The Experiment

Ages 8 to 12

From Newbery Medalist and New York Times-bestselling author of When You Reach Me, comes a stunning story about family, friendship, and cosmic identity. Perfect for fans of A Wrinkle in Time.

Nathan wants to help his people, but first he has to figure out who they are.

Nathan never understood what was "fun" about secrets, probably because he’s always had to keep a very big one.

Although he appears to be a typical sixth-grader (with parents, homework and a best friend, Victor), Nathan learned at an early age that his family is from another planet. Now, their time on Earth may be coming to an end.

Nathan, his parents and nine other families are part of an experiment that suddenly seems to be going wrong. Some of the experimenters, including Nathan's first crush, Izzy, are disappearing without a word. After his family is called back to the mothership, Nathan begins to question everything he’s been taught to believe about who he is and why he's on Earth.

The Experiment is a fast-paced coming-of-age novel - with aliens - that asks universal questions about how we figure out who we want to be, and whether it’s ever too late to change.

About the Author

Rebecca Stead is the New York Times–bestselling author of When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy, First Light, Goodbye Stranger, The Lost Library (a national bestseller) and Bob (with Wendy Mass), and The List of Things That Will Not Change. Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Fiction, and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Rebecca lives in New York City, where she is always on the lookout for her next story idea. rebeccasteadbooks.com