Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.
ABOUT MELISSA 
Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives just outside Cincinnati and writes adult contemporary romance as Macy Beckett.
Additionally, she writes contemporary romance for adults under the name Macy Beckett.
Jaime’s Thoughts
Alienated by Melissa Landers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love Sci-Fi… when it’s done right. And Alienated by Melissa Landers hit every right note for me.
It’s been two years since the aliens contacted and the first ever L’eihr student exchange is happening. Cara Sweeney has been picked to host one of the four and she’s looking forward to finding out everything she can and sharing it via her blog. I have to say that I loved loved her blog posts … they were a wonderful addition to the story!
Humans and L’eihr’s have the same DNA but there are some definite differences, for one… they can’t feel emotion.
But Cara isn’t sure what to expect… There are still a lot of people who are against any kind of involvement with the aliens, specifically, HALO or Humans Against L’eihr Occupation, but she is determined to make Aelyx welcome even if everyone around her is determined to do the opposite.
Aelyx isn’t as on board with the exchange as he may appear. He and the other students in the exchange have a plan in place that the elders don’t know anything about. Despite the differences he has with Cara, he finds that he’s connecting with her more than he planned and this changes things for his plans.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up Alienated at ALA but I’m so glad I got my hands on a copy. I always kind of turn up my nose at the Alien themes and I don’t know why I haven’t learned my lesson yet, because I was completely invested in this story.
I adored Cara. I loved her voice. She’s smart and determined and I couldn’t help but laugh at a few And her determination she had to make Aelyx welcome despite her boyfriend’s opinion and eventually her best friend as well was really well done. She wanted to make the best of this situation and opportunity but she’s basically thwarted at every twist and turn by people who she’s called friend.
I wasn’t sure what to think of Aelyx from the get go, but I totally fell for him. There is this one part… where he explains and demonstrates what they call sh’ellam…
Aside from the swoons, I really felt that the evolution and pacing of their friendship and eventual relationship was wonderfully done. Without giving anything away, I really loved where Landers took the final chapters.
The writing, the world-building and the plot were really well done in my opinion. Landers writes her characters in a way that makes them jump off the page and the origin of the L’eihr and the backstory that we get is everything I hoped for. And despite the time period that the story is told in, I never felt the pacing of the story was too slow.
If you’re a reader who enjoys Sci-fi and YA I think this is the book for you. It not only stealthily addresses some social issues that we are dealing with today, but incorporates a YA romance with witty characters and an engaging story that will have you checking for the release date of book 2.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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