Zed’s dad is a demon hunter. These are not like the demons of our scary stories or movies. In Zed’s world the demons fall out of the sky. His whole society and life revolves around these falling star demons. There is a government department called The Authority. It keeps tabs on anything to do with the night sky, the stars and anything that might come from it.

Under the Authority’s strict eye are jobs like Zed’s dad’s. He is a demon hunter, springing into action with his pack of hunters and a tracker to find and capture any demons that land on Earth. There is high tech equipment that monitor the skies and whenever a star demon falls, the sirens alert the citizens and also the hunters who set off to capture them.

These hunters compete for prestige and Zed would like nothing more to be like his dad. He is the only Platinum pin holder under The Authority, as he has caught more demons than any other hunter.

Demons are said to have fangs, and love nothing more than human blood. They are said to be vicious and terrible and need tracking, capturing and sending to the underground where they belong.

Zed doesn’t know where the underground is. Or what all his Demon books and movies have been talking about. Fangs? Blood? Vicious? He’s just found a so-called demon after wanting to prove himself to his father and besides his sparkly skin, this demon look like… well… he looks just like… a boy.

This demon/boy is called Spark. He’s not on Earth to hunt human blood or bite anyone. He’s just looking for his little brother.

Zed must make a decision. Go with all that he has been told his entire life, and continue his unwavering support and awe of his father.

Or listen to Spark and trust this strange boy from the sky and his reason for being on Earth. Zed has never had a friend before, due to his father’s constant travel, and learning that The Authority have lied, rocks Zed’s life.

The Boy Who Fell From The Sky is a fun read, despite the world of demon hunters, competition, bullies and lies. Zed is a likeable character, just wanting to prove himself to his famous dad. After feeling he’s failed a test, then trying to prove himself goes terrible wrong – but then he believes to terribly right.

Zed has never been strong-willed or popular with no friends in his life. But suddenly he must make very serious decisions against all he knows and his only parent. The result is action-packed, heart warming and intriguing as this story conclusion promises more from Zed and The Boy Who Fell From The Sky.

What I really enjoyed was the message brilliantly written between the lines. This is essentially a story about acceptance of all people no matter where they are from, or what their culture or beliefs are. The Authority represents those who spin the truth to make the public believe that anyone ‘other’ than themselves are a threat.

Clever, entertaining and thought provoking. Would make a great class read aloud to kick off discussions about this important topic.

Author – Benjamin Dean

Age – 9+

(2024, Simon & Schuster, Night Sky, Stars, Demon, Differences, Acceptance, Refugees, Lies, Demon Hunters, Competition, Father Son Relationship, Spy, Action, Adventure, Bullies, Courage, Family, Fantasy, Growing up, Secret )