Let's Hear It For The Boys - Alienation by Jon S Lewis

Published: January 3rd, 2012

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 288

Copy: Courtesy of Netgalley and publisher

Summary: Goodreads

The invasion was only the beginning . . .

After his parents were killed in a car accident, Colt McAllister was drawn into a world he thought only existed in comic books-one where mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles don't even scratch the surface.

Along with his best friends Oz and Danielle, Colt is now training at the secret Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural academy. But strange accidents seem to follow him. . . even with the security of the school grounds. What first seems random soon turns deadly. But who is targeting Colt?

As the alien invasions increase in frequency and force, C.H.A.O.S resources are taxed to the limit and they're forced to utilize the new recruits. In the midst of battle, Colt will discover some startling revelations . . . about himself, his friendship with Oz, and why he has been chosen to defeat this alien attack against earth.

'Alienation' is the 2nd volume in the C.H.A.O.S. series and as far as I'm concerned it fully lived up to it's potential.  The first volume 'Invasion' came out in Jan 2011 - see my review HERE, and I was very enthusiatic about it.  Alienation definitely did not disappoint.  Colt, Danielle and Oz are all set to join the CHAOS academy, but it would be just too much to hope that their arrival would go without complications. 

Without giving away too much there are lots of new gadgets, including hoverboards and simulators, more intriguing aliens and the action never really stops.  The best way I can think to describe this enjoyable story is a comic book without pictures.  The words paint the pictures this time.  It was like everyone's favourite comic book characters and situations are all rolled into one exciting and engrossing package.  It's a fairly quick read and it's more than suitable for younger teens, be they male or female - Danielle is definitely the brains of the bunch. We find out a little more about the characters' backgrounds and there are some very surprising twists, that for me anyway, were totally unexpected.  All in all lots of fun and highly recommended.

Let's Hear It for the Boys - Invasion by Jon S Lewis

Published: January 2011

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 321

Copy: Bought

Summary: Goodreads

Colt McAllister is drawn into a war against things he thought only existed in comic books.


After a car wreck takes the lives of his parents, Colt moves to Arizona to stay with his grandfather. There, an informant tells him that his parents were actually murdered because his mom, a journalist, was getting ready to write a story exposing Trident Industries.


Along with Oz and Danielle, his new comrades at Chandler High, Colt vows to uncover the truth. But the more they learn, the more bizarre reality becomes. Mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles only scratch the surface of what they discover.


Colt is recruited by a secret organization called the Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural. But the battle isn't just against an out-of-control giant corporation. A gateway to another world is opening, and the invasion has already begun.


I really enjoyed reading this title - it was lots of fun and fairly quick to read.  It was a bit like reading a comic book, without the pictures!  The story references comics about the 'Phantom Flyer' and through the course of the story, we discover that the stories are based on the truth. Cue the nasty aliens and the huge corporation run by bad guys trying to over take the world - which is only one of twelve that can be reached through portals.

The protagonists are Colt McAllister - I just love that name - Danielle and Oz, with a little bit of Lily thrown in, and the adults in the story are really just bad guys or background noise.  There is some romance, but just a very little - no triangles in sight! Colt and Oz are the children of CHAOS operatives - think otherworldly spies with amazing James Bond type gadgets - and are recruited to become the next generation of operatives.  There's lots of car chases, wild weapons, explosions and killing of aliens. It was just so much fun.  Everything ties up very nicely, and the whole story was a wonderful introduction into the world of CHAOS.  It looks as though there's more fun to come with a second volume due out in January 2012.

This was a very clean read, that is more than suitable for younger teens.  It's violent, but not on a really nasty scale, and the romance really is quite minimal.  A great title for guys, and for any girls who like comic books or video games - or just good books.