The are-there-are-there-not aliens conundrum is probably my favourite part of the novel because of the numerous questions this doubt brings up. When he meets Hooper, part of him believes the guy to be a lunatic and part of him hopes he is really an alien not only because it would be a confirmation of his own story but also it could mean he could get away. He is the sort of inconspicuous kid that everybody writes-off because he doesn’t look good, doesn’t participate, almost living on the fringes of the world, inviting his own loneliness. Cecil Castellucci’s prose is effective in portraying just how lonely and apart Mal feels at school and at home. Sparingly narrated, First Day on Earthis a raw, uncompromising story about what it feels like to be an outsider, an alien. Alongside two unlikely friends from Mal’s school, they embark on a road trip through the desert to meet Hooper’s spaceship. When Hooper tells Mal he is leaving soon, Mal decides he wants to join him. Then one day he joins a support group for alien abductees where he meets this strange guy called Hooper – who may or may not be an alien stranded on earth.

This heavy secret has been gnawing at him not only because of the trauma but above all because he wants the aliens to come back and take him away from his miserable life. If that wasn’t enough, Mal believes he is an alien abductee but no one would believe him. His mother is an alcoholic with serious mental problems and is unable to take care of herself much less tend to her son’s needs. His father up and left a few years before and never looked back. It’s been a rough time for Mal lately: he is angry, frustrated and lonely. Why did I read this book: I have always wanted to try a Cecil Castellucci book and this seemed like a good place to start. Yet loving the world - or, at least, an idea of the world. He's funny and charming and a really good guy but it takes Katy the whole summer to figure it out.A startling, wonderful novel about the true meaning of being an alien in an equally alien world. Katy's Dad, 'the Rat', tries so hard to be a good dad and make up for lost time. Katy is a likeable character even when she's not being so likeable. Although the issues are serious, it's a fun read. There are loads of issues but it doesn't feel overwhelming or preachy. There's a lot in this book and that summary doesn't even do it justice-father/daughter issues mother/daughter issues friendship self-esteem drugs.

Two weeks turn into the whole summer as her mom gets more and more interested in the dig and Katy feels more and more left behind until she snaps and realizes she has a lot more in common with her musical father than she thought. The only person who can take care of Katy for those 2 weeks turns out to be the Dad she never knew. Katy lives in Canada with her mom and has had very little contact with her American rock star father until her mom needs to go on an archeology dig without her.

Beige by Cecil Castellucci