Bongo Fishing

Thacher Hurd's debut middle-grade novel introduces twelve-year-old Jason to Sam, a small blue alien mechanic who travels the galaxy in a lime-green 1960 Dodge Dart. The setup is genuinely original, and Hurd's own black-and-white illustrations add a hand-drawn personality that suits the zany humor. Comparisons to Daniel Pinkwater and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy give a sense of the tone: absurdist, warm, unhurried. Booklist named it 'long in zaniness,' which is accurate — Sam and his companion Edna are keepers. The honest caveat, also noted by Booklist and Publishers Weekly, is that the plot runs short on momentum and excitement. For reluctant middle-grade readers who respond to humor over action, that's fine. A Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award nomination confirms kids connect with it. Clean and family-friendly.