‘A
cleverly plotted mix of fantasy, family drama, and cultural debate.
Highly recommended!
A
‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review: www.thewsa.co.uk
When I first saw the cover of
this novel by J Smith, I thought it was going to be a typical
fantasy. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a bit of magic. But I was
still delighted to find it was much more than that. Yes, there are
fantasy elements, but it's also a drama, and, most importantly, it
looks at a number of cultural and political topics.
In terms of the plot, it's the
story of Baput and his family who, upon visiting the Holy Cave, end
up being transported to a different planet – Earth. Indeed, they
end up on a pomegranate farm in California! Taken in by a family
who understands how difficult it can be to be outsiders, they end
up exploring many different
topics including - and this is directly from the blurb now -
religion vs. science; theocracy vs. democracy; women's rights;
racism; otherization; castigation and the shocking psychological
effects of living in a world with no otherwhere.
I must say, I very much enjoyed
the novel. It's in no way a ‘Pow! Pow!’ fantasy adventure, and that
is, in many ways, its strength. Character-led and written by an
author who's not frightened of having her characters discuss
difficult topics...
In LOOK’N UP INVASION, there's
fantasy and the ever threat of invading predators, but that's not
what it's about. The fantasy is simply a tool for developing a
better understanding of empathy and the many other moral topics
that pop up in the story. And I, for one, thought it to be
enthralling.
Review by Katie Bloomer, Book Trib:
Be
prepared for all of your expectations about science fiction and
fantasy to be subverted in Janice
Carr Smith’s debut novel, Look’N
Up Invasion. The cast of heroes is an alien race of
pomegranate farmers adapting to — and trying to save — a strange
new world.
Very
much a character study, Smith’s characters remain humble farmers as
their worldviews are changed by the people they meet. This fantasy
is at once thrilling and thought-provoking, exploring real-world
issues of racism and sexism, religion and theocracy — all while
tackling the impending threat of alien monsters.
Every
three years, on the first day of the pomegranate harvest, the
small, stone-age village of Nauve is attacked by deadly flying
creatures: the nimblies and bumblies. 12-year-old Baput — a native
Nauvian with their signature green skin and blackish-purple hair —
is only three years away from taking over his grandfather’s place
as leader. That is, until his grandfather, the Akash, accidentally
sends Baput and his family through a portal to another
world.
Baput
and his family of five — mom, dad, grandpa and uncle, plus the
family dog — find themselves on the lush pomegranate fields of the
Look’N Up Ranch in California. But instead of facing federal agents
with guns, the family is met by the Musiks, who welcome the
strange-looking aliens and provide them with shelter and
work.
Baput
quickly befriends the Musik’s 12-year-old son Jerry. Jerry is a
stubborn boy who likes to be right, and when he directly points out
how the Nauvian religion contradicts science, Baput’s worldview is
shattered. But eventually, after much internal battle, Baput is
slowly won over by the young scientist. This, of course, angers the
Akash; but the old man continues to weaken on Earth, both
physically and mentally, and Baput finds himself questioning his
grandpa’s authority and everything his people have been taught. By
the end, Baput discovers a deeply rooted secret that blows the
Nauvian religion wide open.
Tensions continue
to rise when the group discovers some nimblies and bumblies were
transported to Earth with them. A race begins to prevent the
creatures from awakening before the next three-year cycle. But if
they must fight the buzzing creatures, the Nauvians might not be
able to make it through the portal and return home. However, they
start to question whether or not they really want to go
home.
Entertaining and
Enlightening
Look’N Up Invasion is a
one-of-a-kind story with a unique culture built into it. The
Nauvians’ cultural and religious background was thoroughly
explained in an entertaining way, often through the family’s
tradition of dynamic oral storytelling.
Look’N Up Invasion takes a
modern and unique approach to the sci-fi genre as it tackles a
complex array of themes, most notably the concepts of empathy
amidst cultural diversity. There are clear parallels between the
Nauvian family and immigrant workers, especially near the end when
issues of hatred and bigotry arise. The Musiks, however, had a very
empathetic worldview thanks to their family background. “It was the
Look’N Up Way to try and imagine what the other person was
feeling.”
Jerry’s mother,
Francine, often reminded her family of the Look’N Up Way when
interacting with the Nauvian’s more “primitive” culture, especially
when it came to their more rigid definitions of gender roles. Smith
showed an expert touch in her treatment of womanhood throughout the
book; though all the women varied greatly across cultures — some
domestic caretakers, others breadwinners — they were all deemed
valid and no less worthy of respect.
All
the characters in Look’N
Up Invasion are thoroughly explored. The Akash is a
particularly interesting character; readers witness a powerful
leader dwindle into a feeble old man, at once a sort of villain and
also a sympathetic character. “He
is the past. Let him pass,” Baput
thinks to himself. “You
must bring the rest of your family into the
future.”
Look’N Up Invasion is a
fascinating work that is both entertaining and enlightening.
Readers will marvel at the unique world-building and complex
character developments — and perhaps, walk away with a little more
empathy for others.
Star Review by: Aaron Washington
,
Hollywood Book
Reviews
Look ‘N Up Invasion is a thrilling book with lots of plot
twists, drama, and action. The author transports the reader to a
different world; a world where only your survival instincts can
save you. In author Janice Carr Smith’s world, every creature is
determined to live, and has an uncanny survival instinct so as to
continue to exist. I particularly like how the author introduces
the major characters to the reader by getting straight into the
action.
We are introduced to Baput, an ambitious young man whose future
is bright. Baput is meant to take over after his grandfather leaves
the throne. Like any ambitious lad, Baput gets to prepare for the
future. Being from their village means they are prone to war;
battle erupts even before Baput can take over from his grandfather
Akash. The shrewd ruler, Akash shields his family from the war by
taking them to the holy cave. Here he found an old weapon that may
shift some things. The weapon is magical, and Akash’s family soon
find themselves in a farm in California. I loved the transition
from the cave to California, as the author’s vivid description and
detailed narration made the reader visualize the events. California
was different, and Baput and Akash had to adjust to the worst.
The storyline flows perfectly, and the reader gets to enjoy each
character. Jerry Musik, another heir, is among my favorite
characters. Jerry’s family had a gene of deformity, though the
young lad was lucky to be spared from the eye defect. I loved it
when Jerry’s family and Baput’s family joined forces. The reader
could see the similarities and differences between the two
families, and how distinctive each character was. The sense of
community and belonging displayed by patriarchs of families was
incredible. When following individual characters, the reader is
able to connect with at least one trait in them. The aggressive
characters were interesting as they show how physical strength and
wit is critical in everyone’s survival.
Look ‘N Up Invasion was not just a compelling read, but also
educational. From the storyline, we get themes such as loyalty,
love, family, friendship, diverse cultures, invasions, human
rights, the place of women in society, and also religion. I
appreciate the author for making religion a huge part if the plot,
as it is natural for living beings to subscribe to some faith or
god. I also admired the debates which arise from these themes;
debates such as what is more powerful between religion and science,
what is better between democracy and theocracy, and also the
contentious issues like racism.
I recommend Look ‘N Up Invasion to readers who enjoy drama
filled thrillers and sci-fi. The sense of humor by the author is
out of this world, and the drama incredible. I like that with
Janice Carr Smith’s writing, you get to choose your hero and not
rely on the author to select heroes and villains for the reader.
Most of the main characters have a balance between their strong
sides and weaknesses, and that makes them fascinating.
Pacific
Book Review by: Christina
Avina
It is often said that in order for someone to truly understand
what another person is going through, one must be willing to walk a
mile in their shoes, or in broader terms, they must be willing to
live through life the way the other person has. Only by doing this
can someone truly make a judgement call on the importance and value
of another’s opinions. In a world such as ours, filled with
disconnect and lines drawn in the sand throughout our society,
being able to understand one another and leave judgement behind is
someone not only to value, but that is needed for our society to
move forward.
In author Janice Carr Smith’s Look ’N Up Invasion: An Exercise
in Empathy, the author explores this concept through the meeting of
two families. When a young twelve-year-old child on a far-off world
nears his destiny to become the ruler of their known universe, his
world is attacked in the latest 3-year cycle of attacks by deadly
creatures who mean his people doom. Leading the boy and their
family to a Holy Cave believed to house an ancient weapon, the
current leader discovers instead the weapon is a means of
transportation, and the family is left stranded on Earth in
California. As the family is taken in by another family,
Pomegranate farmers and ranch owners, the two families must learn
from one another what life is like not only for the other, but
tackle important themes before the predators make their way through
the portal and attack an unsuspecting Earth.
The author does an amazing job of both world building and
character development in this narrative. The mythos surrounding
Baput and his people, as well as the dividing line between them and
the people of Earth were brilliantly explored in this book, and the
imagery in the author’s writing style really allowed this story to
thrive and grow. The intensity and drama surrounding the families
as their differences begin to grow, and the reality of both
mindsets, good and bad, allowed the story to thrive and grow.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy genre fiction, in
particular those that enjoy a young adult, sci-fi and fantasy
driven drama that also explores complex moral questions. The themes
of this story really became the heart of the novel, as the story
tested ideas such as religion vs. science, theocracy vs. democracy,
women’s rights, racism and more. The physical threats that the
characters face is expertly woven into the moral and psychological
trauma that each face as their worlds grow.
At the
heart of this book’s core, the story quickly becomes a
coming-of-age story that showcases the hardships and struggles that
young people, in this case two young boys, must endure and the
harsh lessons that life teaches us far too often as we grow.
Thought-provoking, thrilling, and entertaining, author Janice Carr
Smith’s Look N’ Up Invasion: An Exercise in Empathy is a must-read
genre fiction narrative that readers won’t be able to put down. The
twists and turns in the narrative, including the shocking ending,
will showcase the importance of learning from one another and
recognizing our differences while finding new ways to come together
united and end the judgement we reserve for those different from
us.
