From the mind of Murr from the Impractical Jokers comes the second book in the hilarious and action-packed series about a world of bizarre creatures, wacky gadgets, and four kid interns at the most interesting place on Earth: Area 51!

After saving their parents from an alien attack and becoming official interns at Area 51, Viv Harlow and her friends Charlotte, Ray, and Elijah are ready to keep taking down bad guys and helping test all the fun high-tech gadgets. Instead, they all get put on filing duty (bo-ring!) and kept away from the real action. When Elijah discovers a secret Forbidden Zone hidden away on the base, the group jumps at the chance to explore the new place, only to learn it's home to some of the most elusive creatures on Earth. But after the Yeti, Loch Ness Monster, and more terrifying monsters escape, they'll have to prove themselves to their parents and capture the beasts to save the base!

The debut middle-grade series from Murr of the Impractical Jokers and co-author Carsen Smith, Area 51 Interns is filled with enough high-tech hijinks, strange creatures, and laugh-out-loud humor (plus an extra color insert full of gadgets) to make even cryptid skeptics hooked for more!

Last week Viv, Charlotte, Ray and Elijah saved Area 51 and their parents. This week, as summer interns, they are copying old files. It looks like it will be a boring rest of the summer but then they find a map with a “Forbidden Zone”.  Before they can decide if they are going to explore a new teen joins them, Joanna, an Einstein Fellow, who is working at Area 51 for the summer.  Using the map they all sneak down, way down lots and lots of stairs, to the Forbidden Zone where they find all sorts of creatures they believed were myths.  Thinking they managed to explore without being caught they return to the upper levels for a group meal and Game Night - an Area 51 activity where adults use inventions to combat each other with the loser falling into a huge swimming pool.  A jealous Viv takes on Joanna and loses which does not improve her mood. But then, late that night, Charlotte calls Viv from Area 51 because some of the creatures in the Forbidden Zone have escaped. Sneaking out, Viv uses her mom’s self-driving car to pick up Elijah, Ray and Joanna but when they get to the base they find Charlotte and her mother who knows they went to the Forbidden Zone, believes Charlotte went back and let the creatures out and is now expecting the kids to clean up the mess she believes they made.  As the kids set out to capture the Yeti, the chupacabra and the Loch Ness Monster Viv finds herself fighting both a frightening monster and her jealousy of Joanna as well as  trying to keep secret the powers she discovered she got from alien DNA. As even more and more creatures escape and overrun Area 51 it is beginning to look like someone is out to sabotage the base.

This second book is just as enjoyable as the first.  The kids have normal kid insecurities while also being able to rise to the occasion.  There is the beginning of addressing the ethics of holding the different life forms captive in a way that kids can relate to and maybe start thinking about. I look forward to finding the third book which is due out early next year. Recommended for young readers and the young at heart. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

For more titles by James S Murray click here
For more titles by Carsen Smith click here