What a fun, engaging story for our middle grade students! What student would’t love the jokes in a story about aliens!

Sky had no idea that she would be moving to Area 51 and actually loved it. In The Big Flush takes readers on an intergalactic ride filled with adventure, humor, and suspense. This action-packed mystery will have even the most reluctant readers interested. The main character is relatable and honest, plus her hedge hog pet is absolutely adorable and steals the show.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗙𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗵—The Area 51 Files Book 2—Sky's adventure continues and now she has a mission to save Area 51 from a giant space junk.

"𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔."—page 139

𝗔 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.—I'm really happy to dive into Sky's next adventure in this second book of The Area 51 Files. The illustrations are enjoyable and there are new unique characters. Also, the world building is so captivating.
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If you're looking forward for a heartwarming story mix some mysteries in alien's world, you can try to read this one.

There are some new arrivals to Area 51 and with them they bring news of a large piece of space junk coming to earth and headed right for Area 51! It's really big space toilet! It's up to Sky and her friends to try and figure out more about this space junk and who is behind it.

The adults want them to leave things alone but we all know kids never listen and so at times get in trouble but they also figure out who is behind everything.

I am being very vague because some things I want to say I think might spoil some things for book two and that you just need to read it and find out.

This is a story filled with fun illustrations by Lavanya Naidu that made me chuckle. I really Sky, Elvis and Zack and Mini Elvis (you just have to read to figure that out).

This one leaves you with some information and a slight cliffhanger that makes you want to get to the next one so is it 2024 yet?!

If you have a young reader I am sure they will enjoy this one!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Julie Buxbaum and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Area 51 is in danger of being taken out by a giant killer space toilet! Sky and her friends will have to save the day or things will get very messy!

A fun read for kids and adults alike! This book will get reluctant readers to read. I look forward to purchasing a copy for my classroom.

Will also post on Amazon, tomorrow.

I received this book from the publisher/TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange of an honest review.


OMG, I was so excited when I saw the sign-up on TBR and Beyond Tours. I really enjoyed the first book (see review here) and just HAD to sign up. Because I was already looking forward to more of this series. More adventures. More aliens. More fun!

In this one we continue were we left off and immediately kick into the fun! Because SURPRISE, Elvis has family coming by. And not just any family, his parents. Yep. Along with a little brother. Cue lots of awkwardness but also tons of fun! Because that little brother was just such a fun addition to the gang. Sometimes little brothers/sisters don’t work out for me in books, but this little guy? He was just so adorable and fun. And I loved seeing him enjoy life on Earth more and more! Including wanting a birthday!

I love that the threat to Area 51 was a toilet. I mean, a toilet. That doesn’t sound very threatening. At all. But given how fast it can go and what it can do, I guess the threat is real! It does fit with the book and how silly/fun it is at times. A toilet is just a perfect threat. Plus, something related to toilets also makes its appearance and EWW! Plus, the threat is not just a toilet, but also figuring out who is the spy that works with the aliens plotting this one. Because you can just figure that it isn’t the aliens. There must be someone inside helping them! I loved seeing the kids try to figure out things, even though the adults were all telling them to don’t do it. But you cannot stop Sky. And with that Elvis, Gertie, and Elvis’ little brother. Their investigation was a ton of fun and I loved seeing more of Area 51 and all that it entails.

The ending was one big rollercoaster of fun and I just couldn’t stop reading! It was just so exciting!

Once again, I wouldn’t mind to get the guide to Area 51 in my hands. Yes, Sky finds it boring, but to me it sounds a heck ton of fun!

Six other things I loved were the chapter titles which always made me look forward to each new chapter, we definitely need more books with fun chapter titles. And then there are the illustrations which were just A-plus fun. Also seeing that the relationship between the hedgehog and the dog was still strong made me smile! Plus, new aliens including ones that are just Spotify in alien form! There tons of references (did you know that Nailed It is known across the galaxy?) and puns~ Oh, and seeing the baddies from the previous book changing their lives, they made me laugh, though I have to say for a bit I was also quite sus about them, I mean it is a BIG change!

There was one thing and that was that Sky was a tad eh at times. Elvis is clearly not happy at times with his family around, which I couldn’t blame him, I mean hello they are everywhere and it is just superduper awkward between his real and his earth parents. But Sky was acting at times as if he should just be happy that he had parents. She had none. And I find that very toxic. It is sad that you lost your parents and it is a terrible thing. But people are allowed to be unhappy about their parents or talk negatively about them. As a girl with a very toxic mom, I don’t feel happy to hear that I should just be happy I at least got parents. Yay. No.

All in all, I would recommend this book to all and I cannot wait for what is next. Not just because I need another adventure, but also because of what is mentioned at the end. I need deets!

A delightfully funny read - with great mystery and amazing detective skills. The descriptions of the setting are vivid and put me right into the action. Can't wait to start on the first book in the series - but each are stand alone's also.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Buxbaum picks up the story shortly after the first book ends. Readers return to Area 51 and catch up with the characters they met. They also meet some new characters when Elvis' parents and little brother arrive unexpectedly. The parents bring word of an attack that will destroy Area 51 and offer little hope for stopping it. Sky, Elvis, Zane and Gertie work together to see if they can figure out who is communicating with the aliens and how to stop the space junk from destroying their home. They are joined by Mini-Elvis, Elvis' younger brother along with Spike and Pickles. Readers will connect with these humans and Break Throughs as they share middle school and family issues. Buxbaum uses humor and some absurdity to appeal to middle grade readers. She leaves a huge teaser in the final chapter to set up the next book.

This is such a fun series! I love the characters, the story, (which is full of so many puns and middle-grade humor), and the pictures add so much!

Sky, Elvis, and Zane have a new mission, to save Area 51 from a space toilet-turned weapon sent from a race of Break Throughs that have previously been exiled from Earth. There is no end to the suspects that could be helping with the attack, and Sky and her friends are ready and willing to hunt them down,

I will definitely be reading any other books that come out in this series, and I can't wait to see what kind of shenanigans Sky and her friends are going to get into next!

Such a funny book. You have the perfect mix of humor and friendship. I had not read the first book in this series, and you honestly don’t have to. It is the perfect book for kids to pick up and just enjoy on its own. I don’t know if I will ever look at space junk the same way again though. I love this idea of Area 51 being filled with so many different alien races. The fact that some of them look different depending on who is looking at them too is just so fun. This is just a fun quick book with beautiful art so perfect for the kid looking for an almost graphic novel who wants to branch out a bit.
Thank you so much to Random House Children’s and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

a delightful example of middle-school humor. If you like jokes about bodily functions and such, you will love this. It's about a Russian space toilet that is used in an attempt to destroy Area 51. To make it even better, it's banished aliens that are using it. I can imagine my middle-school cousin loving this book. Even as an adult, I found myself chuckling. Overall, it is actually a mystery book about saving Area 51 and probably the whole state of NV. It is full of zany antics and is overall rather goofy, but a fun read.

What worked:
Middle-school humor is highlighted in this book as the narrator even emphasizes jokes about bodily functions, nicknames, and situations. The big conflict is about a Russian space toilet full of space junk being used by a banished group of aliens as a weapon to destroy Area 51. There are characters named Ms. Spitz (who spits when she talks) and Agent Fartz and some of the aliens come from the planet Peeyou. There’s even a scene where feces (poop) explode over everyone within range. Additional wordplay and unusual situations add more humor to the story.
The author develops amusing, unique characters using the blend of humans and aliens found in Area 51. Sky’s best friend Elvis is from the planet Galzoria and his species looks different depending on the person looking at them. Sky sees Elvis as her human-looking best friend but his parents appear as T-Rexes, subsequently referred to as Dino-Mom and Dino-Dad. However, Sky’s uncle sees the parents as human-sized hawks. Characters from the planet Spotify play random musical tunes. Aliens come in all shapes and sizes with curious quirks from their home planets.
Beneath the odd humor and characters, readers will find an actual, dramatic mystery with Sky and her friends trying to save Area 51 and the whole state of Nevada from annihilation. The kids know someone on Earth must be helping the attacking aliens in order to calculate the exact target for the toilet missile. The plot finds them identifying different suspects on the base while trying to figure out how they’re secretly communicating into space and why they might be doing it. A subplot develops surrounding Elvis and his newly-arrived parents. Their presence complicates his family situation since he’s been living with human parents for years and cares for them dearly. Elvis discovers he has a little brother called Mini-Elvis who looks exactly like his older brother and is infatuated with life on Earth.
What didn’t work as well:
Zany humor overshadows the impending attack so the conflict may drift to the back of readers’ minds. Some of the humor may be too goofy for some people but I still enjoy it. The problem merely provides a scenario for an entertaining, hilarious adventure.
The Final Verdict:
Readers looking for a funny, groan-inducing book will love this mystery to save Area 51. The variety of space beings living beside humans is also a highlight. Overall, this book is a fun read and I recommend you give it a shot.

Even the title of this book is certain to delight my elementary school readers.
The idea that an imminent alien invasion is brewing to be aided and abetted by a toilet is certain to delight and fascinate all who pick it up.
This is a second in the series. The first one was so entertaining as is the second. Fun and silliness resonates throughout its pages. The illustrations are amusing and playful which will be endearing to my readers.
So much fun! Can't wait until the next in the series to come out!

“The Area 51 Files The Big Flush” is the second book in a middle grade series by Julie Buxbaum. This book will be released on July 25, 2023. Be sure to preorder this one!

I am thankful to have received an eARC from NetGalley and Random House Kids.

This is the story of a girl named Sky, an orphan that lives with her Uncle Anish…in Area 51! Sky is just getting used to living in Area 51 with aliens when she learns that Area 51 is in danger of an impending alien attack…using space junk- in the form of a toilet! Sky and her friends work together once again this time to save Area 51.

I love this story and the illustrations by Lavanya Naidu. This book is going to be loved by my 3rd grade students, and I cannot wait for book 3!

All of my kids enjoyed this book and look forward to more to come in the future. Silly, fun, and keeps them entertained.