Review: Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches from Outer Space! by I. S. Noah

A conspiratorial comedy of delectable proportions, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches from Outer Space! (A 21st Century Fairy Tale) by I. S. Noah is a whimsical and wise work of YA sci-fi for a new generation of compassionate leaders.

When Violet is burdened with babysitting her two younger brothers at the last minute, she begrudgingly brings them along on the hike she had planned for the afternoon. As if running into a scientist hunting for Bigfoot in the forest outside Bend, Oregon isn’t strange enough, her brothers stumble across a mysterious spaceship stashed away in a hidden cave. Even more bizarrely, the spaceship has an unexpected but tasty ability – producing almost perfectly made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. What they could have never expected was a massive version of that same spaceship appearing over the Earth, sending the entire world into an interplanetary uproar.

After making first contact with the sandwich-shaped Goobexes, the Edison and Wilson families firmly plant themselves at the creamy center of this hilarious satire. From Russian spies and evil chairs to pirate parrots and potential atomic anomalies in strawberry jam, this freewheeling storyline flirts on the edge of the ridiculous without ever losing its footing. Evolving from a wild YA adventure into a witty critique of human nature’s fears and overreactions, Noah has delivered an entertaining escape for adolescents that will also resonate with parents.

In terms of thematic lessons from the story, the focus on truth-telling and critical thinking is laudable, given our current era of rampant misinformation. The characters are forced into ethical dilemmas that their secrets and lies about the spaceship inevitably create, and essential lessons about truth and deception are cleverly mirrored in the plot. Conservative readers may raise an eyebrow at the less-than-subtle commentaries on gun control and the importance of empirical evidence, but Noah rightly recognizes the value of introducing young readers to these pressing and unavoidable issues.

Even the absurd extraterrestrial premise of the novel is peppered with messages of acceptance and openness, rather than fear and othering: “Just ’cause it’s from outer space doesn’t mean it’s bad. Green Lantern got his power ring from outer space.” Key lessons aren’t too deeply buried in metaphor, but still woven seamlessly into the story, without driving each point home too bluntly. In addition to these bits of timely wisdom, the writing is also sharp, witty, and charming, particularly the banter between Willys and Brad. Authentically capturing the energy and curiosity of a six-year-old can be difficult, but Willys’ uncensored comments often make for the most believable and hilarious moments of the book.

The majority of the writing is appropriately framed for young readers, but there are some jarring phrases and vocabulary choices that feel misplaced. The madcap premise is most appropriate for middle grade readers, but the tone sometimes feels uneven for the book’s potential audience. That issue aside, this is an authentically laugh-out-loud treat, supported by a mischievous and relatable cast, and tongue-in-cheek but shrewd social commentary.