Hobbs, Will. Go big or go home.

HOBBS, Will. Go big or go home. HarperCollins. 192p. c2008. 978-0-06-074141-9. $15.99. J

It's lucky 14-year-old Brady is outside stargazing just at the moment when a meteorite crashes through the roof of his home in the Black Hills of South Dakota and lands right on his bed. When he and

his cousin Quinn take the meteorite, which they name "Fred," to a local professor, they learn it's a rare rock from Mars. Even more exciting, it turns out to have bacteria on it: proof of extraterrestrial life. Brady and Quinn have always been into sports, the more extreme the better, but now Brady suddenly has almost superhuman speed and strength. He even vaults over a charging buffalo to save a small child, but then his super skills start to fade and he begins to experience numbness in his limbs. While the two boys are exploring a cave Brady almost falls into a pit, and then he finds himself unable to move, seemingly dead. Could Fred really be a threat to humanity?

This fast-moving tale by an author known for exciting survival stories, like The Maze and Jackie's Wild Seattle, is full of sports action, from basketball to biking and fishing. While the characters and plot are more sketched out than fully developed, the premise is intriguing and adventure fans will appreciate all the boys' escapades. Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.