Book Review: “Nowhere on Earth” by Nick Lake

“Nowhere on Earth” by Nick Lake (2020)

Genre: YA, Fiction, Science Fiction

Page Length: 304 pages (electronic edition)

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Emily is on the run. Between her parents and the trouble she’s recently gotten into at school, she has more than enough reason to get away. But when she finds a little boy named Aidan wandering in the woods, she knows she needs to help him find his way home. But getting home is no easy matter, especially when Emily finds out that Aidan isn’t even from Earth. When their plane crashes into the side of a snowy mountain, it’s up to Emily to ensure Aidan and their pilot, Bob, make it off the mountain alive. Pursued by government forces who want to capture Aidan, the unlikely team of three trek across the freezing landscape, learning more about each other, and about life, than they ever thought possible. (description from Goodreads)

Review:

In Nowhere on Earth, the action kicks off the story right away and we find our main characters: Emily, Aiden, and Bob thrust in the frozen tundra of Alaska. Alone in the wilderness they are on the run from the “men in black” while we are presented with flashbacks of Emily’s past. The novel has a slight overall eerie tone as the characters realize how alone they really are. They are left with little to no resources after a disastrous plane crash.

This novel is a Sci-Fi story set among a lush wilderness backdrop. Even though there is a sense of urgency for the main characters, I could appreciate the descriptions of the lush nature. In the midst of the action there were a lot of quiet moments where the reader can take in the true beauty of the tundra. While reading the book I even felt a slight chill reading about the bitter temperature and the frigid snow that lies everywhere. But the descriptions of the mountains and forest sounded so picturesque!

Even though I’ve never seen the film, the book gave me some E.T vibes with the plot of returning Aiden back to his home. He’s a particular little alien, except he takes on the form of a human boy in order to adapt to his surroundings. Though Emily and Aiden come from different worlds I could appreciate the strong bond that was developed between the two. It’s a story about love, family, and finding your place in the universe.

Overall, this is a very fast paced novel and I thought the plot moved forward seamlessly. The survival aspect of the story keeps the readers entertained by the danger around every corner. Ultimately, the book left me with more questions than answers. For me personally, the story feels flat in some parts and I couldn’t connect to the story. It just wasn’t the book for me.

Final Verdict: