Daniel Babka

Editorial Reviews

"In its serious treatment of boys forging lifelong bonds as they work together toward a common cause, this novella recalls Stephen King's The Body (which became the movie Stand By Me). While the plot deals with some fantastical elements, the exciting premonitions and search for aliens almost pale in comparison to the poignancy of Ben's coming-of-age story. Over this fateful summer, Ben starts to question the world that previous generations are leaving him and the decisions they made to create this world. When Ben and his friends make a pact to protect the ones they love, they also show a level of compassion and openness that gives insight into what kind of future they would like and eventually strive to create."
--The U S Review of Books (review by Sarah Poulette)

"...evokes the spirit of a more evolved and enlightened "Huckleberry Finn" in this plain-spoken treatment of the human condition lovingly wrapped in a fierce friendship. Babka's open heart pulses through every sentence of this coming-of-age story...making the reader visually present, infusing a relentless page-turning interest in the unfolding...A joy of a journey. A joy of a read."
-- Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte. Pushcart Prize Nominee, Author, Betrayal On The Bayou

"...A small-town Ohio boy on the cusp of manhood grapples with the loss of childhood security in the Atomic Age. In this Spielberg-esque tale, 13-year-old Ben and his friends discover injustice -- and a call to action from an unexpected source. Reminds me of Super 8, Stranger Things, and the like with its clearly drawn mood and setting."
-- Amy Rogers, MD, PhD, Harvard educated, Editor, Author of Petroplague & science-themed thriller novels

"...It's a chaotic time for the U.S. in 1960...There are no dull moments in the book since I was continously seeing something new and thought provoking...Daniel's imaginative, lyrical language had me anticipating each new simile and amusing comment...Lightning Bugs And Aliens had me deeply engaged because I couldn't wait to find out if the protagonists saw aliens and what they were like. I loved the powerful discussions about our influence on the planet and the environment our future generations will meet. The book's clever blend of interesting sci-fi elements, rich historical stories, suspenseful parts, and artistic prose delivers a mind-blowing, exhilarating experience."
-- San Francisco Book Review (Foluso Falaye, Reviewer & Author)

"In Babka's speculative, historical, middle-grade novella, a life-changing event leads a boy to pursue a better future for humankind...There's been talk about the threat of atomic bombs, with duck-and-cover drills in school becoming commonplace...the boy's imaginations start to run wild and eventually lead them to formulate a plan to try and find aliens in Twinsburg...Babka ably expresses what small-town life is like, and how easily hysteria, and a lack of transparency about major events, can set young minds on grand and potentially dangerous adventures. The author doesn't shy away from showing the reality of racial segregation...he's clearly passionate about the town, its residents, and the period, and provides lots of details in his world-building...A somewhat overstuffed coming-of-age tale, but one with plenty of heart."
-- Kirkus Reviews

And From Readers: mentions and more echoed comparisons to Huckleberry Finn, Robert McCammon’s classic coming of age Boy’s Life, Stephen King’s Stand By Me,
and an old-fashioned personal narrative style reminiscent of William Saroyan’s work, and Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird who reported on the inequities of his small town as a how-it-was, leaving readers to have their own opinions... people from very different circumstances who talk about how the story drew them back to amazingly similar childhoods full of life and inventive ideas not inspired by video games.

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Purchase at Amazon	This Is A Positive, Inclusive, Life-Affirming Book For Ages 10 To Adult "During the summer of 1960, five imaginative, adventurous 13-year-olds, free from computers, cell phones and social media, suddenly must grapple with the loss of childhood security in this small Ohio town, first person, coming-of-age story. A tsunami of science fiction movies, Cold War paranoia about Russian missiles, and an explosion, trigger a joyful boyhood adventure while an insightful examination of friendship, race, and trauma weaves between the five of them, their neighbors, a grandfather, and the aliens they become determined to find. The book is dedicated to the son of Mississippi sharecroppers with whom the author spent hundreds of hours on the back steps of his family’s tavern. Straight-forward storytelling for ages 10 to adult.
	Editorial Reviews "In its serious treatment of boys forging lifelong bonds as they work together toward a common cause, this novella recalls Stephen King's The Body (which became the movie Stand By Me). While the plot deals with some fantastical elements, the exciting premonitions and search for aliens almost pale in comparison to the poignancy of Ben's coming-of-age story. Over this fateful summer, Ben starts to question the world that previous generations are leaving him and the decisions they made to create this world. When Ben and his friends make a pact to protect the ones they love, they also show a level of compassion and openness that gives insight into what kind of future they would like and eventually strive to create." --The U S Review of Books (review by Sarah Poulette) "...evokes the spirit of a more evolved and enlightened "Huckleberry Finn" in this plain-spoken treatment of the human condition lovingly wrapped in a fierce friendship. Babka's open heart pulses through every sentence of this coming-of-age story...making the reader visually present, infusing a relentless page-turning interest in the unfolding...A joy of a journey. A joy of a read." -- Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte. Pushcart Prize Nominee, Author, Betrayal On The Bayou "...A small-town Ohio boy on the cusp of manhood grapples with the loss of childhood security in the Atomic Age. In this Spielberg-esque tale, 13-year-old Ben and his friends discover injustice -- and a call to action from an unexpected source. Reminds me of Super 8, Stranger Things, and the like with its clearly drawn mood and setting." -- Amy Rogers, MD, PhD, Harvard educated, Editor, Author of Petroplague & science-themed thriller novels "...It's a chaotic time for the U.S. in 1960...There are no dull moments in the book since I was continously seeing something new and thought provoking...Daniel's imaginative, lyrical language had me anticipating each new simile and amusing comment...Lightning Bugs And Aliens had me deeply engaged because I couldn't wait to find out if the protagonists saw aliens and what they were like. I loved the powerful discussions about our influence on the planet and the environment our future generations will meet. The book's clever blend of interesting sci-fi elements, rich historical stories, suspenseful parts, and artistic prose delivers a mind-blowing, exhilarating experience." -- San Francisco Book Review (Foluso Falaye, Reviewer & Author) "In Babka's speculative, historical, middle-grade novella, a life-changing event leads a boy to pursue a better future for humankind...There's been talk about the threat of atomic bombs, with duck-and-cover drills in school becoming commonplace...the boy's imaginations start to run wild and eventually lead them to formulate a plan to try and find aliens in Twinsburg...Babka ably expresses what small-town life is like, and how easily hysteria, and a lack of transparency about major events, can set young minds on grand and potentially dangerous adventures. The author doesn't shy away from showing the reality of racial segregation...he's clearly passionate about the town, its residents, and the period, and provides lots of details in his world-building...A somewhat overstuffed coming-of-age tale, but one with plenty of heart." -- Kirkus Reviews And From Readers: mentions and more echoed comparisons to Huckleberry Finn, Robert McCammon’s classic coming of age Boy’s Life, Stephen King’s Stand By Me, and an old-fashioned personal narrative style reminiscent of William Saroyan’s work, and Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird who reported on the inequities of his small town as a how-it-was, leaving readers to have their own opinions... people from very different circumstances who talk about how the story drew them back to amazingly similar childhoods full of life and inventive ideas not inspired by video games.


© Daniel Babka