After dabbling with pixies in her best-selling Needs series and flirting with horror in After Obsession (2011), Jones returns to the YA scene with a humorous sci-fi romp that pits a spunky cheerleader against (what else?) aliens. Seventeen-year-old Mana is a petite, biracial, penguin-loving flyer cheerleader who gets lifted and tossed by her squad. At a basketball game, Mana's doing her best to focus on her tumbling passes t on hunky Dakota's amazing forearms or on her confused feelings for her best friend Lyle en a man in the crowd drags off Dakota. Mana follows them to the locker room, where she discovers (a) Dakota is actually an acid-spitting alien; (b) she has superhuman abilities; and (c) China (the mystery man) is an alien-hunter. What's more, Mana's mom is China's partner, and she is missing. With an obvious wink at Men in Black, Jones delivers a campy, action-packed story that balances its many laughs with tenderness, during which Mana comes into her own while trying to rescue her mother and save the world. No biggie. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Something new from best-selling author Jones? This book will fly off the shelf.

With nods to numerous science fiction and fantasy works (including Dr. Who, Heroes, and World of Warcraft), this series opener from Jones (the Need series) is complex and nuanced while maintaining a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek vibe. Mana is a cheerleader-a flyer, to be exact-who excels at tumbling and loves what she does. She-s tiny, part Native Hawaiian, and protected on all sides by friends and family. When her mother goes missing and her crush starts spitting green acid, Mana has to figure out who to trust-quickly. Partnering with her best friend, Lyle, and an associate of her mother-s, Mana tries to come to terms with the existence of aliens, not all of whom want to share the Earth, while dealing with her burgeoning feelings for Lyle. Mana-s personal growth takes center stage as she learns to rely on herself during shootings, burglaries, and the development of mysterious new powers. Frequent twists and plentiful action keep the story moving briskly with only a few instances where disbelief needs to be suspended. Ages 13-up. Agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner. (July)

Gr 8 Up-Mana loves her quiet life. She loves that her mother babies her. She loves that her two best friends, Seppie and Lyle, constantly support her, both on the cheerleading mat and off of it. Although, lately things have been a little confusing with Lyle. And then there's Dakota, the cute percussionist in the school band. Mana is looking forward to seeing Dakota at the basketball game, until he begins spitting green acid out of his mouth and trying to kill her. Without realizing what's happening, the heroine begins to activate some superhuman gymnastic fight moves. Before the night is over, she learns that aliens are real, they have ransacked her house, and her mother is missing. The aliens are hunting for something, and everyone seems to think that Mana has whatever it is that they're after. Who can she trust? And will she find her mother before it's too late? A witty and self-aware heroine carries this entertaining adventure story. Breezy banter and a few well-placed one-liners are sure to incite smiles. The novel's greatest strength is its relatability. Everyone has envied someone with a mother like Mana's or has pitied someone with a mother like Lyle's. The protagonist's conflicted feelings about her crush will be instantly familiar to readers who have ever developed unexpected feelings for a friend. Frequent sexual euphemisms make this a better choice for older teens.

Mana is an average high school junior cheerleader with two great cheerleading friends; Lyle, a guy friend who she has a crush on; and Seppie, a high-achieving girlfriend. She also has a crush on Dakota, a pep band drummer. Mana is not a stellar student, but she excels in cheerleading and she has a strong bond with her mother. She enjoys her seemingly normal life until one fateful basketball game, when a mysterious guy in sunglasses drags Dakota off to the locker rooms. When Mana goes to rescue him, she discovers that Dakota is actually an alien jerk who spits green acid, and that she has the ability to perform unbelievable high-flying gymnastics moves. China, the man in the sunglasses, apprehends Dakota and disappears. Lyle helps Mana home, and the pair learns that Mana's house has been ransacked and that her mother is missing. Mana discovers that aliens are real, her mother is an alien hunter, and that her mother has just been kidnapped by a sect of aliens. She joins China, her mother's alien-hunting partner, and Lyle on a mission to go rescue her.The witty dialogue and flawless action scenes of this novel make it a fast read. The novel is speckled with unique science fiction elements, such as aliens with fairytale origins, and the endearing romance between Mana and Lyle will speak to romance readers. Readers will like the geeky fandom references. This is recommended for readers who like light science fiction and plucky heroines.Christina C. Jones.