Flights of Fantasy, Science Fiction, Scary Stories... and S'mores!

We’re traveling on State Route 375 in south-central Nevada, also known as The Extraterrestrial Highway. What do we see? A blazing blue cloudless sky, faraway rugged purple mountains, sparse and scrubby desert plants, and 98 miles of well-paved road slicing through the dry and desolate landscape....

Our map tells us that we’re passing just north of Nellis Air Force Range… and that we’re near the shadowy top-secret government base Area 51. Over the years, Reading Road Trippers just like us have reported seeing strange things along this legendary stretch of highway. They’ve observed multi-colored flashing lights racing across the sky. They’ve spotted unidentified flying objects hovering over the desert floor. They’ve even described weird alien encounters along the side of the road! Bizarre sounds, abnormal smells… what on earth (or maybe not from earth) is going on out here? Are the countless UFO and alien reports true? Could there be little green men running around the Nevada desert? If so, do they have summer reading suggestions that they would like to share with us?

Let’s start to look for answers in Secret American Places: From UFO Crash Sites to Government Hideouts by Nelson Yomtov (RL 5.4). Available at the Library of the Chathams, the book describes a variety of secret and mysterious places in the United States, such as Mount Weather, the Pentagon, and Area 51.

Without a doubt, those Little Green Men—and Reading Road Trippers looking for fantastic summer reading—will appreciate the Ranger's Apprentice, a series of fantasy novels written by Australian author John Flanagan. Ryan M. and Chris S. created a video book review:

Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlen by John Flanagan (RL 7.2). When fifteen-year-old Will is rejected by battle school, he becomes the reluctant apprentice to the mysterious Ranger Halt, and winds up protecting an entire kingdom from danger. Chris S. appreciates “the suspense and action throughout the book.”

Ranger’s Apprentice: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan (RL 6.4). In a faraway land, a young warrior and his Ranger friends must train an inexperienced army and protect an emperor from an unwelcome uprising. Nick D. enthusiastically recommends this book to readers looking for stories with action, strategy, and just a bit of humor.

We can visit the official Ranger’s Apprentice website; later, we’ll share knowledge and read comments about the series on a Ranger’s Apprentice Wiki.  Click on the red-highlighted words to get started! And here’s a chance to find out if we have what it takes to be a Ranger’s Apprentice.  Let's pack up our virtual bows and arrows and test our cyber-archery skills in two challenging games: John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice Games.

On the road and in the air, fourth grade math, science, and social studies teacher Mr. Yates is joining our summer reading adventure.  We may see him touring the town in his Ural sidecar motorcycle with his trusty canine companion, Lily.  Or perhaps he’ll don his aviator glasses and take flight in a Piper Aztec or a Cirrus SR20 with his wife and daughters.

The Girl Who Could Fly by Amira M.

In The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester (RL 6.0), Piper McCloud's ability to fly sets her apart from the other kids.  Her mother sends her to an exclusive school for children with exceptional abilities—but even there she does not fit in with the other students. The story has science fiction elements, but it’s also about embracing individuality and finding self-contentment.  Amira M. gives the book five stars, reporting, “It is full of action, and it’s exciting… I think it is a book for both girls and boys.”

With both feet planted firmly on the ground, it might be fun to make some paper airplane fun. Flight School by Christopher Harbo (RL 5.5) provides step-by-step instructions for folding eleven basic paper airplanes.  Let's watch how to make a traditional paper airplane:

It’s lunchtime when we pull into Rachel, Nevada, a tiny town located along The Extraterrestrial Highway.  We'll grab a bite to eat at the alien-themed restaurant, the Little A’Le’Inn... get it? We’ll buy a souvenir license plate in the gift shop, and we’ll order up more fantasy and science-fiction suggestions from Reading Road Trippers:

Tom Swift by Will C.

Tom Swift: Into the Abyss by Victor Appleton (RL 5.1).  Tom, Bud, and Yo join Tom's dad on the S.S. Nestor to see Mr. Swift test a submersible, which he plans to use to search the sea floor for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other phenomena.  When a storm hits, Tom risks his life to save his father.  Will C. calls main character Tom Swift “awesome,” and he appreciates the plot development in Book One in the Tom Swift, Young Inventor science-fiction series.

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards (RL 7.3).  With help from an eccentric professor who gives their imaginations special intensive training, three children succeed in locating the last of the great Whangdoodles and granting his heart's desire.  Katie K. recommends this book-- written by the actress who played the title role in Mary Poppins and Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music-- to friends looking for a great read full of imagination and fantasy.

Dark Life by Tyler B.

Dark Life by Kat Falls (RL 5.2).  When fifteen-year-old Ty, who has always lived on the ocean floor, joins Topside girl Gemma in the frontier's underworld to seek and stop outlaws who threaten his home, they learn that the government may pose an even greater threat. Tyler B. recommends the book to science fiction fans who wish to read about undersea colonies, robbers and outlaws... and discovering hidden abilities. 

Dragon by Phillip W.

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke (RL  4.9).  After learning that humans are headed toward his hidden home, a silver dragon named Firedrake is joined by a brownie and an orphan boy in a quest to find the legendary valley known as the Rim of Heaven. They encounter both friendly and unfriendly creatures along the way and struggle to evade the relentless pursuit of an old enemy. Phillip W. likes this fantastic tale because “there are dragons in the story, and I am born in the Year of the Dragon.” 

The Accidental Hero by Matt Myklusch (RL 5.2).  Freed from a dismal orphanage, twelve-year-old Jack makes his way to the elusive Imagine Nation, where a mentor trains him to use his superpower, despite the virus he carries that makes him a threat.  Reading Road Tripper Tom B. likes the science-fiction page-turner “because it has a lot of action.” 

H.J. Ralles

Keeper of the Empire by H.J. Ralles, an annual visiting author at Lafayette School. This science-fiction favorite follows the adventures of video game enthusiast Matt, as he continues to track down the Keeper in order to win the next level of a real-life computer game; however, he and his friends Targon and Angel must first find the hideout of the Govan Resistance. Mitchell M. admires Matt from the Keeper series “because he is smart, and he is not selfish.”  

Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve (RL 4.1).  When a drought threatens her family's magical rhubarb farm, eleven-year-old Polly tries to find a way to make it rain again. Julie H. suggests the book to readers looking for a fantasy story about magic and self-discovery. 


What a strange and mysterious journey on the Extraterrestrial Highway! We’re happy to be home before dark.  We'll grill hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner.  And then, with a little help and supervision from adults, we'll make s’mores... and settle in for some spooky campfire stories:

Scary Stories by Charlie T.

Scary Stories for Sleep Overs by Sterling Publishing (RL 5.9) contains thirty-three reportedly true stories of haunted houses, ghostly animals, visits from the dead, dangerous demons, and other frightening phenomena. Reading Road Tripper Charlie T. enjoys reading scary stories and announces,
“I would eventually like to read Frankenstein.” 

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz (RL 4.1) contains haunting stories and scary songs that feature ghosts, monsters, and creepy endeavors.  Siobhan O. reports that the stories are “funny and weird… The pictures may be too scary for some readers,” while Tanner A. describes the collection as “flabbergasting and terrifying… If someone scares easily, they might not want to read these stories.”

So... what's really going on along the Extraterrestrial Highway?  The truth is out there, Reading Road Trippers… and so are the s’mores!