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The Experiment by Rebecca Stead

Book

The Experiment

Rebecca Stead

Feiwel & Friends · Print & ebook · September 16, 2025

Reading lane: Alien Contact

A Middle Grade pick for readers exploring The Experiment.

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Earthbound Questions

A fast-moving coming-of-age story pairs an otherworldly secret with questions about identity and change.

Come here for

  • A sixth-grader’s unusual family secret and a situation that starts to unravel
  • Science-fiction intrigue with the pull of an intimate growing-up story

Expect

  • A brisk, twist-filled read
  • Room to wonder who you are—and whether you can change

Book Details

Authors
Rebecca Stead
Publisher
Feiwel & Friends
Published
September 16, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Alien Contact · Inventions & Inventors
Reading lane
Alien Contact

Affinity

Publisher Categories

  • Mysteries & Detective Stories

  • Magic & Fantasy

  • Alien Contact

About This Book

"Many twists await in this fast-moving and optimistic story by one of today’s most inventive writers for readers ages 8-12." -- The Wall Street Journal From the Newbery Medalist and national-bestselling author Rebecca Stead, here is a bold story that will appeal to fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The First State of Being. 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 a...

Read full description

"Many twists await in this fast-moving and optimistic story by one of today’s most inventive writers for readers ages 8-12." -- The Wall Street Journal From the Newbery Medalist and national-bestselling author Rebecca Stead, here is a bold story that will appeal to fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The First State of Being. 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 that asks universal questions about how we figure out who we want to be, and whether it’s ever too late to change.

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