Part of the The Area 51 Files Series

Friend or UFO

Paperback

Grades 3–7
Ages 8–12

Sky and her friends tackle their biggest mystery yet—the discovery of Area 52!—in the third installment of this laugh-out-loud, highly illustrated middle grade series by New York Times bestselling author Julie Buxbaum, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu.

Sky’s life in Area 51 is full of surprises. Like the fact that aliens are real—and now one is her best friend! But the biggest surprise yet comes when Sky learns that her grandmother has been kidnapped and is stuck in Area 52, the only other alien portal on Earth. Even more bananas? Her grandma has been an undercover FBAI agent for YEARS. Like Sky’s whole entire life. How could Sky not have known her grandma had a secret identity?

Uncle Anish says to leave this whole mess to him. For reals this time. The kids just have to hang tight. Spoiler alert: The kids do not, and will never, hang tight.

There’s just one problem: No one knows the location of Area 52. In order to solve this mystery and save Sky’s grandma, Sky and her friends will have to solve a series of secret puzzles and codes, traverse the Area 51 library for clues, break into FBAI headquarters, and more. But someone doesn’t want Sky to solve this mystery, and they’ve got their eyes on her…

ISBN 9780593429570 (Paperback)
Published on Apr 15, 2025
Published by Yearling
Pages 288
Dimensions 5-3/16 x 7-5/8
Age Range 8-12 years
Grade Grades 3-7
Reading Level Lexile: 730L | Fountas/Pinnell: U

ISBN 9780593429549 (Hardcover)
Published on Apr 16, 2024
Published by Delacorte Press
Pages 272
Dimensions 5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Age Range 8-12 years
Grade Grades 3-7
Reading Level Lexile: 730L | Fountas/Pinnell: U

ISBN 9780593429563 (Ebook)
Published on Apr 16, 2024
Published by Delacorte Press
Pages 256
Age Range 8-12 years
Grade Grades 3-7
Reading Level Lexile: 730L | Fountas/Pinnell: U

ISBN 9780593795286 (Audiobook Download)
Published on Apr 16, 2024
Published by Listening Library
Age Range 8-12 years
Grade Grades 3-7
Reading Level Lexile: 730L | Fountas/Pinnell: U

Julie Buxbaum

JULIE BUXBAUM is the author of the What to Say Next, as well as the New York Times bestseller Tell Me Three Things, her debut young adult novel. She also wrote the critically acclaimed The Opposite of Love and After You. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two young children.

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Friend or UFO

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