Ketchvar IIIÕs mission is simple: travel to Planet Earth, inhabit the body of an average teenager, and determine if the human race should be annihilated. And so KetchvarÑwho, to human eyes, looks just like a common snailÑcrawls into the brain of one Tom Filber and attempts to do his analysis. At first glance, Tom appears to be the perfect specimenÑfourteen years old, good health, above average intelligence. But it soon becomes apparent that Tom Filber may be a little too averageÑgawky, awkward, and utterly abhorred by his peers. An alien within an alienÕs skin, Ketchvar quickly finds himself wrapped up in the daily drama of teenage lifeÑinfuriating family members, raging bullies, and undeniably beautiful next-door neighbors. And the more entangled Ketchvar becomes, the harder it is to answer the question he was sent to Earth to resolve: Should the Sandovinians release the Gagnerian Death Ray and erase the human species for good? Or is it possible that Homo sapiens really are worth saving?

Wickedly wry and hysterically skewed, David KlassÕs take on teen life on our fabulously flawed Planet Earth is an engrossing look at true friends, truer enemies, and awkward alien first kisses.

Stuck on Earth is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.