Last week Viv, Charlotte, Ray and Elijah saved Area 51 and their parents. This week, as summer interns, they are copying old files. It looks like it will be a boring rest of the summer but then they find a map with a “Forbidden Zone”. Before they can decide if they are going to explore a new teen joins them, Joanna, an Einstein Fellow, who is working at Area 51 for the summer. Using the map they all sneak down, way down lots and lots of stairs, to the Forbidden Zone where they find all sorts of creatures they believed were myths. Thinking they managed to explore without being caught they return to the upper levels for a groups meal and Game Night - an Area 51 activity where adults use inventions to combat each other with the loser falling into a huge swimming pool. A jealous Viv takes on Joanna and loses which does not improve her mood. But then, late that night, Charlotte calls Viv from Area 51 because some of the creatures in the Forbidden Zone have escaped. Sneaking out Viv uses her mom’s self-driving car to pick up Elijah, Ray and Joanna but when they get to the base they find Charlotte and her mother who knows they went to the Forbidden Zone, believe Charlotte went back and let the creatures out and is now expecting the kids to clean up the mess she believes they made. As the kids set out to capture the Yeti, the chupacabra and the Loch Ness Monster Viv finds herself fighting both a frightening monster and her jealousy of Joanna as well as trying to keep secret the powers she discovered she got from alien DNA. As even more and more creatures escape and overrun Area 51 it is beginning to look like someone is out to sabotage the base.
This second book is just as enjoyable as the first. The kids have normal kid insecurities while also being able to rise to the occasion. There is the beginning of addressing the ethics of holding the different life forms captive in a way that kids can relate to and maybe start thinking about. I look forward to finding the third book which is due out early next year. Recommended for young readers and the young at heart.