juvenile fiction / social themes / prejudice & racism

Sixth-grader and self-proclaimed genius inventor, Ethan Fairmont, along with his ex-best friend Kareem, and new-kid Juan Carlos stumble across an extraterrestrial visitor they name Cheese, who is stuck on Earth in need of serious repairs, spicy snacks, and total secrecy.

It is 1805 and Mary Lambert has always felt safe among the deaf community of Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard where practically everyone communicates in a shared sign language, but recent events have shattered her life; her brother George has died, land disputes between English settlers and the Wampanoag people are becoming increasingly bitter, and a "scientist" determined to discover the origins of the islands' widespread deafness has decided she makes the perfect "live specimen"--and kidnapped her.