Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This is a plot well suited to the graphic novel format. It conveys a lot through images, first the excitement and wonder and then the slow disillusionment with reality. There are a lot of small details that slowly build up into frustration and harsh realities. While it might benefit from a little more depth, it's a solid read.

Julia's dad claims he was once abducted by aliens. His distracted behavior since then is one of the reasons Julia's parents divorced. But now she's agreed to travel with her dad to a UFO festival in Roswell where he's hoping his abductors will make contact again. Julia wants to believe, but mostly she's just looking forward to spending some time with her father.

From the fun, goofy cover, I was expecting a bit more of a light-hearted read. There are some serious issues to explore here, and I think they're handled very well by the author. Aside from wanting to smack Julia's dad for his forgetfulness and irresponsibility, I really enjoyed the trip.

This is a great choice for middle-schoolers who are frequently embarrassed by their parents, but realize the importance of spending time with them.

This book was cute and I wish the author put more information in it about U.F.O.'s and Roswell. But the main story is about supporting your loved ones even if you are skeptical of what they believe. Ms. Miller did a great job on that part but I wish there was a little more information on how to approach the topic if it comes up in your life..

Miller is not reinventing the wheel here; this is a standard coming of age story n which a teen must balance a lifelong shared passion with the sudden societal ferocity of teenage coolness. It’s not bad by any stretch. It’s serviceable.

Julia hates that her parents divorced, but at least they aren't fighting all the time. She is pretty excited to go on vacation with her dad, since she sees him less now. But it also means she can't go on an amazing vacation with her best friend, who does not understand why she would pick going with her father to some crazy convention in the desert over a tropical island.
Julia's dad believes he was taken by aliens and they speak to him in his dreams. And this belief tore apart Julia's family. But maybe, if she goes to this alien convention, she will be able to show everyone her dad isn't crazy and something really is out there.
A story about friendships, unreliable adults, and finding yourself when those you love most are at odds with each other.

E ARC provided by Netgalley

As summer approaches, Julia is supposed to go on vacation to Hawaii with her friend Sara, but cancels so that she can take a three day road trip to Roswell, New Mexico with her father for the 70th anniversary celebration of the aliens landing there. Julia's mother isn't pleased; after a period of time where the parents were fighting a lot and the father, David, experienced an alien abduction, the mother asked the father to leave the household. He's had some trouble keeping things together ever since. He arrives late for meetings, doesn't get his car serviced, and still really believes that the aliens have a message for him that they will deliver at Roswell. He has located the exact site of the landing 70 years ago, and is determined to go there and wait for the message. Julia believes her father, mostly, and is reading a book he got for her about the Roswell experience. While at the celebration, the two meet a couple who really believe in aliens, and their son Josh, who does not. At first, Julia feels insulted by his comments, but the two quickly bond over their shared experience with parents who believe in something that many people think is crackpot. Julia wishes that she were with Sara; she doesn't even want to post pictures on social media of herself at Roswell. The parade in town seems super goofy, and Julia doesn't quite understand why the crowds of people aren't taking things as seriously as her father is. The two head out into the desert to meet with the aliens, but sicne David hasn't had the car serviced as needed, there is a clog in the radiator hose that causes the car to break down. They get it fixed and reach their destination, but have a fight in the car. Julia lets her father go wait in the desert by himself, although she eventually comes out to talk to him. He's unhappy that the aliens don't contact him, but takes some solace in a meteor shower that seems like a partial message. The two prepare to make their way back home, having made some peace with each other.
Strengths: It doesn't take much for a middle school student to be embarassed by a parent, and Julia's father is so resolute in his feelings about his alien abduction that even Sara opines that maybe he had a break down because of the marital woes. It's one thing to believe in something, and yet another to be trumpeting it to all and sundry, and while Julia wants to share this experience with her father and bond with him over it, she just... doesn't want anyone else to know! That perfectly describes so many child/parent interactions at this age. The depiction of the tourist culture in Roswell is interesting, especially seeing it from Julia's point of view as a believer in the events. Of course, when she attends an "abduction survivors" group, she has a little less belief in it herself. The artwork is vibrantly colored and attractive. I think this will be a popular choice with my students.
Weaknesses: Julia's nose (which she inherited from her father) looks very different from noses on the other characters and distracted me. I am very easily distracted by noses in illustrations, but it seemed like an odd choice. I have to say that I'm of the opinion that Roswell was a hoax, having read Fleming's Crash from Outer Space, so had little sympathy for the father's bad parenting, although I suspect that we are no long allowed to judge people's parenting. Let's just say that David could have used some assistance in organizing his life. Taking a car into the desert with your tween daughter when you knowingly neglected maintaining it? I can see why Julia's mother is angry.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels with problematic parents, like those in Knisley's Stepping Stones or Mass' Lo and Behold, although it is also similar to (although more realistic than) Gardner's Long Distance.

This was a wonderful graphic novel about family, aliens, and understanding. It handles, beautifully, that switch that happens when a kid becomes a teen— when they stop seeing their parent as just their mom or dad, and start seeing them as a full person. What happens when it turns out you might believe differently from each other? This book is full of fun alien storytelling, while also depicting a beautiful story for kids who might be navigating that rift.

This ended up being a little disappointing. I was expecting a little more depth and growth and just didn't really get much.

I did really enjoy the art and the quirky cast of characters. I could also see kids enjoying this mainly because of the art.

Unfortunately this is probably not one I will be recommending.