Alienated
Interstellar relations heat up in this start to a new romantic sf series. When valedictorian Cara is selected to host one of the first aliens in the new human-L’eihr student-exchange program, it seems like everything is working in her favor, especially when she gets to meet hot alien Aelyx. While Cara anticipates resistance to the aliens from the residents of her small town, she isn’t prepared for full-on xenophobia from the entire community. Personal threats and violent protests leave Cara and Aelyx shaken, but revelations about ulterior motives of the L’eihr students and their government have Cara wondering if perhaps she has been a bit too trusting. Landers successfully uses the familiar forbidden-romance plot as a means for exploring larger social, ecological, and ethical issues in this tense, fast-paced read. Cara and Aelyx are appealing characters with plenty of chemistry, and the secondary characters, while not fully developed, create realistic teen drama. Although the book ends on a satisfactory note, several unresolved plotlines and newly introduced characters ensure an exciting second volume. Grades 7-11. --Summer Hayes