The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 2019

The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away

By Ronald L. Smith

A boy's alien obsession blurs reality and imagination. Was he abducted?

3.3/5 Goodreads · 642 ratings
240 pages
$9.99Save 4%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Simon is convinced aliens are real, especially after a strange camping trip. As he grapples with bullies and his father's disbelief, Simon must determine if his fears are fantasy or reality. Are the owls outside his window just birds, or something more sinister? Dive into Simon's world where the line between imagination and truth is as thin as a whisper in the night. Will he uncover the truth, or is it all in his head?

From the publisher

In this delightfully creepy novel from Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner Ronald L. Smith, twelve-year-old Simon thinks he was abducted by aliens. But is it real, or just his overactive imagination? Perfect for fans of Mary Downing Hahn and Louis Sachar. Twelve-year-old Simon is obsessed with aliens. The ones who take people and do experiments. When he’s too worried about them to sleep, he listens to the owls hoot outside. Owls that have the same eyes as aliens–dark and foreboding. Then something strange happens on a camping trip, and Simon begins to suspect he’s been abducted. But is it real, or just the overactive imagination of a kid who loves fantasy and role-playing games and is the target of bullies and his father’s scorn? Even readers who don’t believe in UFOs will relate to the universal kid feeling of not being taken seriously by adults that deepens this deliciously scary tale.

At a glance
Format
Paperback
Pages
240
Reading age
10–12
Audience
Middle Grade
Lexile
HL600L
Themes & topics
Books about bullyingBooks about diversityBooks about familyBooks about social themesBooks about prejudice and racism
For readers who can't stop at one

The next favorite is already out there.

Age-appropriate books selected to help their love of reading grow, delivered right to their door.

Find their book club
Bookroo club box with books for growing readers
More from the creator

More from Ronald L. Smith

Explore Ronald's bookshelf
Hoodoo
Sale price
$1699

Hoodoo

Ages 10–12 · 2015

Gloom Town

Ages 8–12 · 2020

The Mesmerist

Ages 10–12 · 2017

Where the Black Flowers Bloom

Ages 8–12 · 2023
Your next read

Books that feel like this one

See all similar books
Series
Sale price
$1699

Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont

Ages 8–12 · 2022
Sale price
$1499

Zombie Season

Ages 8–12 · 2023
The Bone Sparrow
Sale price
$1699

The Bone Sparrow

Ages 10–13 · 2016

Terror at Bottle Creek

Ages 10–13 · 2016

Juniper Berry

Ages 8–12 · 2011

The Song from Somewhere Else

Ages 8–12 · 2016
Not on Fifth Street
Sale price
$1795

Not on Fifth Street

Ages 9–12 · 2017

The Takeout

Ages 8–12 · 2023
The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
4.3
F&P level
~O
AR points
5
AR interest level
MG
AR quiz
501744
Publication
Published
February 11, 2020
First published
February 19, 2019
Publisher
Clarion Books
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780358097532

Surprise a reader with their next favorite book.

Spotted a mistake or something missing? Improve this page.

Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.

Bookroo

Book Clubs

Follow Bookroo