing style was a little amateur-ish and overly wordy. Not to mention there were a few spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes littered around. They really took away from this book because after the first time I noticed it, I spent the rest of my time subconsciously searching for mistakes.
The plot itself was very all over the place. It only really picked up around the halfway mark but all that happened from there on out was laced with intriguing mystery and exciting action which pretty much made up for the slow start. Geographically speaking it was all over the place too. The haphazard logic of all the back and forth running around felt rudimentary but I suppose it couldn’t have been discarded, perhaps it could have been improved though.
The characters themselves were all likeable enough (except for the antagonist, of course). I particularly loved Mesmo and his budding relationship with protagonist Ben.
After all that, I’ve still got a lot of questions because practically nothing was answered but all the questions I have were not yet posed within the book so it’s not irritating to not have been given answers. It just means that I’m invested enough now to continue reading the series till I find some answers!
September 1, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, even though it’s teen oriented. It’s highly compelling, nerve wrecking and full of action, for such a young boy, who goes through traumatic and emotional experiences! Most recommended!
April 21, 2021
Wow wow wow! This was phenomenal! Nerve wracking, edge of my seat, action packed phenomenal! I have always stayed away from alien stories, b/c I just figured they’d be the stereotypical “green alien” ones. I was wrong lol When UFOs crash in the fields next to his grandfather’s house, Ben becomes a cumbersome witness in the eyes of the government. Plus, Ben discovers he has been entrusted with an alien power. Government agents rush in to remove all evidence of spacecraft & extraterrestrials. The media are led to believe meteors fell in the area & they dub the event The Cosmic Fall. But when the government finds out about Ben’s involvement, he is forced to flee w/his mom, & the sole survivor of the crash-an alien man called Mesmo. 1 question hovers above their unlikely friendship: why did the aliens come to Earth in the first place? This has so much danger & suspense, & the stakes are so high, that it makes the book unputdownable. Ben is our MC, but you do occasionally read from different POV, whether it’s his mom, Mesmo, the government, the bad guy, & few times even Tike, his dog-who has my heart! lol I enjoyed that(even though reading adult view points was a change for me😆)b/c it helped fully develop the story in an even more detailed, full scope way. Don’t know if it’s like that the rest of the series, but for the 1st book I think it was genius to really help you get to know the characters & the story. The writing is superb! The story grabs you & doesn’t let go. The story builds & builds so effortlessly, & you’re hooked. The characters are absolutely amazing. I could really see this being a movie, it’s that good. It would be such an epic movie! I haven’t read many(if any) books set it Canada, so I also enjoyed that & the descriptions of the scenes. The characters are so relatable & real, that it feels possible the story could be real lol Crazy good! This has a great ending, but I’m eager to learn more & more about the story & characters, & get some answers to some more questions! Highly recommend & I need the next book now! Can’t wait to continue this series! Absolutely beautiful cover PINTADO(I believe)too!💜
July 15, 2018
It's a rarity that I've enjoyed a book as much as I enjoyed reading this one. Great characterization. The author's writing style allowed me to enter the lives of the people. At times I wanted to scream, cry and laugh! You can't go wrong with this book. I know that it's classified as a YA novel, but it's a book to be loved no matter your age. I was so impressed that I can insure you that the second novel will be even better than the first book!
July 5, 2023
Ok fine, I'll admit it: I am a 41 year-old man who just read a sci-fi adventure for kids aged 9-12 and really enjoyed it, thank you very much. It is fast paced, the plot is getting more and more intriguing and I just couldn't stop reading "just one more chapter" until I knew what was happening next.
The characters are really easy to root for and I can't wait to learn more about them and to see what Ben does with the skill. The set up is pretty much every kid's dream and I can see why it would spark their imagination. There is a degree of spoonfeeding and perhaps oversimplifying situations to allow for easier access, but nothing that takes away from the fun.
I've been 'craving' a series to get lost in (and wanted something light to restart my sci-fi phase before I go into the Three Body Problem world) and this proved ideal. I hope the next books raise the stakes just a little bit and make things a bit more real, dangerous and more fun to read.
The characters are really easy to root for and I can't wait to learn more about them and to see what Ben does with the skill. The set up is pretty much every kid's dream and I can see why it would spark their imagination. There is a degree of spoonfeeding and perhaps oversimplifying situations to allow for easier access, but nothing that takes away from the fun.
I've been 'craving' a series to get lost in (and wanted something light to restart my sci-fi phase before I go into the Three Body Problem world) and this proved ideal. I hope the next books raise the stakes just a little bit and make things a bit more real, dangerous and more fun to read.
November 10, 2019
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book and I almost read it in one sitting. The characters were adorable (ofc not them who were meant to be terrible, they were indeed terrible), and I loved the main character Ben. He is such a brave boy with a good heart, who will do everything for those he loves. His relationship with the grandpa was so real and honest. The storyline was entertaining and had a lot of action which I really liked it. An interesting thing about the storyline was the alien part. They were something mystical about that part of the book, and still I’m not sure if I have figured them out. On the negative side I got a little distracted by some spelling errors and doubtful word choices. But nothing more than that.
March 14, 2022
Bon je me remets enfin à la lecture, fini le chômage.
Sinon très chouette livre
Sinon très chouette livre
October 20, 2025
For a middle grade sci-fi novel, this was really well done and quite the page turner. Refreshingly unique and overall just a fun action-adventure story for all ages. I’m almost 40 and I enjoyed the heck out of it. The characters were compelling and the mystery involved was definitely intriguing enough to keep me turning pages. With this being book one in a longer series, none of the bigger questions were answered and the ending absolutely ended on a cliffhanger. That’s perfectly fine as it only makes me want to continue on with the rest of the books. So I’ll be looking forward to book two sometime in the near future. This one gets a solid recommendation from me. Happy reading!
June 18, 2022
CSIS, the Canadian version of the FBI, is after Ben Archer as the only unaccounted-for witness to an event that occurred in his grandfather's backyard. The only problem is that Ben doesn't remember what happened. He knows it was terrible because he keeps having nightmares when he tries to sleep and panic attacks during the daytime.
I loved listening to this book. The way the events of the night were revealed in bits and pieces at various points while Ben and his mother try to avoid capture by the CSIS agents and help Ben recover his memories was intriguing. With this book being the start of a series, I was prepared for a cliffhanger, and while there definitely was a cliffhanger at the end, it was a good one. By the end of the book, the main storyline is completed, but the larger storyline was left open-ended.
For the audiobook, the narrator - A. W. Dickson - did a wonderful job with his performance. Though I certainly had not intended to, I ended up listening to the audiobook in one sitting - in part because the story was so good and in part because Dickson's performance was really good. I look forward to listening to Dickson narrating more books in the series.
I loved listening to this book. The way the events of the night were revealed in bits and pieces at various points while Ben and his mother try to avoid capture by the CSIS agents and help Ben recover his memories was intriguing. With this book being the start of a series, I was prepared for a cliffhanger, and while there definitely was a cliffhanger at the end, it was a good one. By the end of the book, the main storyline is completed, but the larger storyline was left open-ended.
For the audiobook, the narrator - A. W. Dickson - did a wonderful job with his performance. Though I certainly had not intended to, I ended up listening to the audiobook in one sitting - in part because the story was so good and in part because Dickson's performance was really good. I look forward to listening to Dickson narrating more books in the series.
September 17, 2020
4 solid stars
Having already read book #2, it was good to start at the beginning and fill in the gaps.
This book was packed with tension, adventure, action and genuine feelings. The author wrote a brilliantly crafted tale for all, not just Y/As. It presents with all the needed factors that compose a great tale, from aliens to a "won't back down" mother. The alliances formed among the major players is wonderful and heartwarming.
What begins as a crash of several alien spacecraft morphs into a wild adventure for 12 year old Ben Archer and his family. Having been given an alien "skill" by the daughter if the lead alien, Mesmo, as she died, Ben struggles to come to grips with this new power and the upheaval in his family.
Chased by an alien bent on killing Mesmo as well as law enforcement personnel for his knowledge, Ben is quickly forced to go on the run to remain safe. With the aid of a list of persons trusted by his grandfather, Ben and his mother embark on an adventure that places them in harm's way many times.
For those who read my reviews, you're probably wanting more details. But this book is so good that I do not want to spoil the plot for you. Hopefully, what I've already written above is enough to entice you to give the book a try. Another plus - NO editing errors! (Yeah!)
I highly recommend this captivating tale of a boy, his dog, his fiercely protective mother and an alien that must protect them all, while staying ahead of the law and another alien who wants Mesmo dead.
Having already read book #2, it was good to start at the beginning and fill in the gaps.
This book was packed with tension, adventure, action and genuine feelings. The author wrote a brilliantly crafted tale for all, not just Y/As. It presents with all the needed factors that compose a great tale, from aliens to a "won't back down" mother. The alliances formed among the major players is wonderful and heartwarming.
What begins as a crash of several alien spacecraft morphs into a wild adventure for 12 year old Ben Archer and his family. Having been given an alien "skill" by the daughter if the lead alien, Mesmo, as she died, Ben struggles to come to grips with this new power and the upheaval in his family.
Chased by an alien bent on killing Mesmo as well as law enforcement personnel for his knowledge, Ben is quickly forced to go on the run to remain safe. With the aid of a list of persons trusted by his grandfather, Ben and his mother embark on an adventure that places them in harm's way many times.
For those who read my reviews, you're probably wanting more details. But this book is so good that I do not want to spoil the plot for you. Hopefully, what I've already written above is enough to entice you to give the book a try. Another plus - NO editing errors! (Yeah!)
I highly recommend this captivating tale of a boy, his dog, his fiercely protective mother and an alien that must protect them all, while staying ahead of the law and another alien who wants Mesmo dead.
December 11, 2020
The entire Ben Archer series is absolutely fantastic!
Cosmic Fall is the first Alien Skill book, thus kicking off one of the very best YA science fiction series I’ve ever read.
The author, Rae Knightly, is a warm, kind and passionate soul. She’ll take time out of her day to chat with her fans and that is so important.
She’s so talented and it shows in her Ben Archer stories.
I wholeheartedly recommend the series, starting with Cosmic Fall!
Thank you Rae! You’re the best. 👍🏻❤️
Cosmic Fall is the first Alien Skill book, thus kicking off one of the very best YA science fiction series I’ve ever read.
The author, Rae Knightly, is a warm, kind and passionate soul. She’ll take time out of her day to chat with her fans and that is so important.
She’s so talented and it shows in her Ben Archer stories.
I wholeheartedly recommend the series, starting with Cosmic Fall!
Thank you Rae! You’re the best. 👍🏻❤️
May 15, 2022
Fantastic story!
There aren't many middle grade science fiction stories, and I was lucky to find this one. It was so good! Each chapter made me want to read the next. Great characters and plot. Intriguing villains of various sorts.
There aren't many middle grade science fiction stories, and I was lucky to find this one. It was so good! Each chapter made me want to read the next. Great characters and plot. Intriguing villains of various sorts.
December 22, 2019
I rate this a 3.5! The premise is good and Ben is turning out to be a good protagonist. Plus, I love his animal companion, Tike! The one thing I noticed though is that it had too many POVs and sometimes they were the focal points (such as Ben's mom's POV, and the enemy's POV) instead of just Ben's.This isn't something I read in most of the Middle Grade books I've read. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it is something different. Hopefully I get the second book to find out how Ben handles the CSIS and how the multiple POVs style of writing this MG will work.
November 27, 2024
Pretty good!
July 21, 2018
I'm an adult, but I still have a fondness in my heart for young adult literature - some of my all time favorite stories fall into that category. I was not disappointed when I read this.
I am not the type of reviewer who tells you all about the story and the plot so if that is what you are looking for, you may as well move on to another review.
What I will tell you is that the story flows well - the action is not too fast, nor is it too slow. The author gives just enough information to allow you to build a picture in your mind without forcing you to see a specific thing. The plot unfolds in such a way that I found myself wondering what was going to happen next but not feeling like it was too drawn out. The characters were well thought out and engaging. Some I really liked, like Ben and Tike, others I took an instant dislike to - Agents Hao and Connelly.
The author managed to bring mystery, suspense and danger into the story without a lot of actual violence which I really appreciated.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading Book 2 especially since I feel like there's something more about Tike that we may not know and I want to see if I'm right.
I am not the type of reviewer who tells you all about the story and the plot so if that is what you are looking for, you may as well move on to another review.
What I will tell you is that the story flows well - the action is not too fast, nor is it too slow. The author gives just enough information to allow you to build a picture in your mind without forcing you to see a specific thing. The plot unfolds in such a way that I found myself wondering what was going to happen next but not feeling like it was too drawn out. The characters were well thought out and engaging. Some I really liked, like Ben and Tike, others I took an instant dislike to - Agents Hao and Connelly.
The author managed to bring mystery, suspense and danger into the story without a lot of actual violence which I really appreciated.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading Book 2 especially since I feel like there's something more about Tike that we may not know and I want to see if I'm right.
March 28, 2018
This middle grade adventure involves secret aliens, government cover ups, and cosmic superpowers, which all make for an enticing recipe.
Ben Archer has amnesia after having been witness to a mysterious event known as “the Cosmic Fall” that happened near his grandfather’s home in Chilliwack, BC. Since then, he’s been having nightmares of tall men with white hair and “twisted eyes”. His grandfather seems to have disappeared, and only when a heart attack lands the older man in hospital do Ben and his mother reunite with him. There, Ben’s grandfather warns him that he must find the one called Mesmo, for he’s the only one who can help. What follows is a cat and mouse chase as CSIS (Canadian version of FBI) and a villainous alien known as Bordock all try to hunt Ben down.
Note: some spoilers follow. Being a Vancouver native, it was fun to read a story set here. This book has a nice pace, and keeps a good sense of mystery throughout. Ben’s inherited alien “translation” powers are intriguing, though never fully explained, as it seems he can’t translate so much as call for help, with animals responding. This is a light and enjoyable read, though the climax could have had bigger punch if the “reveal” about our villain was something we didn’t already know at the beginning. This results in the final act feeling a little long. Also, because we’re not privy to a general sense of what the alien mission is, we’re not sure why our villain is so keen to gain Ben’s power, or who the mysterious Toronto client holding the alien Mesmo might be. A few more hints as to the bigger picture could have added stronger framework, tension, and stakes. 3.5 stars.
Ben Archer has amnesia after having been witness to a mysterious event known as “the Cosmic Fall” that happened near his grandfather’s home in Chilliwack, BC. Since then, he’s been having nightmares of tall men with white hair and “twisted eyes”. His grandfather seems to have disappeared, and only when a heart attack lands the older man in hospital do Ben and his mother reunite with him. There, Ben’s grandfather warns him that he must find the one called Mesmo, for he’s the only one who can help. What follows is a cat and mouse chase as CSIS (Canadian version of FBI) and a villainous alien known as Bordock all try to hunt Ben down.
Note: some spoilers follow. Being a Vancouver native, it was fun to read a story set here. This book has a nice pace, and keeps a good sense of mystery throughout. Ben’s inherited alien “translation” powers are intriguing, though never fully explained, as it seems he can’t translate so much as call for help, with animals responding. This is a light and enjoyable read, though the climax could have had bigger punch if the “reveal” about our villain was something we didn’t already know at the beginning. This results in the final act feeling a little long. Also, because we’re not privy to a general sense of what the alien mission is, we’re not sure why our villain is so keen to gain Ben’s power, or who the mysterious Toronto client holding the alien Mesmo might be. A few more hints as to the bigger picture could have added stronger framework, tension, and stakes. 3.5 stars.
March 13, 2018
A great young adult story!
Wow, this was a great story! I admit I was in a huge book slump before I got my hands on this one. I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction and didn’t realize how much I missed my fantasy/sci-fi worlds. This book is a young adult science fiction story about a boy who witnessed the “cosmic fall” of aliens to Earth. The book follows a young boy and his mother as they try to avoid investigation by the CSIS (kind of like the FBI) because young, Ben archer witnessed the “fall” and also gained mysterious alien powers.
There’s mystery, suspense, action and it’s great for young adults. In all honesty this book, with a well written query letter and a knowledgeable agent, could easily be pitched to Harper Collins.
The one and only downfall I see is that this book is in need of serious editing. The story is phenomenal and the writing is fabulous, but man oh man the typos. I hate to see an amazing read suffer from poor editing. I seriously urge the author to hire an editor (spend the money. You get what you pay for, trust me.) and then pitch this to agents and publishers. Seriously, this story has potential. Maybe even movie potential.
Wow, this was a great story! I admit I was in a huge book slump before I got my hands on this one. I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction and didn’t realize how much I missed my fantasy/sci-fi worlds. This book is a young adult science fiction story about a boy who witnessed the “cosmic fall” of aliens to Earth. The book follows a young boy and his mother as they try to avoid investigation by the CSIS (kind of like the FBI) because young, Ben archer witnessed the “fall” and also gained mysterious alien powers.
There’s mystery, suspense, action and it’s great for young adults. In all honesty this book, with a well written query letter and a knowledgeable agent, could easily be pitched to Harper Collins.
The one and only downfall I see is that this book is in need of serious editing. The story is phenomenal and the writing is fabulous, but man oh man the typos. I hate to see an amazing read suffer from poor editing. I seriously urge the author to hire an editor (spend the money. You get what you pay for, trust me.) and then pitch this to agents and publishers. Seriously, this story has potential. Maybe even movie potential.
April 8, 2018
This is a charming children's fantasy story which I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters are appealing, and the gradual build-up to the discovery that Ben has an alien power is well handled. Thereafter we have some fast-moving adventure sequences as he and his mum have to keep one jump ahead of the bad guys—and discover who might be the good guys. The ending was a little sudden, not in the cliff-hanger sense, but because the story just stopped. However, it certainly left you wondering what would happen next!
There were great descriptions of majestic scenery around Vancouver and elsewhere. On the negative side, there were some spelling errors and doubtful word-choices scattered through the book; and one situation where an eagerly anticipated dramatic conclusion to an adventure sequence was relegated to a casual flashback.
But those were minor drawbacks. I have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending this book for its intended age-group.
There were great descriptions of majestic scenery around Vancouver and elsewhere. On the negative side, there were some spelling errors and doubtful word-choices scattered through the book; and one situation where an eagerly anticipated dramatic conclusion to an adventure sequence was relegated to a casual flashback.
But those were minor drawbacks. I have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending this book for its intended age-group.
March 29, 2018
First off - this book has an AWESOME cover! Entices one to read it. I enjoyed this book. It’s a solid entry about an alien crash landing on Earth, with some neat twists, like a pet dog that basically serves as a service dog for a boy who has panic attacks. Love that there is a Canadian element, mainly the West Coast setting, which was well-used and integrated seamlessly with the events. Likeable main character and a plot that moves steadily and which kept my interest. It’s a complete story in itself but it’s pretty clear there is more to come. The characters are believable-the family and their interactions are natural and feel real. If you like stories about aliens on the loose, with otherwise ordinary people mixed up in a larger government conspiracy, this book is for you! Middle grade readers and up would enjoy it.
December 28, 2023
Ben Archer And The Cosmic Fall is an incredible, un-put-downable, exciting, adventurous, daring, and magical read! This is the first book in The Alien Skill Series and is recommended for 10-12 year olds, however, I absolutely LOVED it! I would recommend it to anyone over the age of 10. It is one of my favorite middle grade books ever! Thank you to Kris for recommending it!
Ben Archer is a typical middle grader until he suddenly falls very ill and gets amnesia. Something happened and the terrifying nightmares he has been having might give him clues.......except he can't remember them. What Ben shockingly finds out is that he witnessed the crash of a UFO and was entrusted with a special extraterrestrial power. Now the government is after him and the sole alien survior.
Ben Archer is a typical middle grader until he suddenly falls very ill and gets amnesia. Something happened and the terrifying nightmares he has been having might give him clues.......except he can't remember them. What Ben shockingly finds out is that he witnessed the crash of a UFO and was entrusted with a special extraterrestrial power. Now the government is after him and the sole alien survior.
April 11, 2018
I think this is a good book for the pre-adolescent reader. There is a boy and his dog, aliens, cruel grownups and the cosmic struggle of good against evil. The hero of this story seems to be believable as a boy who is struggling to make sense of the world today. Aren’t we all.
The author should try to make the different elements of the story flow together better than they do. It almost seems like there were different modules in this story that were snapped together.
It was a little distracting when the wrong form of a word was used, or when something was misspelled. This is not fatal, just distracting.
All in all, a good read for a kid.
The author should try to make the different elements of the story flow together better than they do. It almost seems like there were different modules in this story that were snapped together.
It was a little distracting when the wrong form of a word was used, or when something was misspelled. This is not fatal, just distracting.
All in all, a good read for a kid.
September 1, 2023
Middle Grade books don’t get much better than this!
Mystery, adventure, amazing premise, and compelling characters… plus a cute dog. What more could you ask? Rae Knightly is a master storyteller. I was hooked from the first page. I don’t want to give away any spoilers – you need to read it for yourself. The great news is, there are six books in the series. Every one is unputdownable!
Okay, one spoiler alert: Rae admitted in a recent newsletter that she has more Ben Archer stories to tell… please join me in cheering her on to write the next one… I just can’t get enough of the Ben Archer books!!!
Not just for kids. After all, why should they have all the fun?
Mystery, adventure, amazing premise, and compelling characters… plus a cute dog. What more could you ask? Rae Knightly is a master storyteller. I was hooked from the first page. I don’t want to give away any spoilers – you need to read it for yourself. The great news is, there are six books in the series. Every one is unputdownable!
Okay, one spoiler alert: Rae admitted in a recent newsletter that she has more Ben Archer stories to tell… please join me in cheering her on to write the next one… I just can’t get enough of the Ben Archer books!!!
Not just for kids. After all, why should they have all the fun?
August 22, 2024
The Start of a Great Extraterrestrial Adventure!
We have a boy with a newly developed skill he didn't ask for, an alien in mortal trouble, a dog that desperately wants to help, the Canadian Government trying to cover things up, and a planet under attack. The best part is when all these collide and boy and alien meet... sort of. Readers will simply fall in love with Ben and Mesmo as they follow them on a journey that will change them both and affect the future of Earth.
Ends on a brilliant cliffhanger that will leave readers craving the next in the series.
We have a boy with a newly developed skill he didn't ask for, an alien in mortal trouble, a dog that desperately wants to help, the Canadian Government trying to cover things up, and a planet under attack. The best part is when all these collide and boy and alien meet... sort of. Readers will simply fall in love with Ben and Mesmo as they follow them on a journey that will change them both and affect the future of Earth.
Ends on a brilliant cliffhanger that will leave readers craving the next in the series.
March 6, 2018
I'm probably not in the intended audience. I'm long past being a young teen or even a YA, but I am still young at heart and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's about a young kid who is given an alien power who's being pursued by government agents and an alien. As far as I know, this is the author's first book and I think she's done an excellent job. I look forward to reading the sequel.
May 18, 2018
Once I began reading this book I was hooked an intense family friendly story with consequences all across the universe in this interstellar adventure on earth. A grand scale adventure that will entertain and be enjoyed by all that read it. The brilliant writing by Author Rae Knightly just adds to this outstanding work of fiction. I loved it!!!!
February 11, 2021
I got this book as part of a subscription box. It is definitely not for adults. The writing style is monotonous and unengaging, and the story, 3 chapters in, does not seem interesting. Aliens being described as identical to humans but better looking made me cringe too hard to want to continue reading. I will be giving this one away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2018
Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall is great kid-lit for when you need a fun and light read.
I would recommend it in a heartbeat.
You can read my full review here: https://bookerina.com/ben-archer-and-...
I would recommend it in a heartbeat.
You can read my full review here: https://bookerina.com/ben-archer-and-...
July 4, 2018
Not a genre I normally read, but an absorbing, imaginative tale, with all the elements I love: a great story, a compelling mystery, well-drawn characters, lots of animals, and wonderfully depicted locations around the city of Vancouver. Looking forward to the next in the series.
February 16, 2021
Loved it but long for the days of complete novels!
I wish these were in my local library to download ! I do not buy books as my library is paid for with my taxes. Hopefully you will show up there.
I wish these were in my local library to download ! I do not buy books as my library is paid for with my taxes. Hopefully you will show up there.
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