When Lan Mifune’s family and others emerge from bio-suspension after a 20- year journey to the planet Choom, they discover they’re no longer welcome: A leadership change on Choom has put the colonizing Zhuri in control of the government, and Zhuri leaders don’t welcome immigrants. Environmental devastation on earth means going back is not an option. Following negotations, the Zhuri agree to allow one human reproductive unit—Lan’s family—onto the planet as an experiment to see if the species can integrate well. But the Zhuri believe humans are too emotional, and Zhuri leaders distrust emotion (which the Zhuri emit as scent). When they discover this, Lan, despite the pressure on their family to fit in, begins looking for ways to make the Zhuri laugh (a sweet, donut-like smell), while Lan’s new friend Marf, of a species called Ororo, begins distributing bootleg footage of Lan’s sister Ila, once a famous teen singer on earth, performing her biggest hit, rife with deep feeling. Zhuri society has abundant parallels to life in the United States, including school for Lan and Ila and jobs for their parents, along with a political climate taken to a satirical extreme, but it works in the context of this funny, insightful story. The end result is never in doubt, but getting there is a pleasure. (Ages 9–12)

Imagine being forced to move to a new planet where YOU are the alien! From the creator of the Tapper Twins, New York Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey delivers a topical, sci-fi middle-grade novel that proves friendship and laughter can transcend even a galaxy of differences.

The first time I heard about Planet Choom, we'd been on Mars for almost a year. But life on the Mars station was grim, and since Earth was no longer an option (we may have blown it up), it was time to find a new home.

That's how we ended up on Choom with the Zhuri. They're very smart. They also look like giant mosquitos. But that's not why it's so hard to live here. There's a lot that the Zhuri don't like: singing (just ask my sister, Ila), comedy (one joke got me sent to the principal's office), or any kind of emotion. The biggest problem, though? The Zhuri don't like us. And if humankind is going to survive, it's up to my family to change their minds. No pressure.