Children’s Historical Fiction / Family / Mystery / Humor / Sci-Fi Inspired / 8-12 years

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Date of Publication: April 18, 2023

Number of Pages: 224 pages

It’s 1964, the Space Race is well underway, and eleven-year-old Magnolia Jean Crook and the other residents of Totter, Texas, are over the moon about UFOs.

The whole town is gearing up for the First Annual Come on Down Day—in just one week, they are hoping to host any and all space aliens who would like to visit Earth. But right before the kick-off party, a meteorite goes missing—and MJ’s beloved grandmother Mimi, who is the vice president of the Totter Unidentified Flying Object Organization, is the prime suspect.

MJ is desperate to show the town that this Crook is not a thief. The only problem is that there is a lot of evidence against her, and Mimi herself isn’t helping things. She’s acting suspiciously, pulling disappearing acts, and worst of all, can’t seem to answer any questions about where she was or what she was doing.

But much like UFOs, extraterrestrial visitations, and sending people to space, the impossible has been known to happen.

Interview with Anne Bustard

How do you write? Any backstory to your choice?

I often write daily reflections/morning pages in a journal, so coming to a story in longhand first feels natural, and frankly, less intimidating than creating words on a computer screen. After I jot enough ideas in a spiral to get me going, which may include snatches of dialogue, character descriptions, and thoughts on a possible beginning and end, I switch to my computer. When I get stuck, which is inevitable, I revert to musing in longhand before returning to the keyboard.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

Without a doubt, figuring out how Magnolia Jean and Nick would solve the case in such a way that would keep readers guessing was the most challenging aspect.

In researching this book, did you learn any unexpected, unusual, or fascinating information?

Who knew a UFO purportedly crashed near Aurora, Texas, April 17, 1897? Not me.

How important are names to you in your books? How do you choose names?

Names are extraordinarily important to me. And especially the one for my protagonist, now named Magnolia Jean, aka MJ. I knew I wanted her to have a double name. First, I called her Eve Louise. While I loved that name, for this character, it felt like an itchy sweater. So, I tried on Magnolia Jane. That was better, but not quite right. The third try was the perfect fit—Magnolia Jean.

What do you like to read in your free time?

I read middle grade books almost exclusively. They’ve always been my favorite. Occasionally, I’ll read an adult nonfiction work or mystery.

What projects are you working on at the present?

I’m diving into a story about an eleven-year-old mermaid.

Anne Bustard is the former co-owner of Toad Hall Children’s Bookstore in Austin, Texas, and an MFA graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

She is the author of the middle-grade novels, Blue Skies and Anywhere But Paradise, as well as two picture books, RAD! and Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly, which was an Ira Children’s Book award Notable and a Bank Street Book of the Year.

Hawaii-born, she divided her time between Texas and Canada.

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,

03/21/23	Shelf Life Blog	Excerpts
03/21/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Promo
03/22/23	Sybrina’s Book Blog	Author Interview
03/22/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Promo
03/23/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Review
03/24/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
03/25/23	All the Ups and Downs	Scrapbook Page
03/26/23	Forgotten Winds	Top Ten List
03/27/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Review
03/28/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Playlist
03/29/23	The Real World According to Sam	Review
03/30/23	RoxBurkey Blog	Review