We’re Not From Here by Geoff Rodkey
Reading level: ages 8 and up/Gr.3-Gr.7
When the human species has destroyed planet Earth and the space station on Mars is running low on supplies, where are you supposed to go?
In Geoff Rodkey’s We’re Not From Here, there is hope of immigration for the human species on Planet Choom. A multi-species planet where the Zhuri (who look like giant mosquitoes) are the ones in charge. At first, the Zhuri invite the Humans to live on Choom, however, during the sixty trillion mile-long trip from Mars to Choom, the government has changed hands and now they no longer want to let the humans live there. That’s where Lan Milfune and their family come in as a test family to convince the residents of Choom that humans should be allowed to move there.
This book uses a different planet, with different species, with a different government to comment on the political climate here on Earth. Most notably, the ongoing immigration crisis in the U.S. and worldwide—this novel shows the emotional and physical toll it takes on a person when they are not wanted in the only place they are able to find safety and home, and it does so in a way that is clear and easy for young readers to understand. Rodkey also brings attention to TV bias and propaganda, and government control over people’s emotions and restrictions on art, like music and comedy.
We’re Not From Here is more than a space adventure story. It encourages its reader to look at planet Earth a little more critically and to question the powers that be. Though tackling serious topics, this book still has lots of humour and heart. Lan is a very compelling character, and their voice carries the reader through the story in an engaging and relatable way. I would recommend it to anyone who likes space, adventure, music, comedy, or the pursuit of finding a place to call home.