Ben Archer and the World Beyond

The Alien Skill Series, Book 4

By: Rae Knightly

Narrated by: A W Dickson

A Message from the World Beyond

Winner of the 2022 Whistler Independent Book Awards - Children's Category
A winner in the 2020 IAN Book of the Year Awards
Finalist in the 2021 Feathered Quill Book Awards Program

Thirteen-year-old Ben Archer has accepted a mind-boggling challenge: to use his alien skill to restore the balance between humans and the rest of the living world. But after a near brush with death in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things only get worse when his power attracts the attention of Jeremy Michaels, a reporter from the Provincial Times.

At first, slipping away to a small coastal town for a summer camp seems like a good idea, but Ben's hopes of a discreet vacation come to an abrupt end when an unprecedented event rocks the town, leaving him with a nail-biting dilemma.

Will he reveal himself or not?

The Alien Skill Series is a science-fiction adventure story for fans of A Wrinkle in Time, Lost in Space, The Neverending Story, and Percy Jackson. The young-at-heart will revel in this family-friendly, action-packed series filled with alien superpowers, engaging characters, and thought-provoking insights into the way we treat our world.

©2020 Rae Knightly (P)2023 Rae Knightly

Critic reviews

"Hooks the reader in and pulls them along to the end of the book." (Whistler Independent Book Awards finalist judge and author of Dragon Assassin, Arthur Slade)

"It hits the mark as a middle-grade novel [...]. Ben Archer is a sympathetic main character with a clear and interesting quest." (Whistler Independent Book Awards finalist judge and author of Slug Days, Sara Leach)

"Great plot that definitely keeps the imagination and action going." (Feathered Quill Book Awards judges' comments)

An Intriguing Twist

I enjoyed book 4 as much as the first three in the series. I admired the new goal which Ben has accepted although it seemed like a very daunting task to me. I applauded the challenges which Ben overcame in this story. I felt for Ben as he tried to avoid the reporter who was filled with curiosity. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I continued to enjoy A. W. Dickson's narration as his performance was entertaining. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.