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Ever-Expanding Universe #1
Mothership
Teen pregnancy is never easy—especially not when extraterrestrials are involved. The first in a new trilogy.
Elvie Nara was doing just fine in the year 2074. She had a great best friend, a dad she adored, and bright future working on the Ares Project on Mars. But then she had to get involved with sweet, gorgeous, dumb-as-a-brick Cole--and now she’s pregnant.
Getting shipped off to the Hanover School for Expecting Teen Mothers was not how Elvie imagined spending her junior year, but she can go with the flow. That is, until a team of hot commandos hijacks the ship--and one of them turns out to be Cole. She hasn’t seen him since she told him she’s pregnant, and now he’s bursting into her new home to tell her that her teachers are aliens and want to use her unborn baby to repopulate their species? Nice try, buddy. You could have just called.
So fine, finding a way off this ship is priority number one, but first Elvie has to figure out how Cole ended up as a commando, work together with her arch-nemesis, and figure out if she even wants to be a mother--assuming they get back to Earth in one piece.
Elvie Nara was doing just fine in the year 2074. She had a great best friend, a dad she adored, and bright future working on the Ares Project on Mars. But then she had to get involved with sweet, gorgeous, dumb-as-a-brick Cole--and now she’s pregnant.
Getting shipped off to the Hanover School for Expecting Teen Mothers was not how Elvie imagined spending her junior year, but she can go with the flow. That is, until a team of hot commandos hijacks the ship--and one of them turns out to be Cole. She hasn’t seen him since she told him she’s pregnant, and now he’s bursting into her new home to tell her that her teachers are aliens and want to use her unborn baby to repopulate their species? Nice try, buddy. You could have just called.
So fine, finding a way off this ship is priority number one, but first Elvie has to figure out how Cole ended up as a commando, work together with her arch-nemesis, and figure out if she even wants to be a mother--assuming they get back to Earth in one piece.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2012
16 people are currently reading
2032 people want to read
About the author
Martin Leicht
4Ìýbooks41ÌýfollowersMartin Leicht currently lives in New York City, a fantastic city to be sure, although his heart will always be in Philadelphia, where they properly refer to it as “water iceâ€�. A master’s graduate from the Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing at NYU, Martin decided at the ripe old age of three that he wanted to spend the rest of his life spinning stories, much to the chagrin of his late grandfather, who always wanted him to go to Penn State and major in math so that the could be either an accountant or a bookie, two career paths he felt were eminently more stable than writing. Fortunately, Martin has never had the patience for higher math, so he has stuck to telling tall tales and hoping that people will listen to them. He hopes that, in some way, his grandfather’s spirit can find comfort in the fact that at least a few people do.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
July 27, 2012
I wanted to read MOTHERSHIP because all the reviews said it was absolutely hilarious and the title is a pun. I can never resist a good pun. Plus I thought the bright, retro cover was super fun. (It's even cooler in person. The computer screen doesn't show how much the pink pops against the purple.)
The reviewers were right: MOTHERSHIP is hilarious. Sixteen-year-old Elvie Nara's snarky, clever voice carries the novel. She's three months away from her due date when commandos invade the Hanover School for Expecting Teen Mothers (which is IN SPACE!) and tell the girls that their teachers are aliens. The chapters alternate between explaining how she got pregnant and the survivors' journey to get off the ship. (This journey is noticeably unimpeded by the pregnant girls needing to pee, having difficulty maneuvering, or any other issue you might expect to arise due to their physical condition.)
But I couldn't quite gel myself to MOTHERSHIP's breezy tone. The trouble started when I realized Britta, another girl at the school, was pregnant by the same guy as Elvie. Naturally the girls hate each other more than Cheater McCan't-Keep-It-In-His-Pants. Lots of reviewers said sweet-but-dumb Cole grew on them as they read. But he didn't grow on me, particularly not as I realized exactly how bad of a position "sweet" Cole put Elvie in.
Then there's the fact that the entire book is about young, pregnant women in danger and many of them die in horrible ways. I love black comedy, but I like my black comedy black. I don't like dead pregnant teenagers in my snarky one-liner comedy. Then there's the horrid awfulness that comes as more of the aliens' plans are revealed. It's invasive and gross and I can't believe none of the girls choose to terminate their pregnancies. MOTHERSHIP has a novel's worth of consent issues that are addressed for approximately three pages.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
Plus, why are all of them teenagers? What, the aliens can't impregnate grown women? It's particularly disturbing since the aliens are older than they look. Cole's only nineteen, but what if the other baby daddies are older?
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
I absolutely loved Elvie and thought-her voice was spot-on. But she, her father, and best friend Duckie deserve a better plot than MOTHERSHIP offers them. Martin Leicht and Isla Neal have talent and humor, but the bright spots of MOTHERSHIP are offset by all the times I thought I was going to be sick.
The reviewers were right: MOTHERSHIP is hilarious. Sixteen-year-old Elvie Nara's snarky, clever voice carries the novel. She's three months away from her due date when commandos invade the Hanover School for Expecting Teen Mothers (which is IN SPACE!) and tell the girls that their teachers are aliens. The chapters alternate between explaining how she got pregnant and the survivors' journey to get off the ship. (This journey is noticeably unimpeded by the pregnant girls needing to pee, having difficulty maneuvering, or any other issue you might expect to arise due to their physical condition.)
But I couldn't quite gel myself to MOTHERSHIP's breezy tone. The trouble started when I realized Britta, another girl at the school, was pregnant by the same guy as Elvie. Naturally the girls hate each other more than Cheater McCan't-Keep-It-In-His-Pants. Lots of reviewers said sweet-but-dumb Cole grew on them as they read. But he didn't grow on me, particularly not as I realized exactly how bad of a position "sweet" Cole put Elvie in.
Then there's the fact that the entire book is about young, pregnant women in danger and many of them die in horrible ways. I love black comedy, but I like my black comedy black. I don't like dead pregnant teenagers in my snarky one-liner comedy. Then there's the horrid awfulness that comes as more of the aliens' plans are revealed. It's invasive and gross and I can't believe none of the girls choose to terminate their pregnancies. MOTHERSHIP has a novel's worth of consent issues that are addressed for approximately three pages.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
Plus, why are all of them teenagers? What, the aliens can't impregnate grown women? It's particularly disturbing since the aliens are older than they look. Cole's only nineteen, but what if the other baby daddies are older?
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
I absolutely loved Elvie and thought-her voice was spot-on. But she, her father, and best friend Duckie deserve a better plot than MOTHERSHIP offers them. Martin Leicht and Isla Neal have talent and humor, but the bright spots of MOTHERSHIP are offset by all the times I thought I was going to be sick.
July 1, 2013
Oh the feelings I have about this book...
TW (book & review): teen pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, discussion of abortion, ableism, (I'm really not sure this should be YA, actually.)
Starting with the positive! Elvie was, for the most part, an enjoyable main character. She is smart and kicks butt at some things without being a complete Mary Sue. The concept - a space yacht full of pregnant teenagers turns out to be run by aliens - was certainly original. Our teenage female protag actually has a decent relationship with her father. I really like Ducky. The plot consistently managed to do something interesting a couple pages before I had planned to put it down.
If you're looking for some fluffy summer reading with a different premise than your average YA novel, or for a book to snarkily discuss with the friends who roped you into this nonsense (ahem), here you go.
However, and this is a big however, there is a LOT that is not good about this book.
Writing: It varies from such breathtaking inanity as, "So yeah... that happens," to absolute gold, like, "Captain Bob looks at me with the sort of blank stare you'd give an opossum you just found out could play the ukulele." This may have something to do with which co-author wrote what. [Side note: Hey Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, y u no credit female co-author?] There is also copious (to me) amounts of fake futuristic teenager slang. I was especially bothered by "chromers," which I had parsed as "people not with what's new and hip," but which turned out to be an in-universe ableist slur. Seriously, it's a reference to a chronic genetic disorder. Travel to LEO has become blase, but we're still making fun of physical/mental disabilities?
Pregnancy: I'm making this a whole topic, because I'm not convinced the writers actually know what being pregnant entails. Lemme just say these girls can handle IMPRESSIVE AMOUNTS of physical exertion for the third trimester. Additionally, the whole thing is just not handled very well. I felt like every few pages, the authors went, "Oh right, she's pregnant! Time to crave some hilariously nasty food combination and whine about her belly!"
The TW I spoiler tagged: Obviously, this is wildly problematic and will be very potentially triggering for some readers. I will give the book credit for at least voicing Elvie's quite righteous anger about this.
Cole: I hates him. Don't care how pretty he is. No. *haaaaaate*
SO! If you managed to slog through all of the above and are thinking, "Seriously, she's whining about this? It's just a book..." you'll probably enjoy it. If you read all of the above and think "I MUST CONSUME THIS MONSTROSITY" you'll probably also enjoy it. Everyone else, I have no idea. Aliens.
(I still hate Cole.)
TW (book & review): teen pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, discussion of abortion, ableism, (I'm really not sure this should be YA, actually.)
Starting with the positive! Elvie was, for the most part, an enjoyable main character. She is smart and kicks butt at some things without being a complete Mary Sue. The concept - a space yacht full of pregnant teenagers turns out to be run by aliens - was certainly original. Our teenage female protag actually has a decent relationship with her father. I really like Ducky. The plot consistently managed to do something interesting a couple pages before I had planned to put it down.
If you're looking for some fluffy summer reading with a different premise than your average YA novel, or for a book to snarkily discuss with the friends who roped you into this nonsense (ahem), here you go.
However, and this is a big however, there is a LOT that is not good about this book.
Writing: It varies from such breathtaking inanity as, "So yeah... that happens," to absolute gold, like, "Captain Bob looks at me with the sort of blank stare you'd give an opossum you just found out could play the ukulele." This may have something to do with which co-author wrote what. [Side note: Hey Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, y u no credit female co-author?] There is also copious (to me) amounts of fake futuristic teenager slang. I was especially bothered by "chromers," which I had parsed as "people not with what's new and hip," but which turned out to be an in-universe ableist slur. Seriously, it's a reference to a chronic genetic disorder. Travel to LEO has become blase, but we're still making fun of physical/mental disabilities?
Pregnancy: I'm making this a whole topic, because I'm not convinced the writers actually know what being pregnant entails. Lemme just say these girls can handle IMPRESSIVE AMOUNTS of physical exertion for the third trimester. Additionally, the whole thing is just not handled very well. I felt like every few pages, the authors went, "Oh right, she's pregnant! Time to crave some hilariously nasty food combination and whine about her belly!"
The TW I spoiler tagged: Obviously, this is wildly problematic and will be very potentially triggering for some readers. I will give the book credit for at least voicing Elvie's quite righteous anger about this.
Cole: I hates him. Don't care how pretty he is. No. *haaaaaate*
SO! If you managed to slog through all of the above and are thinking, "Seriously, she's whining about this? It's just a book..." you'll probably enjoy it. If you read all of the above and think "I MUST CONSUME THIS MONSTROSITY" you'll probably also enjoy it. Everyone else, I have no idea. Aliens.
(I still hate Cole.)
August 10, 2012
I didn't want to read Mothership. I mean, I might be on a sci-fi kick and all, but a book about pregnant teens? No thanks.
I am notoriously weak-willed when it comes to books.
And fine, it might bother some people that this is a book about pregnant teenagers, some of whom die in kind of gruesome ways. Some of the details of the premise/plot might be a little problematic or bothersome. And to some extent, does bother me. But for once, I was able to turn off the critical, analytic part of my brain.
Because the thing is? Mothership is fun. Elvie Nara is one of the most delightful protagonists I've met in YA literature. She's funny and clever and smart. Really smart, not Mary-Sue-smart-but-actually-too-stupid-to-live smart. She might make some not-so-smart decisions, but she's a problem solver and more than capable of looking out for herself. The supporting characters are also fun and a little-bit out-there, just like Elvie herself.
I also liked Mothership's version of the future. Technology's progressed, but not to the extent where it seems ridiculously advanced. Basically, you can see the precursors of everything in this world in our own, and you can easily imagine that sixty years in the future, things could be looking similar. Maybe sans the school for pregnant girls on an old space cruiser, though.
Truthfully, this is one of the funniest books that I've read, and in a market flooded with "serious" books, Mothership with its purple and neon-pink cover stands out. It's fast-moving with the occasional flashback chapter that doesn't actually break up the novel's pace, and maybe it's not necessarily unpredictable, but there are still some twists and some really funny chapter titles that make this well worth checking out, no matter how embarrassing you might feel the cover or synopsis is. (What? We always judge books by their covers. You know we do.)
The worst thing about this book? The cliffhanger ending. For once, I'm actually bothered by a cliffhanger ending. That should tell you right there how much I adored this book.
hardcover copy from Amazon Vine
I am notoriously weak-willed when it comes to books.
And fine, it might bother some people that this is a book about pregnant teenagers, some of whom die in kind of gruesome ways. Some of the details of the premise/plot might be a little problematic or bothersome. And to some extent, does bother me. But for once, I was able to turn off the critical, analytic part of my brain.
Because the thing is? Mothership is fun. Elvie Nara is one of the most delightful protagonists I've met in YA literature. She's funny and clever and smart. Really smart, not Mary-Sue-smart-but-actually-too-stupid-to-live smart. She might make some not-so-smart decisions, but she's a problem solver and more than capable of looking out for herself. The supporting characters are also fun and a little-bit out-there, just like Elvie herself.
I also liked Mothership's version of the future. Technology's progressed, but not to the extent where it seems ridiculously advanced. Basically, you can see the precursors of everything in this world in our own, and you can easily imagine that sixty years in the future, things could be looking similar. Maybe sans the school for pregnant girls on an old space cruiser, though.
Truthfully, this is one of the funniest books that I've read, and in a market flooded with "serious" books, Mothership with its purple and neon-pink cover stands out. It's fast-moving with the occasional flashback chapter that doesn't actually break up the novel's pace, and maybe it's not necessarily unpredictable, but there are still some twists and some really funny chapter titles that make this well worth checking out, no matter how embarrassing you might feel the cover or synopsis is. (What? We always judge books by their covers. You know we do.)
The worst thing about this book? The cliffhanger ending. For once, I'm actually bothered by a cliffhanger ending. That should tell you right there how much I adored this book.
hardcover copy from Amazon Vine
January 24, 2015
This book is exactly what the cover suggests it is. It’s fluff. The question arises as to whether it’s good or bad fluff and in my opinion, this book is fluff of the good variety. It didn’t always feel that way though. The first 100 pages or so were incredibly painful. I kept questioning the sanity of our main character and my own sanity too for continuing to read a book I wasn't enjoying. The reason I read on, even though I wasn't having a swell time, was because the book was funny. I hoped that the book would get better as I went along and I was right, it did. It got insanely better and I started actually enjoying the book instead of just laughing at the funny parts.
Elvie is our main character and happens to be knocked up. When I first found out about this series, I was intrigued by how the book would deal with teen pregnancy in a sci-fic setting. Worry not though, this book is not serious. It’s pretty goshdarn funny and even if it makes you question whether the author is dealing with an important issue like this with the sensitivity it deserves. Sometimes, you don’t want a deep and moving book! Sometimes you really just want some fluff.
Going back to Elvie though. Elvie is snarky and obviously has mommy issues. This leads to her being detached from her pregnancy and the idea that she is actually having a kid.She calls her fetus goober from pete’s sake. But Elvie is smart, and while she sometimes annoyed me with her slut shamming and her general outlook on some of her other peers, she still managed to be likeable because in spite of everything that had happened to her, she didn’t spend a lot of time moping around. She took action!
Cole on the other hand was an entirely questionable love interest. I despised him for the first 100 pages and questioned Elvie’s sanity for being so head over heels for a doofus for whom she was the ‘other� girl and who bailed the moment he found out about the baby. But we get explanations for his jerk behavior and while they aren’t a 100% satisfying, they brought a much needed explanation as to how someone so smart as Elvie could love a dumbdumb like Cole.
I guess the one thing Cole has going for him is that even though he may not be the brightest bulb, he is loyal and is definitely smarter than he is given credit for. Especially given the way his superiors discredited him. There were moments in their relationship that were adorable and I think what makes their relationship work is that Elvie isn’t with him for his brains, she knows he isn’t super smart, she’s with him because he is sweet and caring (if dense at times).
This book is very fast paced and if I remember correctly, a lot of it takes place over the course of 24 hours. It’s got a lot of action and could be surprisingly brutal at times (meaning not everyone is alive at the end � including a character I had grown to love). I do like how the author paces the book though. It fits what the author is going and he does it just right so that the book never feels rushed. It feels exciting.
This is a fun fluffy book and while it takes a bit to get used to, it is worth it since it’s such a fast-paced cutesy read with a great futuristic setting and a bit of space opera (if it can be classified as such).
Elvie is our main character and happens to be knocked up. When I first found out about this series, I was intrigued by how the book would deal with teen pregnancy in a sci-fic setting. Worry not though, this book is not serious. It’s pretty goshdarn funny and even if it makes you question whether the author is dealing with an important issue like this with the sensitivity it deserves. Sometimes, you don’t want a deep and moving book! Sometimes you really just want some fluff.
Going back to Elvie though. Elvie is snarky and obviously has mommy issues. This leads to her being detached from her pregnancy and the idea that she is actually having a kid.She calls her fetus goober from pete’s sake. But Elvie is smart, and while she sometimes annoyed me with her slut shamming and her general outlook on some of her other peers, she still managed to be likeable because in spite of everything that had happened to her, she didn’t spend a lot of time moping around. She took action!
Cole on the other hand was an entirely questionable love interest. I despised him for the first 100 pages and questioned Elvie’s sanity for being so head over heels for a doofus for whom she was the ‘other� girl and who bailed the moment he found out about the baby. But we get explanations for his jerk behavior and while they aren’t a 100% satisfying, they brought a much needed explanation as to how someone so smart as Elvie could love a dumbdumb like Cole.
I guess the one thing Cole has going for him is that even though he may not be the brightest bulb, he is loyal and is definitely smarter than he is given credit for. Especially given the way his superiors discredited him. There were moments in their relationship that were adorable and I think what makes their relationship work is that Elvie isn’t with him for his brains, she knows he isn’t super smart, she’s with him because he is sweet and caring (if dense at times).
This book is very fast paced and if I remember correctly, a lot of it takes place over the course of 24 hours. It’s got a lot of action and could be surprisingly brutal at times (meaning not everyone is alive at the end � including a character I had grown to love). I do like how the author paces the book though. It fits what the author is going and he does it just right so that the book never feels rushed. It feels exciting.
This is a fun fluffy book and while it takes a bit to get used to, it is worth it since it’s such a fast-paced cutesy read with a great futuristic setting and a bit of space opera (if it can be classified as such).
February 3, 2015
When I was pregnant, I was admitted to the hospital with what I thought were early labor pains. Turns out, I had a kidney stone. Regardless of that, when they admitted me I was given a nice and ugly wristband that declared me a "fall risk." Why? Because a clumsy pregnant woman is not a safe place for a baby who's trying to grow.
And even though I fell once during my pregnancy, it was once. Not enough to harm my baby. The amount of falls that these girls, particularly our main gal, take makes me question the safety of their babes.
So unless these alien babies are super durable inside the womb, there's no way these teen moms can fall as much as they did without incurring some damage. I can force my imagination to reach pretty far, but some of this book is still grounded in realism and that's a fact I can't ignore.
BUT, I know I'm being nitpicky. And all that aside, this book was very delightful and fun to read. Loved the characters, the whole plot; a creative idea!
And even though I fell once during my pregnancy, it was once. Not enough to harm my baby. The amount of falls that these girls, particularly our main gal, take makes me question the safety of their babes.
So unless these alien babies are super durable inside the womb, there's no way these teen moms can fall as much as they did without incurring some damage. I can force my imagination to reach pretty far, but some of this book is still grounded in realism and that's a fact I can't ignore.
BUT, I know I'm being nitpicky. And all that aside, this book was very delightful and fun to read. Loved the characters, the whole plot; a creative idea!
October 24, 2017
This is one of the most bonkers and OTT books I have ever read - and I really enjoyed it! It flings itself wildly from sassy Mean Girls-esque comedy to space battles to horrible deaths, but I think the authors pulled it off well. It would be great to see this as a movie, but I'm not sure if anyone would touch the subject matter... Looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
August 4, 2015
The review is also available on my blog,
I’ll be totally honest, when I started this novel I didn’t have a clue what it was about beyond the vague notion that it would involve aliens. I never read the synopsis. The thought process was simple, I just finished and while it was good, it was a bit of a downer and I wanted to read something uplifting and funny. I saw this little novel up on PulseIt and vaguely remember reading various reviews proclaiming it to be laugh out loud funny, so I thought I’d read it while I had the chance. I’m glad I did. The reviews were right, this book is one of the most original, funny stories I’ve read in a while.
Elvie Nara is in a fairly common situation, she’s knocked up and the father disappeared right after hearing the news. She finally fesses up to her father (who I adore by the way) and she decides that the best thing for her is to enroll her in this new school for pregnant teens make on an abandon party cruiser that is orbiting the earth (which is possible because this book takes place in 2074). Perfect solution, right? WRONG. Everything goes rather smoothly for the first few months, or as smoothly as things can go for an expecting teen mother who’s ex lover also happens to have father a kid with her archnemesis who is stuck in the same floating school and determined to make her life hell, until�..Cue the dramatic music: ALIENS ATTACK! From that point on, Elvie’s world gets turned upside down, which she didn’t think was possible at this point. I can’t really go into detail with the plot after this point because there are too many potential spoilers, but suffice to say that you’ll never see a lot of it coming and you’ll be rolling on the floor laughing if you figure it out. Everything that can go wrong does and Elvie ends up face to face with Cole (aka the father of “Goober�).
I cannot say enough good things about this book. All the character’s were completely perfect. Ducky is an amazing best friend and they could have easily pushed that into love triangle land but thankfully they don’t. Instead of trying to be all Jacob and “I love you and I’m better for you�, Ducky never confesses his love and just supports Elvie in every endeavor, no matter how deranged. Cole was the perfect leading man. He’s hot and dimwitted and completely sincere in his affection for Elvie, though it’s not apparent in the beginning. Then there is Elvie, who though I was irritated with in the beginning, turns out to be a completely badass lovable character. She’s been dealt a shitty hand (though by her own admission, it’s for choices she made) and instead of whining and moping about what could have been and how things should be, she just rolls with the punches makes sarcastic jokes as the goes. Thanks to all her younger years being raised by her father, she is a mechanical genius and that skill comes in rather useful for what’s in store for her. Speaking of her dad, I love him. He’s doesn’t have a huge role in this novel, but the small amount you see of him makes me wanna give the guy a big hug. He’s got a plan for any (well almost any) worst case scenario and when Elvie confesses that she is knocked up, his response isn’t anger, but just acceptance and then he proudly digs out his “teen pregnancy� contingency plan and starts dealing with the current dilemma.
The plot keeps you guessing until the end. Just when you think it’s all over, something else happens. Just when you think they are all doomed, Elvie pulls a new plan out of her ass and saves the day. It’s a delightful read and anyone looking for a kickass novel that will have you snorting for hours, this is your book!
Quotes:
“Ducky seems intent on working on a strictly psychological level. Like sneaking into Britta’s house every morning to swap out her bra with a series of nearly identical brassieres with infinitesimally larger cup sizes, causing her to believe her boobs are shrinking.�
“If anyone can ever find a way to explain to me how carrying around a sack of flour with a diaper on it is supposed to prepare you for motherhood, I will personally bake that person a chocolate cake with my practice baby’s insides.�
I’ll be totally honest, when I started this novel I didn’t have a clue what it was about beyond the vague notion that it would involve aliens. I never read the synopsis. The thought process was simple, I just finished and while it was good, it was a bit of a downer and I wanted to read something uplifting and funny. I saw this little novel up on PulseIt and vaguely remember reading various reviews proclaiming it to be laugh out loud funny, so I thought I’d read it while I had the chance. I’m glad I did. The reviews were right, this book is one of the most original, funny stories I’ve read in a while.
Elvie Nara is in a fairly common situation, she’s knocked up and the father disappeared right after hearing the news. She finally fesses up to her father (who I adore by the way) and she decides that the best thing for her is to enroll her in this new school for pregnant teens make on an abandon party cruiser that is orbiting the earth (which is possible because this book takes place in 2074). Perfect solution, right? WRONG. Everything goes rather smoothly for the first few months, or as smoothly as things can go for an expecting teen mother who’s ex lover also happens to have father a kid with her archnemesis who is stuck in the same floating school and determined to make her life hell, until�..Cue the dramatic music: ALIENS ATTACK! From that point on, Elvie’s world gets turned upside down, which she didn’t think was possible at this point. I can’t really go into detail with the plot after this point because there are too many potential spoilers, but suffice to say that you’ll never see a lot of it coming and you’ll be rolling on the floor laughing if you figure it out. Everything that can go wrong does and Elvie ends up face to face with Cole (aka the father of “Goober�).
I cannot say enough good things about this book. All the character’s were completely perfect. Ducky is an amazing best friend and they could have easily pushed that into love triangle land but thankfully they don’t. Instead of trying to be all Jacob and “I love you and I’m better for you�, Ducky never confesses his love and just supports Elvie in every endeavor, no matter how deranged. Cole was the perfect leading man. He’s hot and dimwitted and completely sincere in his affection for Elvie, though it’s not apparent in the beginning. Then there is Elvie, who though I was irritated with in the beginning, turns out to be a completely badass lovable character. She’s been dealt a shitty hand (though by her own admission, it’s for choices she made) and instead of whining and moping about what could have been and how things should be, she just rolls with the punches makes sarcastic jokes as the goes. Thanks to all her younger years being raised by her father, she is a mechanical genius and that skill comes in rather useful for what’s in store for her. Speaking of her dad, I love him. He’s doesn’t have a huge role in this novel, but the small amount you see of him makes me wanna give the guy a big hug. He’s got a plan for any (well almost any) worst case scenario and when Elvie confesses that she is knocked up, his response isn’t anger, but just acceptance and then he proudly digs out his “teen pregnancy� contingency plan and starts dealing with the current dilemma.
The plot keeps you guessing until the end. Just when you think it’s all over, something else happens. Just when you think they are all doomed, Elvie pulls a new plan out of her ass and saves the day. It’s a delightful read and anyone looking for a kickass novel that will have you snorting for hours, this is your book!
Quotes:
“Ducky seems intent on working on a strictly psychological level. Like sneaking into Britta’s house every morning to swap out her bra with a series of nearly identical brassieres with infinitesimally larger cup sizes, causing her to believe her boobs are shrinking.�
“If anyone can ever find a way to explain to me how carrying around a sack of flour with a diaper on it is supposed to prepare you for motherhood, I will personally bake that person a chocolate cake with my practice baby’s insides.�
July 30, 2012
I can already tell that Mothership is going to be one of those seriously underrated books. Before getting a copy for review I had heard nothing about it and honestly I probably wouldn’t have purchased a copy at the bookstore just based on the summary and cover. Boy am I glad I gave this one a chance though. Mothership is a laugh-out-loud look at teen pregnancy in space. With aliens. Seriously, where could you go wrong?
Elvie is one very unhappy pregnant teenager. When her dad found out she was pregnant he immediately enrolled her in the Hanover School for Expecting Teen Mothers. It seemed like a good plan and things were going okay at the school until the ship was hijacked by some dudes carrying ray guns. One of which just happened to be the father of Elvie’s baby. Yeah, that’s when things got really crazy. The dudes with ray guns have quite a few things to share with the mommies-to-be at the school and oh yeah they have to get off the ship before it crash lands to Earth. No problem, right? Wrong!
Elvie was a total laugh. She is one of the craziest heroines you will ever read about. I mean, she’s a crazy pregnant teenager trapped on a ship in space with the baby daddy who ditched her, some aliens, and her worst enemy. However she never once lets that bring her down. Instead she cracks jokes about everyone and everything. She has an amazing sense of humor and that’s only one of the things I loved about her. She is also really brave (sometimes stupidly so), not afraid to speak her mind, a really good friend, and a good mommy-to-be to the Goober (as she calls the baby.)
The rest of the cast was just as awesome. Britta was the perfect arch-nemesis. Cole was the lovable but totally stupid baby daddy. Ducky was the completely awesome best friend. Ramona was the cynical but lovable pregnant friend. Natty was the completely clueless but hysterical other pregnant friend. Really, the cast was a perfect mix of personalities and I couldn’t help but love them all. Especially Cole. He was such a cute idiot. Even Elvie’s dad was a pretty cool guy.
The plot was edge-of-your-seat suspenseful! It doesn’t take long for things to really take off (get it?) and it’s a pretty non-stop action-packed book. There are explosions, tons of life-or-death situations, and even a few births. Throw in some flashbacks to before Elvie got pregnant and you’ve got pretty much the perfect blend of action, romance, friendship, and suspense. It’s definitely a one-sitting kind of read.
Overall, Mothership is going right to the top of my recommendation list. Full of lovable characters, non-stop action, laugh-out-loud hilarity, and swoon-worthy romance, it’s everything a reader could want in a book. Pick this one up now!
Elvie is one very unhappy pregnant teenager. When her dad found out she was pregnant he immediately enrolled her in the Hanover School for Expecting Teen Mothers. It seemed like a good plan and things were going okay at the school until the ship was hijacked by some dudes carrying ray guns. One of which just happened to be the father of Elvie’s baby. Yeah, that’s when things got really crazy. The dudes with ray guns have quite a few things to share with the mommies-to-be at the school and oh yeah they have to get off the ship before it crash lands to Earth. No problem, right? Wrong!
Elvie was a total laugh. She is one of the craziest heroines you will ever read about. I mean, she’s a crazy pregnant teenager trapped on a ship in space with the baby daddy who ditched her, some aliens, and her worst enemy. However she never once lets that bring her down. Instead she cracks jokes about everyone and everything. She has an amazing sense of humor and that’s only one of the things I loved about her. She is also really brave (sometimes stupidly so), not afraid to speak her mind, a really good friend, and a good mommy-to-be to the Goober (as she calls the baby.)
The rest of the cast was just as awesome. Britta was the perfect arch-nemesis. Cole was the lovable but totally stupid baby daddy. Ducky was the completely awesome best friend. Ramona was the cynical but lovable pregnant friend. Natty was the completely clueless but hysterical other pregnant friend. Really, the cast was a perfect mix of personalities and I couldn’t help but love them all. Especially Cole. He was such a cute idiot. Even Elvie’s dad was a pretty cool guy.
The plot was edge-of-your-seat suspenseful! It doesn’t take long for things to really take off (get it?) and it’s a pretty non-stop action-packed book. There are explosions, tons of life-or-death situations, and even a few births. Throw in some flashbacks to before Elvie got pregnant and you’ve got pretty much the perfect blend of action, romance, friendship, and suspense. It’s definitely a one-sitting kind of read.
Overall, Mothership is going right to the top of my recommendation list. Full of lovable characters, non-stop action, laugh-out-loud hilarity, and swoon-worthy romance, it’s everything a reader could want in a book. Pick this one up now!
April 28, 2024
2024
2020
2019
I bought this in a thrift store because I absolutely loved the cover. I 100% didn't even know what it was about. I didn't read the synopsis. Just bought it completely blind to the story line. And it was one of the best literary decisions I've ever made.
I absolutely love this book.
Elvie is our main character. She is majorly awesome. She is funny, smart, and kick ass. She is the ultimate hero. She does her best to save everyone (even the people she doesn't like). She's always coming up with plans on the fly. She gets a bad guy to monologue until other help arrives. She's genius. And she does all of this while she is pregnant. With an alien baby. In space. Kick ass.
Her choices in her romantic life are slightly questionable. She gets knocked up by the alien Cole. Who is apparently super dreamy cute, but dumber than a box of rocks. His heart is in the right place, though because he does his best to help Elvie even though being with her is a punishable offense with his alien race.
Elvie's dad has taken a place in my Hall of Fame for Fathers. He is hilarious (you can tell where Elvie got her spunk). He has a file cabinet specifically for teenage crisis. And some of them are completely off the wall. He loves and supports his teenage daughter even though she is pregnant. And when he finds out the baby is an alien, he is still super supportive of her decisions. Father Hall of Fame for sure.
Her best friend Ducky is also amazing. He is funny and sweet. He is supportive. He is boyfriend goals, even if Elvie can't see it. I thought he was fully adorable. And I wish he was the one with Elvie instead of Cole (as much as I like Cole, I prefer my leading men to have a brain).
And, we can't forget her pregnant space best friend, Ramona. That girl is also hilarious and definitely has the potential for kick ass. She isn't the main star of the story, of course, so she doesn't have as many opportunities to show off how kick ass she is, but she definitely has potential.
2016
2020
2019
I bought this in a thrift store because I absolutely loved the cover. I 100% didn't even know what it was about. I didn't read the synopsis. Just bought it completely blind to the story line. And it was one of the best literary decisions I've ever made.
I absolutely love this book.
Elvie is our main character. She is majorly awesome. She is funny, smart, and kick ass. She is the ultimate hero. She does her best to save everyone (even the people she doesn't like). She's always coming up with plans on the fly. She gets a bad guy to monologue until other help arrives. She's genius. And she does all of this while she is pregnant. With an alien baby. In space. Kick ass.
Her choices in her romantic life are slightly questionable. She gets knocked up by the alien Cole. Who is apparently super dreamy cute, but dumber than a box of rocks. His heart is in the right place, though because he does his best to help Elvie even though being with her is a punishable offense with his alien race.
Elvie's dad has taken a place in my Hall of Fame for Fathers. He is hilarious (you can tell where Elvie got her spunk). He has a file cabinet specifically for teenage crisis. And some of them are completely off the wall. He loves and supports his teenage daughter even though she is pregnant. And when he finds out the baby is an alien, he is still super supportive of her decisions. Father Hall of Fame for sure.
Her best friend Ducky is also amazing. He is funny and sweet. He is supportive. He is boyfriend goals, even if Elvie can't see it. I thought he was fully adorable. And I wish he was the one with Elvie instead of Cole (as much as I like Cole, I prefer my leading men to have a brain).
And, we can't forget her pregnant space best friend, Ramona. That girl is also hilarious and definitely has the potential for kick ass. She isn't the main star of the story, of course, so she doesn't have as many opportunities to show off how kick ass she is, but she definitely has potential.
2016
Read
July 11, 2012This was such a nice surprise - a very funny sci-fi black comedy (I say black because there is a lot of death). Though Elvie's voice is sometimes a tad too snarky teen, I do have to admit she has some great one-liners. I love how smart and resourceful Elvie is no knocked-up damsel in distress here. I also love the clever plot and great twists. And what a well executed cliffhanger! Looking forward to the next book for sure.
October 18, 2014
I understand that I am not the target audience for the book. One, I'm not a teenager, I'm 25. Two, I've actually been pregnant. Three, I've also gone to school for writing. So maybe it's unfair of me to criticize the pregnancy aspects of the book or the writing itself, since most of the readership won't know how impossibly pregnancy is portrayed, nor will they point out all of the sloppy writing.
So if it isn't written for people who are writer snobs or for anyone that has ever experienced a pregnancy, who is it written for? Teens, I suppose, looking for a laugh and for a bit of romance. Also hot dudes.
If you are looking for those in a book, let me stop you right there and recommend instead the Georgia Nicolson series by . There are ten. Every book has the same plot, but each book guarantees ugly laughter—the kind of laughter that distorts your face and may even bring abdominal pain because you laugh so hard.
HUMOR
This book really isn't very funny. It has some moments (I'll share my favorite lines below), which is why this review is two stars rather than one, but most of the book isn't very funny. Unless you think pregnant teenagers falling down a lot is funny. Or if brutal deaths are funny. Or if pregnancy is funny (which it can be, sometimes). Or fart jokes.
ROMANCE
Cole gets the crown for king of the douchebags. He's more loathsome than any of Jane Austen's villains, he's "dumb as a brick," and he's not even charming. He's hot, apparently, but telling me someone is hot or "chiseled" doesn't convince me, sorry. I'll have to picture it to believe it, and neither author gives me anything to picture. He's very amoeba-like. And yet, Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you...the love interest.
I have to mention also that I have no idea what Cole sees in Elvie. Maybe she's attractive? I don't know. She's smart and is good with cars (oh yes, this novel is full of cliches! As if the text ate at a 24-hour, all-you-can-eat, Vegas buffet of cliches. With the appetite of a pregnant teenager.)...but she is constantly insulting Cole.
So unless your idea of a nice romance is this:
Her: "You're stupid, but hot."
Him: "I'm gonna maybe inseminate you."
Her: "Okay. But you're stupid." [later...] "Oh crap, I'm pregnant."
Him: "Oh crap, you're pregnant." [leaves]
Her: "Hey, it's you again. I am surprised. I'm also still pregnant."
Him: "So I see." [Gives her even more reasons why he's a DB] "Let's get back together."
Her: "I'll think about it. Wait, no I won't. Yes, okay."
...then save your time and read something else.
****SPOILERS BELOW, AS I AM ABOUT TO LIST THE ONLY FUNNY-ISH LINES IN THE NOVEL****
"I'm going to rock the bump for six-and-whatever more months, Lamaze it out in, like, an hour, and some infertile rich couple will adopt the crap out if it."
"Massaging her ankle like she thinks it's going to pay for dinner afterward."
"Archer, you couldn't crap in a bucket of it were strapped to your ass." (I read this out of context to my husband...he took it literally and thought one of the characters was dangerously constipated, which made me laugh more than the original quote.)
"How in orbit did you find me here?" (See what they did there?)
"Captain Bob looks at me with the sort of blank stare you'd give an opossum you just found out could play the ukulele."
Also, the chapter titles are fairly amusing.
****SPOILERY COMMENTS. THESE WILL POSSIBLY RUIN YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THE BOOK****
Flat pics? Should be "Flat flicks." Come on, now.
They've really got all the high school stereotypes covered, haven't they? Slut, smoker/rebel, English nerd, aloof artist, cheerleaders, girl-who-hates-girls, hair chewer, daughter of a single dad who knows about cars, the platonic best friend of the opposite sex that's even named after his Trope...
Captain Bob is the only one I was shipping for in this book, with Elvie or even Ducky. Or Ducky and Ramona, or Captain Bob and Amy.
I'm really bothered by how expendable every character seems to be, and how Elvie doesn't react except by mentioning she was queasy. The emotion in this novel is completely flat.
Cole is stupid and annoying. He kind of reminds me of a high school boyfriend, so I am at least minutely empathizing with Elvie in that we all make mistakes when an attractive guy is involved. But I can't empathize with her for STILL LIKING HIM. Especially after he used the word "accident."
"I chose you." Is that supposed to be romantic? Cole is at the top of the douchebaggery list, IMHO. "I love you so much, I wanted to have a one-night stand with you, knowing it would get you pregnant and that would throw off any short-term plans, since I know you won't be keeping it, but also that would destroy any hope of you ever having a family of your own! I've already done it to one girl I care nothing about! Oh, and then I'm going to leave you. But hey, I'll send you cute texts and even make you giggle after telling you all of this because YOU'RE MESSED UP, TOO."
Chapter 16 is SO BAD and should have just been left out. I have mounds to say on it, all spoilers, but most of all the conversation with her dad about her mom really annoyed me.
"Oh? I didn't tell you? Everything you thought you ever knew about your mom was a LIE. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to drive a car with my head out the window. YOLO!"
So if it isn't written for people who are writer snobs or for anyone that has ever experienced a pregnancy, who is it written for? Teens, I suppose, looking for a laugh and for a bit of romance. Also hot dudes.
If you are looking for those in a book, let me stop you right there and recommend instead the Georgia Nicolson series by . There are ten. Every book has the same plot, but each book guarantees ugly laughter—the kind of laughter that distorts your face and may even bring abdominal pain because you laugh so hard.
HUMOR
This book really isn't very funny. It has some moments (I'll share my favorite lines below), which is why this review is two stars rather than one, but most of the book isn't very funny. Unless you think pregnant teenagers falling down a lot is funny. Or if brutal deaths are funny. Or if pregnancy is funny (which it can be, sometimes). Or fart jokes.
ROMANCE
Cole gets the crown for king of the douchebags. He's more loathsome than any of Jane Austen's villains, he's "dumb as a brick," and he's not even charming. He's hot, apparently, but telling me someone is hot or "chiseled" doesn't convince me, sorry. I'll have to picture it to believe it, and neither author gives me anything to picture. He's very amoeba-like. And yet, Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you...the love interest.
I have to mention also that I have no idea what Cole sees in Elvie. Maybe she's attractive? I don't know. She's smart and is good with cars (oh yes, this novel is full of cliches! As if the text ate at a 24-hour, all-you-can-eat, Vegas buffet of cliches. With the appetite of a pregnant teenager.)...but she is constantly insulting Cole.
So unless your idea of a nice romance is this:
Her: "You're stupid, but hot."
Him: "I'm gonna maybe inseminate you."
Her: "Okay. But you're stupid." [later...] "Oh crap, I'm pregnant."
Him: "Oh crap, you're pregnant." [leaves]
Her: "Hey, it's you again. I am surprised. I'm also still pregnant."
Him: "So I see." [Gives her even more reasons why he's a DB] "Let's get back together."
Her: "I'll think about it. Wait, no I won't. Yes, okay."
...then save your time and read something else.
****SPOILERS BELOW, AS I AM ABOUT TO LIST THE ONLY FUNNY-ISH LINES IN THE NOVEL****
"I'm going to rock the bump for six-and-whatever more months, Lamaze it out in, like, an hour, and some infertile rich couple will adopt the crap out if it."
"Massaging her ankle like she thinks it's going to pay for dinner afterward."
"Archer, you couldn't crap in a bucket of it were strapped to your ass." (I read this out of context to my husband...he took it literally and thought one of the characters was dangerously constipated, which made me laugh more than the original quote.)
"How in orbit did you find me here?" (See what they did there?)
"Captain Bob looks at me with the sort of blank stare you'd give an opossum you just found out could play the ukulele."
Also, the chapter titles are fairly amusing.
****SPOILERY COMMENTS. THESE WILL POSSIBLY RUIN YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THE BOOK****
Flat pics? Should be "Flat flicks." Come on, now.
They've really got all the high school stereotypes covered, haven't they? Slut, smoker/rebel, English nerd, aloof artist, cheerleaders, girl-who-hates-girls, hair chewer, daughter of a single dad who knows about cars, the platonic best friend of the opposite sex that's even named after his Trope...
Captain Bob is the only one I was shipping for in this book, with Elvie or even Ducky. Or Ducky and Ramona, or Captain Bob and Amy.
I'm really bothered by how expendable every character seems to be, and how Elvie doesn't react except by mentioning she was queasy. The emotion in this novel is completely flat.
Cole is stupid and annoying. He kind of reminds me of a high school boyfriend, so I am at least minutely empathizing with Elvie in that we all make mistakes when an attractive guy is involved. But I can't empathize with her for STILL LIKING HIM. Especially after he used the word "accident."
"I chose you." Is that supposed to be romantic? Cole is at the top of the douchebaggery list, IMHO. "I love you so much, I wanted to have a one-night stand with you, knowing it would get you pregnant and that would throw off any short-term plans, since I know you won't be keeping it, but also that would destroy any hope of you ever having a family of your own! I've already done it to one girl I care nothing about! Oh, and then I'm going to leave you. But hey, I'll send you cute texts and even make you giggle after telling you all of this because YOU'RE MESSED UP, TOO."
Chapter 16 is SO BAD and should have just been left out. I have mounds to say on it, all spoilers, but most of all the conversation with her dad about her mom really annoyed me.
"Oh? I didn't tell you? Everything you thought you ever knew about your mom was a LIE. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to drive a car with my head out the window. YOLO!"
June 17, 2020
So silly and enjoyable. A light science fiction future teen space baby romp. A few eye rolling moments, and I am seriously impressed with all the movie references...
Great for Gen Xers looking for a little bit of a science-y type read with alien entertainment and teen snark and drama. lol
Great for Gen Xers looking for a little bit of a science-y type read with alien entertainment and teen snark and drama. lol
October 23, 2012
Did you read the back cover? Sounds kind of crazy, right? Well, it is!
What a treat! Wildly imaginative and inventive, with a smart, no-nonsense heroine with a wise-ass sense of humor. I grinned and chuckled through the whole thing. The story is super original and Elvie's voice is fresh and real. I was hooked from page one and blew through this in a day. This story takes a few teen cliches and dumps them on their ears. (And a few alien cliches, too!) The plot is tight and full of twists, and to top it all off is an "oh, snap!" ending I did not see coming, and that has me salivating for the sequel.
I'm trying to avoid spoilers here, so I'm keeping it short and sweet. I pretty much loved it and I'm recommending it to all of my YA-reading friends. Worried about the teen pregnancy thing? Don't let it throw you off. This is a humorous alien adventure story, but it also has a healthy dose of "See? This is what happens when you have unprotected premarital sex." And there are some more serious moments as Elvie contemplates her future and that of her child. Elvie and Cole make a great team of brains and brawn, but I am bumping down my rating a notch because I would have liked to see their backstory explored a bit more to make their feelings for one another more plausible. But can you really call it a complaint when your only issue is that you wanted more? If you're looking for something smart and sassy and totally new and different in YA, Mothership is it.
4.5 stars
What a treat! Wildly imaginative and inventive, with a smart, no-nonsense heroine with a wise-ass sense of humor. I grinned and chuckled through the whole thing. The story is super original and Elvie's voice is fresh and real. I was hooked from page one and blew through this in a day. This story takes a few teen cliches and dumps them on their ears. (And a few alien cliches, too!) The plot is tight and full of twists, and to top it all off is an "oh, snap!" ending I did not see coming, and that has me salivating for the sequel.
I'm trying to avoid spoilers here, so I'm keeping it short and sweet. I pretty much loved it and I'm recommending it to all of my YA-reading friends. Worried about the teen pregnancy thing? Don't let it throw you off. This is a humorous alien adventure story, but it also has a healthy dose of "See? This is what happens when you have unprotected premarital sex." And there are some more serious moments as Elvie contemplates her future and that of her child. Elvie and Cole make a great team of brains and brawn, but I am bumping down my rating a notch because I would have liked to see their backstory explored a bit more to make their feelings for one another more plausible. But can you really call it a complaint when your only issue is that you wanted more? If you're looking for something smart and sassy and totally new and different in YA, Mothership is it.
4.5 stars
May 15, 2025
Pas mal, pas de gros coup de cœur, mais on s'est bien marrés à découvrir cette génération de filles mises enceintes par des extraterrestres XD
Je comprends cependant que le succès commercial n'ai pas été au rendez-vous en France, c'est trop barré et la thématique des grossesses adolescentes n'est pas très porteuse en littérature ado francophone. Dommage, car c'est une trilogie.
Je comprends cependant que le succès commercial n'ai pas été au rendez-vous en France, c'est trop barré et la thématique des grossesses adolescentes n'est pas très porteuse en littérature ado francophone. Dommage, car c'est une trilogie.
September 10, 2018
3.5 stars?
I enjoyed this book. As my husband said when he recommended it to me: "It isn't going to win any awards, but it'll make you laugh." And I needed some laughter and fun so I picked it up for a quick, light weekend read. It met those requirements.
The first few chapters I wondered what I'd gotten into, but it did pick up and I found myself wanting to know more. The authors created an interesting world.
I enjoyed this book. As my husband said when he recommended it to me: "It isn't going to win any awards, but it'll make you laugh." And I needed some laughter and fun so I picked it up for a quick, light weekend read. It met those requirements.
The first few chapters I wondered what I'd gotten into, but it did pick up and I found myself wanting to know more. The authors created an interesting world.
September 2, 2014
This book was...interesting. Interesting in that it makes you ask the question "If you found out the hot guy in school that you lost your virginity to was really a part of a beefcake alien race that impregnates earth girls with their powerful sperm that overrides the most effective form of birth control to keep their race going would you keep the baby and still love the guy?"
Oh, and you're officially sterile after you have this alien baby, by the way. So this severely limits your choices and you don't even get a warning. About any of this. You just thought you were having sex with the really hot guy in school. And as far as you know he's just a hot earthling boy.
To be honest, I'd probably have to chop his alien manhood off and burn it no matter if he does finally realize that what's going on here is wrong. But life and people are strange.
This could almost be interpreted as a sci-fi series against the stupidity of abstinence only education, but I don't think the authors are really trying to lean on any particular side of the political fence when it comes to family planning.
Some parts of the story are just absurd. Like that James Dean is still alive because he's a part of this practically immortal really hot alien race.
Some parts don't make much sense right now, but might be explained in future books in the series. And some of it is a bit predictable and leans too much on the sappy side of things. But I think I'm looking forward to the next book. It combines seriousness with humor in a way that is engaging, and it makes you want to know what happens next.
UPDATE: There are some problematic things with this book that are nagging me.
These pregnant and soon to be sterile alien incubators seem to be taking it pretty well. I mean, they freaked out when they found out. And they did stand up to these sexy aliens more than once. But after that, they seemed to suffer from a kind of Stockholm Syndrome. It's like after their choices were taken from them they were very "Well, what can we do about it? I have no control over anything now." Their acceptance of their powerlessness bothered me. The only one who seems to have the desire to regain any control over her life is the main character. I guess it streamlines the story but it's something that bothers me.
Speaking of the main character, her main point seems to be that even as a teen mom you can follow your dreams and everything will work out and lalalala. Which is fine for her. She has the support of her dad and her best friend and her baby alien daddy. Far as I can tell, while she may not come from complete wealth and privilege, she isn't living in poverty either. Not to say that being a teen mom isn't difficult for everyone it happens to. But access to resources that help you take life's opportunities and the support of your loved ones makes a big difference here. If it turns out that the entire point of this series is "Everything will be fine in the end and you can make your dreams come true no matter how bad things are." I'm going to be pissed off. If teen pregnancy were only slightly more difficult than not getting pregnant as a teenager, it would never be such a problem in the first place.
I found it interesting that access to more effective birth control and a way to find out your pregnant within 24 hours after sex resulted in more restricted access to an abortion after the first 2 months of pregnancy. Is this birth control/STD vitamin that's as effective as sterilization accessible to all girls/women and incomes? What if your parents are morally opposed to it? How common are back-alley abortions? Are these problems rendered non-existent in this future alternate reality? Those things are never really addressed.
SECOND UPDATE: Also, apparently the aliens who are supposedly the "good aliens" in the story have been on Earth for some time now, and most of them are the reason for major contributions to music, art and science in society. One of the main character's reasons for keeping her alien baby is that she doesn't want to rob the world of the person who might cure cancer or whatever. Here's the thing, even though this alien race is capable of superior intelligence, her alien baby daddy is a moron. He COULD be a genius if he wanted to be. But he's perfectly content with being an idiot. Clearly just because you're destined to be some genius, that doesn't mean you will be. It's the whole the individual vs. the species argument that's a big part of the book, and for some reason using populations of teenage girls as incubators is supposed to help the species. Nope can't see that being bad for society at all.
I don't know how in a book where there are two kinds of aliens intent on impregnating teenagers to continue their race there can be a good team and a bad team, but maybe that will be resolved in the rest of the series. Like at least one of them will think "Even if we're the reason for Mozart, that doesn't mean we should be doing this."
The book is very problematic, but maybe that's what helps make it interesting. I hope some of these issues are addressed as the series continues.
Oh, and you're officially sterile after you have this alien baby, by the way. So this severely limits your choices and you don't even get a warning. About any of this. You just thought you were having sex with the really hot guy in school. And as far as you know he's just a hot earthling boy.
To be honest, I'd probably have to chop his alien manhood off and burn it no matter if he does finally realize that what's going on here is wrong. But life and people are strange.
This could almost be interpreted as a sci-fi series against the stupidity of abstinence only education, but I don't think the authors are really trying to lean on any particular side of the political fence when it comes to family planning.
Some parts of the story are just absurd. Like that James Dean is still alive because he's a part of this practically immortal really hot alien race.
Some parts don't make much sense right now, but might be explained in future books in the series. And some of it is a bit predictable and leans too much on the sappy side of things. But I think I'm looking forward to the next book. It combines seriousness with humor in a way that is engaging, and it makes you want to know what happens next.
UPDATE: There are some problematic things with this book that are nagging me.
These pregnant and soon to be sterile alien incubators seem to be taking it pretty well. I mean, they freaked out when they found out. And they did stand up to these sexy aliens more than once. But after that, they seemed to suffer from a kind of Stockholm Syndrome. It's like after their choices were taken from them they were very "Well, what can we do about it? I have no control over anything now." Their acceptance of their powerlessness bothered me. The only one who seems to have the desire to regain any control over her life is the main character. I guess it streamlines the story but it's something that bothers me.
Speaking of the main character, her main point seems to be that even as a teen mom you can follow your dreams and everything will work out and lalalala. Which is fine for her. She has the support of her dad and her best friend and her baby alien daddy. Far as I can tell, while she may not come from complete wealth and privilege, she isn't living in poverty either. Not to say that being a teen mom isn't difficult for everyone it happens to. But access to resources that help you take life's opportunities and the support of your loved ones makes a big difference here. If it turns out that the entire point of this series is "Everything will be fine in the end and you can make your dreams come true no matter how bad things are." I'm going to be pissed off. If teen pregnancy were only slightly more difficult than not getting pregnant as a teenager, it would never be such a problem in the first place.
I found it interesting that access to more effective birth control and a way to find out your pregnant within 24 hours after sex resulted in more restricted access to an abortion after the first 2 months of pregnancy. Is this birth control/STD vitamin that's as effective as sterilization accessible to all girls/women and incomes? What if your parents are morally opposed to it? How common are back-alley abortions? Are these problems rendered non-existent in this future alternate reality? Those things are never really addressed.
SECOND UPDATE: Also, apparently the aliens who are supposedly the "good aliens" in the story have been on Earth for some time now, and most of them are the reason for major contributions to music, art and science in society. One of the main character's reasons for keeping her alien baby is that she doesn't want to rob the world of the person who might cure cancer or whatever. Here's the thing, even though this alien race is capable of superior intelligence, her alien baby daddy is a moron. He COULD be a genius if he wanted to be. But he's perfectly content with being an idiot. Clearly just because you're destined to be some genius, that doesn't mean you will be. It's the whole the individual vs. the species argument that's a big part of the book, and for some reason using populations of teenage girls as incubators is supposed to help the species. Nope can't see that being bad for society at all.
I don't know how in a book where there are two kinds of aliens intent on impregnating teenagers to continue their race there can be a good team and a bad team, but maybe that will be resolved in the rest of the series. Like at least one of them will think "Even if we're the reason for Mozart, that doesn't mean we should be doing this."
The book is very problematic, but maybe that's what helps make it interesting. I hope some of these issues are addressed as the series continues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2012
To see full review click here:
Disclosure: I used to be a huge fan of Ancient Aliens (i.e. before I went to law school and had to allocate my TV time appropriately). The show was ridiculous on so many levels it was hilarious. Plus, some of the folklore they talked about was sort of cool. So I'm sort of into reading anything about aliens and boy does Mothership have them.
I really, really liked this book. And admittedly it had some faults, but it brightened up what otherwise would've been a very dull week. I think the thing that made me smile about the book the most is it's originality. As previously mentioned I've always had a thing for aliens. Besides watching Ancient Aliens, I was very much into sci-fi when I was a kid. The thing is, usually sci fi takes on such a dark tone. I mean, haven't you seen Independence Day? Spoiler alert: the aliens try to kill all man kind. And while there were some dark parts to this book, there were other parts that just made you want to smile like Elvie. She was a hilarious and snarky main character. I really liked the fact that she was such an action oriented character and for that matter she knew how to fix things. While I might be your stereotypical girl who can't fix a car or tell you what sort of screwdriver to use, Elvie is brilliant when it comes to this sort of thing. And I really like the fact that she breaks these stereotypes.
For that matter, I liked the other characters in the book as well. Nobody was perfect. Even the love interest-who FYI is dumb as a box of rocks. Usually I hate dumb characters, but there was something charming about Cole. Though I personally liked Elvie's best friend Ducky more. Yes, she has a friend named Ducky. And he's just as awesome if not more than his namesake.
Mothership was also a quick read. The writing was clean and things happened throughout the book to keep the reader engaged. I never got bored with this book and that's a good thing. Besides the various maladies that happened on the spaceship, the tone of the book makes it engaging. Leicht and Neal don't take things seriously and that seems to help the book be a success. Honestly, if this book had more of a dramatic tone I wouldn't have liked it as much.
Best Feature: Uniqueness: Lately I've been reading a lot of run of the mill YA books. May it be chick lit, dystopian fare, or a paranormal romance. Mothership is unique because it doesn't fit any of these genres and it doesn't take itself seriously. Plus, I really like the fact that this is a futuristic book but the future is not that different from the present. Okay, so there have been some advancements in technology but it's not like the Earth has transformed overnight like it would've in a lot of other YA futuristic books.
Worst Feature: Science. Okay, as much as I loved this book the logical part of my brain was occasionally screaming at it for some scientific impossibilities. Case in point, running out of oxygen in space. First of all, most people can hold their breath for less than a minute. The whole holding your breath scene lasted about five and their were only two casualties that resulted. Plus, space's temperature is so cold that it would probably kill you within seconds.
Appropriateness: This book deals with teen pregnancy, so if that's not a subject matter you like to read about then I would advise you not to read it. There is some cursing in this book, a very brief sex scene. But nothing extremely graphic.
Disclosure: I used to be a huge fan of Ancient Aliens (i.e. before I went to law school and had to allocate my TV time appropriately). The show was ridiculous on so many levels it was hilarious. Plus, some of the folklore they talked about was sort of cool. So I'm sort of into reading anything about aliens and boy does Mothership have them.
I really, really liked this book. And admittedly it had some faults, but it brightened up what otherwise would've been a very dull week. I think the thing that made me smile about the book the most is it's originality. As previously mentioned I've always had a thing for aliens. Besides watching Ancient Aliens, I was very much into sci-fi when I was a kid. The thing is, usually sci fi takes on such a dark tone. I mean, haven't you seen Independence Day? Spoiler alert: the aliens try to kill all man kind. And while there were some dark parts to this book, there were other parts that just made you want to smile like Elvie. She was a hilarious and snarky main character. I really liked the fact that she was such an action oriented character and for that matter she knew how to fix things. While I might be your stereotypical girl who can't fix a car or tell you what sort of screwdriver to use, Elvie is brilliant when it comes to this sort of thing. And I really like the fact that she breaks these stereotypes.
For that matter, I liked the other characters in the book as well. Nobody was perfect. Even the love interest-who FYI is dumb as a box of rocks. Usually I hate dumb characters, but there was something charming about Cole. Though I personally liked Elvie's best friend Ducky more. Yes, she has a friend named Ducky. And he's just as awesome if not more than his namesake.
Mothership was also a quick read. The writing was clean and things happened throughout the book to keep the reader engaged. I never got bored with this book and that's a good thing. Besides the various maladies that happened on the spaceship, the tone of the book makes it engaging. Leicht and Neal don't take things seriously and that seems to help the book be a success. Honestly, if this book had more of a dramatic tone I wouldn't have liked it as much.
Best Feature: Uniqueness: Lately I've been reading a lot of run of the mill YA books. May it be chick lit, dystopian fare, or a paranormal romance. Mothership is unique because it doesn't fit any of these genres and it doesn't take itself seriously. Plus, I really like the fact that this is a futuristic book but the future is not that different from the present. Okay, so there have been some advancements in technology but it's not like the Earth has transformed overnight like it would've in a lot of other YA futuristic books.
Worst Feature: Science. Okay, as much as I loved this book the logical part of my brain was occasionally screaming at it for some scientific impossibilities. Case in point, running out of oxygen in space. First of all, most people can hold their breath for less than a minute. The whole holding your breath scene lasted about five and their were only two casualties that resulted. Plus, space's temperature is so cold that it would probably kill you within seconds.
Appropriateness: This book deals with teen pregnancy, so if that's not a subject matter you like to read about then I would advise you not to read it. There is some cursing in this book, a very brief sex scene. But nothing extremely graphic.
January 7, 2013
Mothership came highly recommended from a number of highly trustworthy sources, but, I have to admit, I had a healthy dose of skepticism about me ever being able to appreciate it. I mean, it's a book about pregnant teens. I'm not a big fan of anything about pregnancy, let alone with a focus on teenagers. However, Leicht and Neal manage to craft a hilarious, albeit occasionally really gross, story out of the premise of pregnant teens in space.
Though I try not to go too crazy comparing books to other books, since it doesn't tend to reflect well on either of them, I ust have to here. Mothership reminds me heavily of Libba Bray's Beauty Queens in the style of the humor, only, instead of beauty queens stuck on an island, we have pregnant teens on a spaceship. I didn't like this one quite so well, but I think that if you liked Beauty Queens, you will definitely appreciate this and vice versa.
The best part of the book is definitely the humor, which Leicht and Neal keep up throughout. Elvie, the MC, has plenty of sarcasm and makes lots of hilarious observations. On top of that, the whole situation, and Elvie herself, are patently ridiculous, adding additional layers of laughs. There will definitely be a few moments that will make all but the most determinedly grim chuckle out loud. There's a wide variety of comedic styles, varying from potty humor to nerd jokes to irony, so Mothership is pretty much bound to tickle your funny bone one way or another.
The whole pregnancy angle is handled quite well, I think. Though it's obviously a main theme and they do not gloss over it, there isn't so much focus on pregnancy that I couldn't handle it. I mean, there's discussion of birthing and the consideration of the baby bump, but the humor and Elvie's wandering mind keeps things from getting to bogged down in baby drama. Also, just because the girls are pregnant doesn't mean they're completely useless, which was nice.
The reason I didn't like this book more than I did is the characters. They're funny and highly entertaining, sure, but I really don't like any of them. Elvie's probably the best of the lot, in that she's the only one to really have any depth of character, in that, despite the fact that she talks and acts like an airhead most of the time, she's really quite bright. Ducky and Ramona were my favorites, but they, like everyone else, really don't ever emerge from stereotype status. Britta was the worst by far, always remaining the classic mean girl airhead, and never showing the slightest glimmer of uniqueness. Cole, too, is completely unlikable to me, but he's not treated as such by the author, which is frustrating. This doesn't detract from the entertainment of the novel, but kept me from loving it.
The ending sets up the next book nicely, but I do think it was a bit ridiculous, even within the context of this universe. While I cannot explain in detail because of spoilers, I think one of the twists at the end, regarding Elvie's baby, does not make any sense plotwise. There is absolutely no reason for things to have gone down the way they did, except to make things happier.
If you're looking for a book to make you laugh, a nice break from dark contemporaries and dystopian drama, then Mothership is a perfect choice. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, because you can always use more laughter in your life.
3.5/5
Though I try not to go too crazy comparing books to other books, since it doesn't tend to reflect well on either of them, I ust have to here. Mothership reminds me heavily of Libba Bray's Beauty Queens in the style of the humor, only, instead of beauty queens stuck on an island, we have pregnant teens on a spaceship. I didn't like this one quite so well, but I think that if you liked Beauty Queens, you will definitely appreciate this and vice versa.
The best part of the book is definitely the humor, which Leicht and Neal keep up throughout. Elvie, the MC, has plenty of sarcasm and makes lots of hilarious observations. On top of that, the whole situation, and Elvie herself, are patently ridiculous, adding additional layers of laughs. There will definitely be a few moments that will make all but the most determinedly grim chuckle out loud. There's a wide variety of comedic styles, varying from potty humor to nerd jokes to irony, so Mothership is pretty much bound to tickle your funny bone one way or another.
The whole pregnancy angle is handled quite well, I think. Though it's obviously a main theme and they do not gloss over it, there isn't so much focus on pregnancy that I couldn't handle it. I mean, there's discussion of birthing and the consideration of the baby bump, but the humor and Elvie's wandering mind keeps things from getting to bogged down in baby drama. Also, just because the girls are pregnant doesn't mean they're completely useless, which was nice.
The reason I didn't like this book more than I did is the characters. They're funny and highly entertaining, sure, but I really don't like any of them. Elvie's probably the best of the lot, in that she's the only one to really have any depth of character, in that, despite the fact that she talks and acts like an airhead most of the time, she's really quite bright. Ducky and Ramona were my favorites, but they, like everyone else, really don't ever emerge from stereotype status. Britta was the worst by far, always remaining the classic mean girl airhead, and never showing the slightest glimmer of uniqueness. Cole, too, is completely unlikable to me, but he's not treated as such by the author, which is frustrating. This doesn't detract from the entertainment of the novel, but kept me from loving it.
The ending sets up the next book nicely, but I do think it was a bit ridiculous, even within the context of this universe. While I cannot explain in detail because of spoilers, I think one of the twists at the end, regarding Elvie's baby, does not make any sense plotwise. There is absolutely no reason for things to have gone down the way they did, except to make things happier.
If you're looking for a book to make you laugh, a nice break from dark contemporaries and dystopian drama, then Mothership is a perfect choice. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, because you can always use more laughter in your life.
3.5/5
January 6, 2015
Sixteen-year-old Elvie made a big mistake. She slept with her big crush Cole and ended up pregnant. When she told Cole, he hightailed it out of town. Elvie's single father can't deal with the situation, and he sends her off to a school for unwed mothers on a cruiseliner spaceship that's orbiting Earth. Things aren't too bad in outer space, if Elvie can ignore her late pregnancy discomfort and the presence of her nemesis (and rival for Cole's affection) Britta. Then one day, armed commandos storm the ship, and to Elvie's great surprise, Cole is one of them. He claims that her teachers are all aliens and that she and the other girls are in danger. What's a pregnant teen to do?
Mothership is a hilarious, fast-paced, futuristic adventure. Most of the present-day action takes place over the course of one day, and there's never a dull moment. There are also a number of flashback chapters that explain how Elvie ended up in these circumstances. The best part of the flashbacks is the presence of Elvie's best friend Duckie, who is completely awesome.
Elvie is a great character. She's tough, smart, and very sarcastic. Some girls would be overwhelmed at the thought of being 8 months pregnant, dealing with their ex, having to help save their fellow students, and avoiding the barbs of their nemesis, but Elvie takes it all in stride. She knows she made a big mistake in getting pregnant, but she's determined to get on with her life, which includes big plans to join NASA and help with terraforming new planets. Unfortunately, Elvie being so cool only highlighted Cole's shortcomings. He's the sort of hot but dumb guy that a smart girl might crush on in high school, but would probably be bored by once she got to college. He's sweet, but he just doesn't seem cool or interesting enough for Elvie, and he's nowhere near as entertaining as Duckie.
Despite these shortcomings in the romantic lead, I really enjoyed Mothership. I'm looking forward to the sequel, especially because the authors throw in a very unexpected twist at the end of the book.
I received an ARC from Amazon Vine.
Mothership is a hilarious, fast-paced, futuristic adventure. Most of the present-day action takes place over the course of one day, and there's never a dull moment. There are also a number of flashback chapters that explain how Elvie ended up in these circumstances. The best part of the flashbacks is the presence of Elvie's best friend Duckie, who is completely awesome.
Elvie is a great character. She's tough, smart, and very sarcastic. Some girls would be overwhelmed at the thought of being 8 months pregnant, dealing with their ex, having to help save their fellow students, and avoiding the barbs of their nemesis, but Elvie takes it all in stride. She knows she made a big mistake in getting pregnant, but she's determined to get on with her life, which includes big plans to join NASA and help with terraforming new planets. Unfortunately, Elvie being so cool only highlighted Cole's shortcomings. He's the sort of hot but dumb guy that a smart girl might crush on in high school, but would probably be bored by once she got to college. He's sweet, but he just doesn't seem cool or interesting enough for Elvie, and he's nowhere near as entertaining as Duckie.
Despite these shortcomings in the romantic lead, I really enjoyed Mothership. I'm looking forward to the sequel, especially because the authors throw in a very unexpected twist at the end of the book.
I received an ARC from Amazon Vine.
August 12, 2012
This is the most fun read I have had in a long time. Mothership is listed as YA but it is really for all ages. It is book One of the Ever Expanding Universe but what is expanding the most is the baby bumps each of the girls are sporting. So we have a Science Fiction book about pregnant teenagers. This should be a serious topic but the twist the authors put on why and how they ended up where they are is what is so unusual.
There are serious moments and a lot of danger in the story. Elvie Nara is the main character in the book and she is a Jill of all trades. Her father made sure she knows how to fix almost anything and that skill is what saves lives when everything starts to go bad.
Elvie reminds me a little of Kitty Katt, Gini Koch’s character in her Alien books. Elvie has a solution for everything, is the leader when danger arrives and like Kitty has a very smart mouth. The two main males in her life are very different. Ducky has been her friend for most of her life and offers her as much support as he can when she is sent to school located in space and he is on Earth. Cole, father of her baby bump, is part of the rescue mission that arrives at the school (No one knew they needed rescuing). You don’t want to like him but he does grow on you as the book progresses. There are some good secondary characters. Elvie’s Father is wonderful and when you get to know him you understand how Elvie’s mind works.
The writing is great, the plot is fun and the characters are marvelous. What more could you want is a book?
I go this book from Amazon Vine and I can’t wait for the next one. The ending of Mothership is a cliffhanger but like the rest of the book it is not one anyone would have expected. Hurry up book two.
There are serious moments and a lot of danger in the story. Elvie Nara is the main character in the book and she is a Jill of all trades. Her father made sure she knows how to fix almost anything and that skill is what saves lives when everything starts to go bad.
Elvie reminds me a little of Kitty Katt, Gini Koch’s character in her Alien books. Elvie has a solution for everything, is the leader when danger arrives and like Kitty has a very smart mouth. The two main males in her life are very different. Ducky has been her friend for most of her life and offers her as much support as he can when she is sent to school located in space and he is on Earth. Cole, father of her baby bump, is part of the rescue mission that arrives at the school (No one knew they needed rescuing). You don’t want to like him but he does grow on you as the book progresses. There are some good secondary characters. Elvie’s Father is wonderful and when you get to know him you understand how Elvie’s mind works.
The writing is great, the plot is fun and the characters are marvelous. What more could you want is a book?
I go this book from Amazon Vine and I can’t wait for the next one. The ending of Mothership is a cliffhanger but like the rest of the book it is not one anyone would have expected. Hurry up book two.
July 11, 2012
MOTHERSHIP is a fresh and hilarious debut that is full of fun times, crazy experiences, and aliens galore! If the teen pregnancy story line makes you hesitant about it, let me tell you, there is so much more to the book than that.The science fiction aspect is engaging and readers will be fascinated by the concepts the authors introduce. So don't balk when you see pregnancy in the synopsis! Take a chance and I know you'll find yourself surprised by how much you love it.
Our heroine Elvie will have you laughing so hard that you won't be able breathe! Her one liners are in abundance, and I loved her ability to make light of a situation, no matter how dreary. She has some serious spunk and doesn't let mean words phase her. Her ability to take charge in dire situations is enviable and I would definitely want to have her on my side if I got into trouble.
The plot was definitely not at all what I was expecting, but in a good way. I thought it would focus on Elvie and her pregnancy woes in outer space, but it was so much more than that. It's about discovery, love, and learning to deal with some not-so-ideal situations. The sci-fi aspect was the best part and I was surprised to learn what I did. Readers won't expect what's coming!
MOTHERSHIP is one of my most surprising reads of the year. I was intrigued by its plot from the beginning, but I wasn't expecting to love it near as much as I did. I can't believe there isn't more buzz around MOTHERSHIP because there definitely should be. I'm looking forward to more in this series and I have no doubt that the next books will be just as good!
Our heroine Elvie will have you laughing so hard that you won't be able breathe! Her one liners are in abundance, and I loved her ability to make light of a situation, no matter how dreary. She has some serious spunk and doesn't let mean words phase her. Her ability to take charge in dire situations is enviable and I would definitely want to have her on my side if I got into trouble.
The plot was definitely not at all what I was expecting, but in a good way. I thought it would focus on Elvie and her pregnancy woes in outer space, but it was so much more than that. It's about discovery, love, and learning to deal with some not-so-ideal situations. The sci-fi aspect was the best part and I was surprised to learn what I did. Readers won't expect what's coming!
MOTHERSHIP is one of my most surprising reads of the year. I was intrigued by its plot from the beginning, but I wasn't expecting to love it near as much as I did. I can't believe there isn't more buzz around MOTHERSHIP because there definitely should be. I'm looking forward to more in this series and I have no doubt that the next books will be just as good!
October 22, 2012
Ok, here’s a synopsis for you: Pregnant teens in space discover they’re actually incubators for alien fetuses and the aliens are coming to claim them! Madness and mayhem ensue�
Elvie decides to attend a special school/center for pregnant teens in space (technically, in orbit around Earth) when she discovers she is pregnant. And in the midst of pre-natal and high school classes, the center is attacked by aliens. Actually, the school is also run by aliens, but that’s something you’ll discover along the way as the plot unfolds. Elvie is a smart, independent girl, and she has no intention of being bullied by a bunch of dreamy alien dudes. So, until she figures out exactly what’s going on, she’s going to look out for herself and the other girls.
Funny and slightly off-color, with a gutsy, lovable heroine, this should tickle your funny bone � especially if you’re a fan of Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray (this has a similar sense of humor and style). This is the first book in the new Ever-Expanding Universe series, and it’s a great series opener � complete in and of itself, but with an intriguing hook that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next volume. Some offensive language.
Excerpt:
As I hurdle down the garbage chute, a lot of things should be racing through my mind. Instead my only thought is, Way to go, Elvie.
I am often incredibly sarcastic when addressing myself.
Really, I try to reason, I had no alternative. I didn’t want to knock poor Cole’s stupid lights out, but neither could I sit idly by and let my destiny be decided by warring factions of extraterrestrial hotties. (p. 234)
Elvie decides to attend a special school/center for pregnant teens in space (technically, in orbit around Earth) when she discovers she is pregnant. And in the midst of pre-natal and high school classes, the center is attacked by aliens. Actually, the school is also run by aliens, but that’s something you’ll discover along the way as the plot unfolds. Elvie is a smart, independent girl, and she has no intention of being bullied by a bunch of dreamy alien dudes. So, until she figures out exactly what’s going on, she’s going to look out for herself and the other girls.
Funny and slightly off-color, with a gutsy, lovable heroine, this should tickle your funny bone � especially if you’re a fan of Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray (this has a similar sense of humor and style). This is the first book in the new Ever-Expanding Universe series, and it’s a great series opener � complete in and of itself, but with an intriguing hook that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next volume. Some offensive language.
Excerpt:
As I hurdle down the garbage chute, a lot of things should be racing through my mind. Instead my only thought is, Way to go, Elvie.
I am often incredibly sarcastic when addressing myself.
Really, I try to reason, I had no alternative. I didn’t want to knock poor Cole’s stupid lights out, but neither could I sit idly by and let my destiny be decided by warring factions of extraterrestrial hotties. (p. 234)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2012
Teen fic; pregnant teens battle aliens in space (humor/romance). This is what should've been like--I respect Libba Bray, but why did she hafta go about trying to redeem her ridiculous characters one by one, in the most boring ways possible? The authors here instead just go for the laughs, and it delivers. Note to parents/teachers: there is some swearing in here, but it stops just short of printing the f-word. Potentially more sticky than the language is the issue of abortion/choice, although the fetuses in this case turn out to be alien parasites that only look like humans--not actually humans at all. Predictably, Elvie decides to keep hers, knowing full well that the baby will grow up to be extremely good-looking and talented as well (joining the ranks of other alien geniuses as Mozart and James Dean), even if (most likely) she'll be rendered infertile in the process of giving birth. My other issue with the story was that her love interest, Cole, is awfully skeezy (intentionally impregnating 2 teens girls with his alien spawn, knowing full well they're not wanting to be moms yet--Elvie, at least, is on the pill--and that they won't be able to have kids of their own afterward) and definitely not deserving to be forgiven so easily. But we'll have to see what happens to Elvie and Cole (and Britta) in the next book(s).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2016
A novel with a fun premise and breezy prose. While I wasn't in love with it, mostly because I got tired of the protagonist and her teenage-isms after awhile, I did enjoy it--especially the latter half, which I felt moved along at a much more appropriate pace for a pulpy sci-fi novel about pregnant teens in space than the beginning.
The characters are pretty cookie-cutter (bitchy cheerleaders, the weird art kid, and so on) and it read like a high school flick in space, which it is, so take that how you will. There's a blurb on the back calling this a mash-up of Juno and Alien, but in book form, which I think is going a little far, but it'll give you an idea of what you've got in your hands with this one.
By far, the most impressive thing about this book was how well the authors layered their reveals. They played their cards just right, so that the plot continually thickened without giving the reader information overload at any point. I was impressed with the pacing of the revelations about the aliens.
Less impressive were the aliens themselves, who go around impregnating and making barren human women to propagate their species, but justify it because the alien babies contribute to our society with art and politics. And those were the good ones.
If you like quick, light sci-fi reads about pregnant teens in space and weird, morally-dubious aliens, this should be right up your alley. And if it turns out that I'm wrong, it shouldn't take you long to finish anyways.
The characters are pretty cookie-cutter (bitchy cheerleaders, the weird art kid, and so on) and it read like a high school flick in space, which it is, so take that how you will. There's a blurb on the back calling this a mash-up of Juno and Alien, but in book form, which I think is going a little far, but it'll give you an idea of what you've got in your hands with this one.
By far, the most impressive thing about this book was how well the authors layered their reveals. They played their cards just right, so that the plot continually thickened without giving the reader information overload at any point. I was impressed with the pacing of the revelations about the aliens.
Less impressive were the aliens themselves, who go around impregnating and making barren human women to propagate their species, but justify it because the alien babies contribute to our society with art and politics. And those were the good ones.
If you like quick, light sci-fi reads about pregnant teens in space and weird, morally-dubious aliens, this should be right up your alley. And if it turns out that I'm wrong, it shouldn't take you long to finish anyways.
October 7, 2012
OVERALL IMPRESSION: The book didn't pull me in as much as I wanted it to. I really like the idea of the story, as there aren't many YA books about aliens out on the market, but I had a hard time connecting with the plot and the characters. There is a little bit of humor added throughout the book which lightens the mood a little bit and the chapter titles are pretty entertaining.
The ending -- AHH! I immedieatly checked online to see if/when the sequel is coming out. Good news -- there is a sequal, but no word that I could find on when it is coming out. I was leaning towards a 2.5/5 stars for this book, but the ending made me bump it up to 3 stars. I can't wait to see where the authors are going to go with the story.
CHARACTERS: I didn't really feel a connection with any of the characters in the book. I feel like I didn't get to learn enough about them. I guess my favorite would be Ducky. He is Elvie's (the main character) best friend. He truely seems to care about Elvie and wants to protect her. Cole is the father of Elvie's baby. I didn't see the appeal that he had over Elvie. I just didn't care baout him. He tries to be sweet, but I don't see how any of the choices he makes are okay in Elvie's eyes.
COVER: I love it! It doesn't get better than pink and purple! It's super vibrant and girly.
*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.
The ending -- AHH! I immedieatly checked online to see if/when the sequel is coming out. Good news -- there is a sequal, but no word that I could find on when it is coming out. I was leaning towards a 2.5/5 stars for this book, but the ending made me bump it up to 3 stars. I can't wait to see where the authors are going to go with the story.
CHARACTERS: I didn't really feel a connection with any of the characters in the book. I feel like I didn't get to learn enough about them. I guess my favorite would be Ducky. He is Elvie's (the main character) best friend. He truely seems to care about Elvie and wants to protect her. Cole is the father of Elvie's baby. I didn't see the appeal that he had over Elvie. I just didn't care baout him. He tries to be sweet, but I don't see how any of the choices he makes are okay in Elvie's eyes.
COVER: I love it! It doesn't get better than pink and purple! It's super vibrant and girly.
*I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine for review.
January 1, 2013
When Elvie Nora finds herself knocked up at sixteen with an absent baby daddy she had a big decision to to make. Set in a futuristic America where girls who are sixteen and pregnant don't end up on MTV, instead they have the option of a attending a special school that is rotating the plant on a space cruse lined that is no longer being used. While orbiting the planet with forty-some-odd other pregnant teens, the school is raided by helmeted commandos and the teachers start trying to drown the girls in the school pool. Turns out the teachers are aliens with a nefarious plan for all those babies. To complicate matters, when the helmets come off of the would be rescuers, one turns out to be Elvie's missing baby daddy, and he got more that one bun in the over on the cruse ship.
The novel, the first in the new Ever-Expanding Universe series, is both ridiculous and hilarious. It's the perfect combination of comedy, action, science-fiction, and romance; A true treat for young nerd girls everywhere. And as far as female heroins go, Elvie is a wonderful example for young girls. She is intelligent, cunning, brave, and decisive. I cannot wait until book two is published.
The novel, the first in the new Ever-Expanding Universe series, is both ridiculous and hilarious. It's the perfect combination of comedy, action, science-fiction, and romance; A true treat for young nerd girls everywhere. And as far as female heroins go, Elvie is a wonderful example for young girls. She is intelligent, cunning, brave, and decisive. I cannot wait until book two is published.
May 12, 2014
I was looking for something light-hearted and amusing when I decided to read this book. I’d just finished reading an intense dystopian and needed something to lighten my mood. I was a bit leery at first since “Mothership� is about a group of pregnant teenagers sent to live in a decommissioned space cruiser that’s been turned into a high school for expectant mothers. Despite my initial reservations, I decided to hold back all judgements until I actually read the book.
Well, I’m glad to announce “Mothership� certainly manages to lighten the mood ;p. Parts of the book were definitely cheesy, but I really enjoyed Elvie’s sarcasm. There were some great action-packed scenes, which was awesome. I thought the flashbacks were a bit tedious, but I suppose they were a necessary evil. As of right now though, I don’t intend on reading the rest of the series.
Well, I’m glad to announce “Mothership� certainly manages to lighten the mood ;p. Parts of the book were definitely cheesy, but I really enjoyed Elvie’s sarcasm. There were some great action-packed scenes, which was awesome. I thought the flashbacks were a bit tedious, but I suppose they were a necessary evil. As of right now though, I don’t intend on reading the rest of the series.
July 21, 2015
Independent Bookshops rule! I asked for a recommendation and Mothership got handed to me. I don’t think I ever would have picked it up myself. Neither the blurb or cover would have called to me but I enjoyed this � a lot.
Elvie is stuck in a school for expectant teen mum along with the one girl she loathes, which is bad enough. They’re in space, with a shoddy connection to Earth so Elvie doesn’t get to talk to her best friend that much and then the ship gets boarded by aliens.
Mothership is a lot of fun, basically because Elvie’s narration is so brilliant. She’s an excellent character. I was cheering her on from the moment she manipulated the vending machine into giving her that disgusting sounding pudding.
If you’re after a book to entertain you, makes you laugh, provides some good line-liners while ducking alien’s then Mothership is for you. Enjoy the space ride, it’s fun!
Elvie is stuck in a school for expectant teen mum along with the one girl she loathes, which is bad enough. They’re in space, with a shoddy connection to Earth so Elvie doesn’t get to talk to her best friend that much and then the ship gets boarded by aliens.
Mothership is a lot of fun, basically because Elvie’s narration is so brilliant. She’s an excellent character. I was cheering her on from the moment she manipulated the vending machine into giving her that disgusting sounding pudding.
If you’re after a book to entertain you, makes you laugh, provides some good line-liners while ducking alien’s then Mothership is for you. Enjoy the space ride, it’s fun!
March 8, 2015
Sometimes you just need a cross between Juno and Starship Troopers. This book somehow manages to be light and fluffy even though it kills off a ton of (inconsequential) characters, has TONS of action, and involves teen pregnancy. It's nice to read a book about teen pregnancy that isn't all doom and gloom and depressing.
There's nothing really WRONG with this book that brings it down from four stars -- it's just not really the kind of book I gravitate towards? I can think of tons of teens I'd give it to -- especially girls who tend to read boarding school/drama type books -- this would be a great intro to sci-fi for teens who are stuck in that rut. Entertaining and fun.
There's nothing really WRONG with this book that brings it down from four stars -- it's just not really the kind of book I gravitate towards? I can think of tons of teens I'd give it to -- especially girls who tend to read boarding school/drama type books -- this would be a great intro to sci-fi for teens who are stuck in that rut. Entertaining and fun.
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July 27, 2013Graded By: Jenny
Cover Story: Love It!
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Snarky McSnarkerson
Bonus Factors: Boarding School IN SPACE, Duckie
Anti-Bonus Factors: Danger Befalling Pregnant Persons
Relationship Status: Blink Me
Read the full book report .
Cover Story: Love It!
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Snarky McSnarkerson
Bonus Factors: Boarding School IN SPACE, Duckie
Anti-Bonus Factors: Danger Befalling Pregnant Persons
Relationship Status: Blink Me
Read the full book report .
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