Little Green Men at the Mercury Inn

Beach culture and UFOs collide in this lighthearted adventure story about an alien encounter at an aging Cocoa Beach motel.
Twelve-year-old Aidan lives and works at his parents' motel on the Space Coast in Florida, so he's seen a lot of weird stuff. Even his best friend, Louis, is a little bit crazy—he's obsessed with UFOs and swears he saw one two years ago. But things at the Mercury Inn are about to get a whole lot weirder. When an actual unidentified flying object suddenly appears in the sky over the motel, Aidan begins to realize that some of the residents of the Mercury Inn may be much more unusual than he thought. And Louis might not be so crazy after all. Filled with quirky characters and atmosphere, this beachy alien caper, like the aging motel where it takes place, is anything but ordinary.

“. . . a gentle liftoff on the alien invasion concept.” —BCCB

“Spot cartoon art with a retro space-age feel work well with the wacky characters and situations in this enjoyably beach-y sci-fi escape.” —The Horn Book

“The quirky setting and diverse characters add originality . . . An accessible and whimsical read.” —School Library Journal

“Twelve-year-old Aidan's life at his family's motel gets a whole lot more interesting when aliens arrive.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Arnold's skillfully drafted spot cartoons give this offbeat story a lively layout and match Smith's light and breezy ton, grounded by the occasional serious moment.” —Publishers Weekly