Experiment, Uncovered

TFK Kid Reporter Hanming Wang read The Experiment and interviewed its author, Rebecca Stead. Read Hanming’s thoughts below.

Imagine having to keep a big secret: that your family isn’t from Earth. That’s Nathan’s life in The Experiment, a new novel by Rebecca Stead. In 2010, her book When You Reach Me won the Newbery Medal, one of the biggest awards for children’s books.

Nathan is a sixth grader. He learned at an early age that his family came from another planet. He, his parents, and nine other families are living on Earth as part of an experiment. But when Nathan starts growing a tail, the secret gets harder to hide. Then strange people start showing up, and his friend Izzy disappears. Nathan realizes that the experiment involving his family has gone very wrong.

Stead told TIME for Kids she first thought of The Experiment about 15 years ago. “I had this idea about a character who knows he’s not from Earth and is passing as human,” she says. “But then, he starts to grow a tail.” The tail, she explains, stands for what it feels like to be different. Later, its meaning changes as Nathan begins to accept himself.

I really liked The Experiment. It’s mysterious and emotional. The story is full of adventure and humor—but, underneath the excitement, it’s really about figuring out who you want to be. My favorite part is when Nathan starts to see that being different doesn’t mean something is wrong with him. I also liked the friendship between him and Izzy, and how they help each other to be brave.

Rebecca Stead’s writing makes you think, and also keeps you turning the pages. I think readers will enjoy it, especially those who like stories about mystery and self-discovery.