Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion

August 15, 2022
Eleven-year-old Ruby Finley is a gifted science student who loves bugs. Ruby, who presents as Black on the book's cover, often stores insects in mason jars under her bed, but the latest one she finds has her stumped, especially when it melts holes in its jar and then the window screen to escape. Ruby posts pictures online and asks for help identifying the bug, but the pictures are deleted, and several White men calling themselves "agents" show up asking questions. They claim to have captured the bug, but strange things occur, including metal thefts. The town's recluse goes missing, and on a Discord channel, Ruby picks up chatter about aliens and government coverups. In an underlying story, tension escalates between Ruby and her White science teacher, who deems Ruby's proposed science fair project too ambitious and tries to punish her for not agreeing to an easier project. Luckily, Ruby's parents, the principal, and her former science teacher have her back. Ruby, with the help of her friends, applies the scientific method and figures out what's going on. Bradford challenges readers to keep up with Ruby to solve this intriguing and absorbing mystery. Bradford also addresses, with sensitivity and nuance, the ways in which Black students are marginalized in STEM fields. The author depicts a tightly knit, supportive community of color, where kids roam freely and an older neighbor is always outside to keep an eye on things. A page-turning mix of science, science fiction, and mystery that will empower readers to pursue their own STEM passions. (Fiction. 9-12)

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August 1, 2022
Grades 4-7 Ruby is an 11-year-old Black girl who loves bugs and prefers to solve life's problems using the scientific approach. When she captures a mysterious insect, she sets off a chain of events that pulls her close-knit community into what appears to be a government conspiracy. Soon, reports of vandalism and theft crop up in the area, and Ruby deduces a connection between these crimes and the bizarre bug that escaped. It's up to her and her diverse group of friends to find proof of the bug's actions and stop it before anyone gets hurt. Ruby is a fun, smart, and lovably realistic protagonist, well balanced against the different personalities among her friends. Her strength lies in both her capability and her bonds of family, friendship, and community. Bradford has managed to write a lighthearted adventure story that also touches on various social issues, including race, and the scenes between Ruby and her disbelieving science teacher will be sadly familiar to those in the know. An entertaining and highly recommended read, perfect for readers who love science and adventure-mysteries.

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September 1, 2022

Gr 3-5-Ruby loves bugs, so much so that she plans to be an entomologist one day. The Black tween's science project revolves around training bees to recognize and respond to certain smells, if she can convince her science teacher to support her. Her discovery of an unusual red bug changes everything. Not only is the bug unidentifiable but it also escapes by eating through the jar! Even stranger, her social media post brings government agents to the neighborhood to track it down. But when Ruby spots the bug again while spying on a neighbor who hasn't been seen recently, Ruby realizes it has grown bigger and seems to be eating metal. When the playground at an abandoned school disappears, Ruby recruits her friends to help her gather evidence to prove to the adults that the bug exists and is a hazard. The children's incursion into the empty school proves to be more adventure than any of them could have foreseen. In addition to the adventures related to the strange bug, Ruby and her friends must face rumors, conspiracy theories, and community concerns. Bradford's entertaining and informative tale highlights the value of scientific and critical thinking as well as the importance of friendship and community. VERDICT A good choice for middle grade collections, especially where there's a need for science fiction with BIPOC main characters.-Heidi Grange

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