In this sci-fi book by local author Stephen Wallenfels, the threat of an impending alien attack looms over the Earth in the form of big, gigantic spinning balls. This story is told from two different viewpoints: a 12-year-old girl trapped in a parking garage with someone even more dangerous than the alien space balls that are spinning outside, and a boy trapped in his house with his compulsive father, not knowing if they will survive each other. The spinning black balls in the sky (which some have nicknamed PODs, for Pearls of Death) will kill anyone stupid enough to go outside, simply zapping them to death.

This novel is full of surprises and makes you wonder what these PODs really are. It is set in Prosser, Washington and Los Angeles, California. The most interesting part of Stephen Wallenfels' novel is that it isn't just about the aliens; it's about humans' conflict with other humans during the time of an alien threat.

With a teenage boy trapped with his father in a house without power, internet, or television, it really brings up the question of how the modern world has given us "needs" (such as electricity and television) that we won't be able to let go of now if we lost them. It might drive some people insane.

Although I was reluctant to read this book at first because of its odd plot line, once I started to read the pages turned faster than the winds of a hurricane. I read it in school (where I was supposed to be learning), and I read it while walking to class (where I was supposed to be walking.) With a suspenseful plot-line, some horror mixed in with humor, and a HUGE lot of sci-fi, this is the perfect novel for people who love a good alien-attack sort of novel, like War of the Worlds. I read this book in a couple of days, and it's a good, kind-of-short read.

Stephen Wallenfels is married to an elementary school librarian and is currently working on an adult version of POD and I can't wait to see what it's like. I expect more great things from this author!