- Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Science Fiction
The Kid Who Came from Space
When his twin sister Tammy vanishes, only Ethan knows the impossible truth: she's been taken by aliens. With a friend, a hairy alien called Hellyann, a spaceship named Philip and a trained chicken, Ethan sets off to bring her home. A funny, wildly imaginative rescue adventure.
- Best for9–12
- FormatChapter
- Length416 pp
- Read aloud~5 hr55 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Exciting
- Adventurous
- Funny
- Heartwarming
- Suspenseful
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
A small village in the wilds of Northumberland is thrown into panic when twelve-year-old Tammy disappears. Only her twin brother Ethan knows the truth — that she is alive, and that she has been abducted by aliens from another world. Determined to get her back, Ethan teams up with his friend Iggy, a gentle and rather hairy alien called Hellyann, a spaceship called Philip and, improbably, Suzy the trained chicken, for a nail-biting chase across worlds. Ross Welford spins a gloriously inventive science-fiction adventure that is by turns thrilling, funny and surprisingly moving. Beneath the alien tech and the daring rescue sits a warm story about the bond between siblings, the courage it takes to do the impossible, and learning to see the world through another creature's eyes. Fast-paced, big-hearted and full of Welford's trademark humour, it is a perfect read for anyone who has ever looked up and wondered what — or who — is out there.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Best for readers aged 9-12 reading independently, with good adult crossover appeal. The imaginative sci-fi and mild peril suit older-primary and lower-secondary readers; the humour and pace also make it a lively shared read.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 9–11
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
None
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Gift-buying
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: scary imagery.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- 9 to 12
- Sci fi lovers
- Adventure fans
- Imaginative readers
Avoid if
- Very sensitive children
- Dislikes peril
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Ethan's sister is abducted by aliens and nobody believes him — so he goes to get her back himself, with a spaceship, a hairy alien friend and a chicken. It's fast, funny and full of invention, and the twin bond gives the rescue real emotional punch.
- Adventure and freedom
- Surviving danger
- Secret world
Why parents love it
Welford builds a fully imagined alien world without ever losing the human heart of the story — the fierce love between twins. The humour is sharp, the pace never flags, and the gentle message about empathy for the unfamiliar lands naturally. A joy to read aloud or hand to a keen reader.
- Great writing
- Shared humour
- Conversation starter
About the author
Ross Welford.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
