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The Experiment

by Rebecca Stead Publisher: FEIWEL & FRIENDS

Critically Recognized

A sixth-grader’s secret, and a life-changing experiment

Regular price $17.50 USD
Regular price $29.17 USD Sale price $17.50 USD
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Hardcover New English

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Awards & Recognition

  • Author recognition

    Rebecca Stead is a Newbery Medalist

    Rebecca Stead is identified as a Newbery Medalist; this is an author accolade, not an award for this book.

  • Critical praise

    Praised by The Wall Street Journal

    The Wall Street Journal describes the book as a fast-moving, optimistic story with many twists.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A sixth-grader’s secret, and a life-changing experiment

Nathan has grown up knowing his family comes from another planet, even as he moves through the routines of sixth grade with parents, homework, and best friend Victor. But the experiment keeping his family and nine others on Earth is faltering: people, including Nathan’s first crush, Izzy, are disappearing, and his family is summoned back to the mothership. The alien-contact premise gives this coming-of-age story a framework for questions of identity and belonging, as Nathan reconsiders what he has been taught about his origins and purpose.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Kids ages 9–12 interested in science fiction about alien contact.
  • Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories centered on identity and belonging.
  • Fans of stories where a young protagonist questions what they have been taught.

Themes

Identity and belongingFamily secretsAlien contactChange and self-discovery

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

"Many twists await in this fast-moving and optimistic story by one of today's most inventive writers for readers ages 8-12." --The Wall Street Journal

From the Newbery Medalist and national-bestselling author Rebecca Stead, here is a bold story that will appeal to fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The First State of Being.

Nathan wants to help his people, but first he has to figure out who they are...


Nathan never understood what was "fun" about secrets, probably because he's always had to keep a very big one.

Although he appears to be a typical sixth-grader (with parents, homework and a best friend, Victor), Nathan learned at an early age that his family is from another planet. Now, their time on Earth may be coming to an end.

Nathan, his parents and nine other families are part of an experiment that suddenly seems to be going wrong. Some of the experimenters, including Nathan's first crush, Izzy, are disappearing without a word. After his family is called back to the mothership, Nathan begins to question everything he's been taught to believe about who he is and why he's on Earth.

The Experiment is a fast-paced coming-of-age novel that asks universal questions about how we figure out who we want to be, and whether it's ever too late to change.

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Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
AlbakiReads
Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

O
AlbakiReads
Olivia

Smooth.