Awards Received
SHORTLISTED: KPMG CHILDREN'S BOOKS IRELAND AWARDS 2024
SHORTLISTED: AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS: SPECSAVERS CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR (SENIOR)
LONGLISTED: REDBRIDGE TEENAGE BOOK AWARD 2024
- Description
- Praise
- Bonus Content
- About the Author
- Reader Reviews
From the award-winning author of
The Wordsmith/The List
"Dad’s words were playing in my head but I couldn’t quite process them. The second dose will eradicate all human life. That’s what he’d said."
A gripping high-concept speculative fiction novel from the
award-winning author of The Wordsmith
Bank Street Best Children's Books 2024
Nobody can ever know Aria’s secret: she has human DNA.
Raised on Planet Terros, Aria was taught to hate humans and their destructive ways.
But when she is sent to release a deadly virus and end the failed human experiment, Aria realises everything she thought she knew about Earth was a lie.
The mission goes wrong. And now dark forces from Aria’s past are out to destroy her.
"What a phenomenal read and one of my books of the year for sure ... Stunning storytelling – a whole universe of emotions condensed into a sharp, intoxicating and thrilling adventure ... a solid, superbly written imagining that casts a light on how we live our lives ... Arresting, thought provoking and fresh." – Eve McDonnell, author of The Chestnut Roaster
"And what a book it is, a beautifully written, gripping, twisty science fiction novel set in the near future that examines what it means to be human." – Sarah Webb, Irish Independent
"An unmissable, thrilling sci-fi short read." – Irish Independent
"An adventure full of suspense." – The Sunday Times
"The most casual reader of science fiction, young or old, can snuggle cozily into the arms of this novel." – The New York Times
"Suspenseful and thought-provoking." – Kirkus Reviews
"This is a compelling, high impact story that subtly presents many current issues; a thrilling adventure that manages to highlight issues such as climate change and the destructive nature of humans. The Girl Who Fell to Earth is fast paced and engaging, an easy read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!" – ReadingZone
"...there’s plenty of excitement and food for thought here." – Books for Keeps
"Forde deftly weaves social topics like climate change, racism, and identity into a sci-fi/psychological thriller that will keep the pages turning until the end." – Children's Literature
"It’s a page-turner." – Connacht Tribune
"Another gripping fantasy adventure from Forde." – The Meath Chronicle
"Readers of 10+ who enjoy socially themed science fiction and fantasy will gulp this down." – Just Imagine
"Wow! Just…wow! ... a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat-type adventure; thought-provoking, heartfelt, oddly beautiful and very timely. Simply amazing." – Fallen Star Stories
"A great mix of reality and fantasy resulting in a wonderful heartfelt page turner." – Independent Book Reviews
"I couldn't put this book down ... If you're in a reading slump, this is a great one to get you back into it." – Posies Book Club
"I would recommend this book to anyone who likes aliens mystery and adventure because this book has lots of hidden secrets." – Bot's Bookshelf
"Since most readers will be humans, they'll quickly connect with and root for the victims in this book." – YA Books Central
"There are many social issues addressed here, but deep down this is an action/adventure/sci-fi story with twist and turns that raises interesting questions, and emphasizes interpersonal relationships." – Puget Sound Council for Reviewing Children's and Young Adult Literature
"This is a great book for students who enjoy a little science fiction, action, and some drama thrown into the mix." – NetGalley Educator
"This book is such a great concept! I loved everything about it. In fact- I didn't want it to end. I want to know more and have so many questions." – NetGalley Educator, 5 star review
"This is a book I would recommend to teachers and librarians teaching specifically the genre of science fiction. It asks the big moral and ethical questions that science fiction traditionally asks of its readers in a story that is accessible to middle grade readers." – NetGalley Librarian
"It was really well done!" – NetGalley Reviewer
Patricia Forde is from Galway, on the west coast of Ireland. She is the 2023-2026 Laureate na nÓg (Ireland's Children's Literature Laureate). Her first novel The Wordsmith was published to great critical acclaim in 2015. It has since been published in the United States, Australia, Denmark, Russia, Turkey and the Netherlands. It has won a White Raven Award from the International Youth Library, is an American Library Association Notable Book for Children in the United States, and was shortlisted for the Children’s Book of the Year Award in Ireland. In 2018 Patricia wrote Bumpfizzle the Best on Planet Earth, which was chosen as the Dublin UNESCO Citywide Read 2019.
Description
From the award-winning author of
The Wordsmith/The List
"Dad’s words were playing in my head but I couldn’t quite process them. The second dose will eradicate all human life. That’s what he’d said."
A gripping high-concept speculative fiction novel from the
award-winning author of The Wordsmith
Bank Street Best Children's Books 2024
Nobody can ever know Aria’s secret: she has human DNA.
Raised on Planet Terros, Aria was taught to hate humans and their destructive ways.
But when she is sent to release a deadly virus and end the failed human experiment, Aria realises everything she thought she knew about Earth was a lie.
The mission goes wrong. And now dark forces from Aria’s past are out to destroy her.
Praise
"What a phenomenal read and one of my books of the year for sure ... Stunning storytelling – a whole universe of emotions condensed into a sharp, intoxicating and thrilling adventure ... a solid, superbly written imagining that casts a light on how we live our lives ... Arresting, thought provoking and fresh." – Eve McDonnell, author of The Chestnut Roaster
"And what a book it is, a beautifully written, gripping, twisty science fiction novel set in the near future that examines what it means to be human." – Sarah Webb, Irish Independent
"An unmissable, thrilling sci-fi short read." – Irish Independent
"An adventure full of suspense." – The Sunday Times
"The most casual reader of science fiction, young or old, can snuggle cozily into the arms of this novel." – The New York Times
"Suspenseful and thought-provoking." – Kirkus Reviews
"This is a compelling, high impact story that subtly presents many current issues; a thrilling adventure that manages to highlight issues such as climate change and the destructive nature of humans. The Girl Who Fell to Earth is fast paced and engaging, an easy read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!" – ReadingZone
"...there’s plenty of excitement and food for thought here." – Books for Keeps
"Forde deftly weaves social topics like climate change, racism, and identity into a sci-fi/psychological thriller that will keep the pages turning until the end." – Children's Literature
"It’s a page-turner." – Connacht Tribune
"Another gripping fantasy adventure from Forde." – The Meath Chronicle
"Readers of 10+ who enjoy socially themed science fiction and fantasy will gulp this down." – Just Imagine
"Wow! Just…wow! ... a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat-type adventure; thought-provoking, heartfelt, oddly beautiful and very timely. Simply amazing." – Fallen Star Stories
"A great mix of reality and fantasy resulting in a wonderful heartfelt page turner." – Independent Book Reviews
"I couldn't put this book down ... If you're in a reading slump, this is a great one to get you back into it." – Posies Book Club
"I would recommend this book to anyone who likes aliens mystery and adventure because this book has lots of hidden secrets." – Bot's Bookshelf
"Since most readers will be humans, they'll quickly connect with and root for the victims in this book." – YA Books Central
"There are many social issues addressed here, but deep down this is an action/adventure/sci-fi story with twist and turns that raises interesting questions, and emphasizes interpersonal relationships." – Puget Sound Council for Reviewing Children's and Young Adult Literature
"This is a great book for students who enjoy a little science fiction, action, and some drama thrown into the mix." – NetGalley Educator
"This book is such a great concept! I loved everything about it. In fact- I didn't want it to end. I want to know more and have so many questions." – NetGalley Educator, 5 star review
"This is a book I would recommend to teachers and librarians teaching specifically the genre of science fiction. It asks the big moral and ethical questions that science fiction traditionally asks of its readers in a story that is accessible to middle grade readers." – NetGalley Librarian
"It was really well done!" – NetGalley Reviewer
Bonus Content
About the Author
Patricia Forde
Patricia Forde is from Galway, on the west coast of Ireland. She is the 2023-2026 Laureate na nÓg (Ireland's Children's Literature Laureate). Her first novel The Wordsmith was published to great critical acclaim in 2015. It has since been published in the United States, Australia, Denmark, Russia, Turkey and the Netherlands. It has won a White Raven Award from the International Youth Library, is an American Library Association Notable Book for Children in the United States, and was shortlisted for the Children’s Book of the Year Award in Ireland. In 2018 Patricia wrote Bumpfizzle the Best on Planet Earth, which was chosen as the Dublin UNESCO Citywide Read 2019.
