First Contact

"Science reporter Ferreira offers a survey of the past, present, and future of humans in space and what (or, more compellingly, who), if anything, is up there waiting to be found.... Throughout, Ferreira maintains a lighthearted tone, mixing hard science with sharply comedic asides. While the core of the book is firmly situated in science, a standout early chapter charts the various archetypes of aliens in pop culture, ranging from monsters to peers. The style choices, from use of graphics to pullout explainers to the pithy chapter lengths, make First Contact a book that begs for return visits. Budding ufologists and alien skeptics alike will find something that alters their previous perceptions, providing enlightenment for anyone interested in discerning what lies beyond the stars.
YA/S: Teens interested in learning more about the science of space and the possibility of extraterrestrial life will find this highly readable and formatted in a similar manner to their textbooks."
 

“If I could pick one book to be abducted with, this would be it."

“A relentlessly entertaining tour of aliens both familiar and peculiar—it made me clap my hands together in delight over and over again. Ferreira has put together a true marvel here. . . . What a rush!”

“From the deep past to the dreams and realities of the present to the uncertainty and potential of the future, Ferreira brilliantly synthesizes the science, science fiction, and philosophy of the search for extraterrestrial life.”

“A must-read for anyone interested in the past, present, and future of our attempts to make contact with life beyond Earth . . . Ferreira approaches the extraterrestrial question with a perfect balance of wit and wonder, asking not just if we're alone, but what it will mean for humanity if we finally discover we're not.”

"Read First Contact and marvel at the sky, with its billions of possibilities for habitable worlds. Becky Ferrera’s vivid narrative sweeps us along in a scientific adventure that spans time from the Neanderthals to alien icebreakers to the fascinating question of what it would mean to make contact and find life elsewhere in the universe."