Horn Book (Tue Dec 03 00:00:00 CST 2024)

Fleming deftly explores the enigmatic history of UFOs, extraterrestrials, and conspiracy theories related to the infamous events during the summer of 1947 in Roswell, New Mexico. Brisk chapters (with such evocative headings as "What's That in the Sky?" and "Could It Really Be a Flying Saucer?") cogently weave together how the now-ubiquitous story of a UFO crash-landing in the desert came to be. Yes, mysterious debris really was discovered by a sheep rancher near Roswell; however, a growing post-WWII fear of nuclear war combined with a highly publicized "flying saucer" sighting near Mount Rainier caught the public's imagination, spiraling into a convoluted tale of secret alien autopsies and interplanetary spacecraft. With four distinct parts spanning the last seventy years, Fleming documents the willingness of many well-known ufologists to accept unconfirmed evidence and hearsay ("saucer logic") as truth in the face of consistent discreditation. Notably, readers are provided with several "basic principles of critical thinking" to evaluate such extraordinary claims, including the Sagan Standard, burden of proof, and Occam's razor. A variety of visuals, including declassified government documents, photographs, and original illustrations, are effectively incorporated throughout. Fleming concludes with a brief overview of current-day perspectives on UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena), including the U.S. government's public acknowledgment of documented sightings. Back matter includes an author's note, bibliography, source notes, and an index.

Kirkus Reviews

Separating the facts from the fallacies concerning aliens and UFOs, from the 1940s to today.The spectacular crash of an unidentified flying object in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 triggers national interest. Local rancher Mack Brazel checks out the strange-looking debris with his two kids, later talking with reporters. In the following years, public interest as well as investigations from the military accelerate. Rampant speculation, intense research, and plain hysteria follow, with books, movies, and the forming of UFO groups. Are little green men from Venus preparing to attack our country? Decades later, supposed proof of an alien invasion refers back to the testimony of original Roswell witnesses and reexamined documents. There is an ebb and flow to the discovery of information. In 1997, the Air Force admits to a coverup of a secret operation from the 1940s called Project Mogul. In 2006, the makers of a documentary that purported to show an alien autopsy admit that it was a fake. Research continues up to the present day; readers must decide for themselves. Fleming presents an impressive volume of information in a crisp and concise manner, helping readers grasp the big picture. The real stars of the book, though, are her carefully chosen visuals: Dozens of black-and-white photographs as well as reproductions of official documents, newspaper pages, cartoons, and more add both atmosphere and authenticity.A vivid, comprehensive account of the Roswell mystery and its aftermath. (author's note, bibliography, source notes, image credits, index) (Nonfiction. 9-13)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

From Roswell forward, this intriguing reportorial narrative history traces the facts, fictions, and ambiguities surrounding extraterrestrials and UFOs. Fleming (Murder Among Friends) begins by documenting the infamous 1947 Roswell, N.Mex., crash that becomes the first purported sighting of ships “seemingly from outer space,” following it up with an account of an unfamiliar crescent aircraft hitting 1,700 miles per hour near Washington’s Mount Rainier. Employing questions as chapters heads, the chronicle effectively distills the subsequent media treatment—including how reports introduced the term “flying saucer” into popular culture, igniting an ongoing debate about their existence—and various investigations into and frauds surrounding alien spacecraft. Government projects introduced include the U.S. Air Force’s 1952-launched Project Blue Book, which studied UFOs’ potential national security risk, and the cover-up at Roswell of Project Mogul, which aimed to detect the Soviet Union’s testing of atomic weapons. Throughout, a fascinating collection of b&w photographs, newspaper stories, and official documents effectively highlight and support the telling. Evenhandedly exposing the controversy, the account leaves the interpretation of the truth to readers. Extensive back matter includes an author’s note, bibliography, and source notes. Ages 8–12. Agent: Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Literary. (Oct.)