BillyBobJoeJoe had always wanted his small hometown of Madras, Oregon, to be recognized and respected. Except for a solar eclipse when he was six, nothing from Madras had ever attracted outside attention. Now, Madras is about to go on the map, but not for the right reasons. On a chilly afternoon, a giant spaceship descends on the town and releases hundreds of heavily armed soldiers. Everyone is terrified when the troops’ leader announces that Madras’ citizens must either join his T-Division or submit by force. Most of the townsfolk try to flee, including Billy, but many are captured. While on the run, Billy meets a range of people, from an eccentric man living in the woods to a tycoon’s daughter and her friends. He also learns that the troops' leader is Kristoff Vasiliev, alias Tyrannus, a former Russian Special Ops soldier who went rogue, formed his own army, and wants to use his forces to conquer the world. Billy’s family is among the captured, and he must rely on strange visions and his new allies to rescue them and perhaps stop Tyrannus. Can he face the diabolical force and walk away unscathed? Find out in The Chronicles of BillyBobJoeJoe (Book 1) by Joshua Ford.

If you are looking for a young adult sci-fi novel flavored with adventure, drama, humor, mystery, thrills, suspense, and spell-binding plot twists, The Chronicles of BillyBobJoeJoe by Joshua Ford is a great pick. I could tell I was in for an intriguing ride from the introduction, and by the final word, I was more than satisfied, as the storyline lived up to the initial hype. Ford features a layered, exciting cast and immersed me in their world with steady narration and expansive world-building. The cinematic depictions made me feel like I was next to the cast, experiencing and taking in their surroundings. I could see everything from Tyrannus’ giant spaceship and its multiple engines to the soldiers’ armored outfits, Jude’s house, the island in the middle of the Atlantic, and Tyrannus’ base in Washington, D.C., among other settings. Alongside the first-person perspective and introspective commentary full of self-deprecating humor, the story read like a contemporary YA sci-fi tale. I laughed as I flipped through the pages. I relished the banter, sarcasm, and dynamic conversations, which revealed the cast’s personalities, emotions, and struggles. As I followed Billy on his quest to save his parents and stop the villain Tyrannus, I understood his doubt, fear, confusion, and overwhelming helplessness. Through Billy, teens will learn how to accept and believe in themselves.

The Chronicles of BillyBobJoeJoe: Book 1 by Joshua Ford follows BillyBobJoeJoe Johnson, a teenager whose beloved hometown of Madras, Oregon, is the target of an invasion. Imagine the town's surprise when a warship arrives with soldiers armed to the hilt with sophisticated technology, led by a man called Tyrannus, who's ready to make the town an example of his power. BillyBobJoeJoe is separated from his family during the attack and is bent on finding them, kicking off a trip that takes him far beyond the familiar streets of Madras. His saving grace is unexpected friendships that lead to opportunities to figure out the invaders' plans and just how far their reach extends. As the danger spreads across the country, BillyBobJoeJoe is launched on a course toward an enemy who threatens others all over America.

The Chronicles of BillyBobJoeJoe is the kind of YA adventure that makes me wish I could sit in on these characters' conversations. Joshua Ford gives everyone such a distinctive personality, which I especially appreciated when Erica, a former emergency volunteer, shares coffee with BillyBobJoeJoe. The way her story explains the kindness she shows him — I'd have happily listened in on more of that conversation. Phillip is another firm favorite of mine, a guy with some serious, but wonderfully peculiar ways of getting things done. When he drops to all fours and gallops down a corridor in full soldier's armor, I could practically see the whole scene! What's lovely is that his determination to help is every bit as genuine as his personality is entertaining. Altogether, an excellent read that ticks all the boxes.

The Chronicles of BillyBobJoeJoe by Joshua Ford is a young adult sci-fi novel that follows BillyBobJoeJoe Johnson, a 15-year-old from Madras, Oregon. His small town was once known for the 2017 total eclipse, but that changed one day when something much bigger happened. An army of high-tech terrorists lands in Madras and takes half the town captive, including his family, and starts spreading chaos across the U.S. Before he knows it, Joe has to save the world with a rag-tag group of people. His team includes a forest man who talks to squirrels, a cowboy with a magical hat, and a girl he can’t quite figure out. What could possibly go wrong? Can he save the country?

Author Joshua Ford created a funny, fast-paced, and action-packed story with an underdog protagonist. I absolutely loved BillyBob. He’s awkward, a little shy, and keeps cracking jokes even when he’s terrified. He is human, easy to relate to, and I couldn’t help rooting for him. The side comments in parentheses made me laugh out loud. Phillip was one of my favorites. He’s a little crazy and always smiling, even in a straitjacket. Little Billy and Little Jimmy were hilarious too; I especially liked their banter. Jude was sharp and brave, and I liked the chapter where she takes over the narration. The story is fun and lighthearted, but it has a real message. I also loved learning that the author first came up with BillyBobJoeJoe in fifth grade. The Chronicles of BillyBobJoeJoe is perfect for readers who love funny sci-fi adventures and well-developed heroes.

BillyBobJoeJoe (yes, that’s his real name, and there is a story behind it) doesn’t know it yet, but today he has to save the world. BillyBobJoeJoe is 15 years old and lives in the town of Madras, Oregon, where nothing exciting ever happens—until today. A giant airship, led by a ruler with a Russian accent named Tyrannus, descends on the town and kidnaps half the townsfolk. BillyBobJoeJoe flees into the forest to escape. That decision leads him on a journey that he never expected. With the help of a forest man named Phillip, a very unusual girl named Jude, her boyfriend Little Jimmy, and his brother Little Billy, they try to defeat this tyrant. Who is Tyrannus, where is he from, and what exactly is his diabolical plan? Find out in The Chronicles of BillyBobJoeJoe by Joshua Ford.

The most wonderful part of Joshua Ford’s debut novel is that it began in 5th form at a Montessori school. Twelve years later, it’s complete, and what a story it turned out to be. As the protagonist is 15 years old, the book is aimed at the YA market; however, readers of all ages will love this book as much as I did. The underlying themes are hope, resilience, unlikely friends, and believing in the impossible. The story is mostly told from BillyBobJoeJoe’s point of view, and he’s a very entertaining narrator. The plot barrels along at a frantic pace, and there are a lot of shocks throughout. I loved every moment of The Chronicles of BillyBobJoeJoe, and I’m looking forward to more from Joshua Ford.