Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion

Name: Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion
Brand: Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd
SKU: 9780374388799
Price: 37.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

By K. Tempest Bradford

0.0 (0 reviews)

Summary

Eleven-year-old Ruby Finley is a passionate insect enthusiast who discovers a bizarre creature in her front yard—only to find out it's an alien bug causing mysterious disappearances in her neighbourhood. With her rag-tag group of friends, Ruby embarks on a thrilling mission to track down this invasive species before the authorities do. This middle grade debut combines humour, science, and adventure, drawing comparisons to Louis Sachar's beloved works and presenting a spunky, relatable young scientist as its hero.
Read More

Format: Hardback

$37⁹⁹

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion

$37⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for middle grade readers who enjoy science, adventure, and relatable characters, particularly those interested in STEM and diverse protagonists.

BIOGRAPHY 21 Sep 2026

Review of Home Again by Jon Toogood

When it was revealed that Jon Toogood was to release a memoir I pretty much jumped out...

BOARD GAME 18 Sep 2026

What I Read (and Played) in Bali

I always read more when I travel. There’s the flight over, the hotel breakfast where...

A Seven Sharp Visit and a Huge Thank You!

It's been a busy last week at Rawiri Place before our big move, with a...

AMELIA'S CORNER 17 Sep 2026

A Puzzle for Every Season: Why I Love Seasonal Puzzles

From spooky Halloween puzzles to floral spring scenes and Christmas favourites we bring out every...

THE BOOK BRIEFING 16 Sep 2026

The Book Briefing - September 16th

This week there are so many exciting new book announcements out and about with covers,...

"Eleven-year-old Ruby, a Black girl who loves studying insects, accidentally captures an alien bug, but when the creature escapes and starts wreaking havoc around the neighborhood, it is up to Ruby and her rag-tag group of friends to find this new invasive species before the feds do"--

Ruby is the science hero we've all been waiting for!

Description

Eleven-year-old Ruby is a Black girl who loves studying insects, much to the grossed-out dismay of her Gramma and the pride of her parents. So when she finds the weirdest insect she's ever seen in her front yard, she makes sure Gramma isn't looking and captures it for further study.

But then Ruby realises that the creature isn't just a rare insect. It's an alien bug. And it has promptly burned a hole through her window and disappeared. Soon things around the neighbourhood go missing, and no one's heard from the old lady down the street for a week. Ruby will have to team up with her rag-tag group of friends to find this new invasive species before the feds do.

This delightful middle grade debut is swarming with humour, spunky protagonists, and major Louis Sachar vibes. Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion presents Ruby as the science hero we've been waiting for!

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Junior Library Guild Selection, Andre Norton and Nebula Award Winner

Praised as a "page-turning mix of science, science fiction, and mystery" by Kirkus Reviews, this book empowers readers to pursue STEM interests. Booklist highlights Ruby as a "fun, smart, and lovably realistic protagonist," noting the strong bonds of family, friendship, and community. School Library Journal commends its emphasis on scientific thinking, while award-winning author Yoon Ha Lee calls it an "amazing scientist heroine" story with plenty of adventure and heart.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780374388799

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 27 September 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 150.0mm

Height: 220.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 208

Collections

Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s & Teenage Non-Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational K. Tempest Bradford Young Adult

About the Author

K. Tempest Bradford is a science fiction and fantasy writer, writing instructor, media critic, reviewer, and podcaster. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies and magazines. She's the host of ORIGINality, a podcast about the roots of creative genius. Her media criticism and reviews can be found on NPR, io9, and in books about Time Lords. When not writing, she teaches classes on writing inclusive fiction through LitReactor and WritingtheOther.com. ktempestbradford.com

Also by K. Tempest Bradford

View all

Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion

Eleven-year-old Ruby is a Black girl who loves studying insects, much to the grossed-out dismay of her Gramma and the pride of her parents. So when she finds the weirdest insect she's ever seen in her front yard, she makes sure Gramma isn't looking and captures it for further study. But then Ruby realises that the creature isn't just a...

By K. Tempest Bradford

Paperback

$33⁰⁰

Available
Ships in 2-3 weeks

More from Children's Books

View all

Gruffalo Granny

The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...

By Julia Donaldson

Hardback

$24⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$30⁰⁰~~

Backorder
Ships early October
New Release

The Comeback Kid

Charlie Boy might be just an ordinary kid, but he's about to get into some EXTRA-ordinary trouble... Get ready for this funny, fast-paced, friendship adventure with lots of kick. Meet Charlie Boy: skinny, small, looks like a strand of spaghetti. He and his best friend, Rocky the Lower Hutt Chief, are good at getting into trouble together. But when Charlie...

By Airana Ngarewa

Paperback

$17⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$19⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Neverfear

A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...

By Katherine Rundell

Paperback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$22⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Pocket Observology

Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...

By Giselle Clarkson

Paperback

$23⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Minecraft Annual 2027

The official Minecraft Annual 2027, full of updates, builds, activities, and more! Discover all there is to know about the past year of Minecraft in this exciting annual. Stuffed to the brim with updates, activities, step-by-step builds, and tips and tricks for the game, this book is a must-have for any minecrafter. This year’s annual includes: Mob guides on happy...

By Mojang AB

Hardback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$24⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Giant Heart

Meet Jonah Lomu, one of the greatest All Blacks of all time. His speed and strength on the rugby field made him famous around the world, and his fun and generous personality made him beloved, but all the while he faced a big battle with his health. “[David Hill’s] stories are wonderful, full of action and are always teaching the...

By David Hill

Hardback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$25⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Ms Rachel: My First Little Library

Learn about colours, animals, words and numbers with Ms Rachel in this early learning boxset. This little set contains four board books that help introduce children to early concepts. Perfect for younger readers, each chunky book will keep little hands occupied at home, or on the move. And, once you’re done reading (and re-reading), the four books come together to...

By Ms Rachel

Board book

$15⁹⁹

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Lizzy's Pick

Protector of Beyond 1

Experience fierce magical creatures, perilous trials, and a heroine to root for in this 1st instalment in a new blockbuster fantasy series. The moment you enter the Arbiter, your fate is sealed. If you spark, you fight! And 12-year-old Elder Triss produces a spark like no other. Transported to the mysterious Beyond, Elder has no choice but to train for...

By Shara Curlett

Paperback

$21⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$24⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Animalia 40th Anniversary Edition

A beautiful, foiled collector's edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graeme Base's classic and bestselling Australian picture book, Animalia. Embark on a fantastical alphabetic adventure where each turn of the page unveils a rich tapestry of intricate illustrations tied to a unique letter of the alphabet. More than 5 million copies sold worldwide Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)...

By Graeme Base

Hardback

$29⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$35⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

The Little Kiwi Builder

Oh no, the little kiwi builder's house is falling down! His screws have all come loose - what can he do? When the brickie, the plumber, the roofer, the sparky and the painter all come to help, it's looking good! Until, that night ... uh-oh! Perfect for: Anyone who likes fun and silly rhyming stories Reading aloud with little ones...

By Tim Saunders

Paperback

$18⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

You Choose Party Time

It's time to celebrate - Party Time is a brand new You Choose adventure! It's Party Time and you choose what happens! What kind of party will it be? Who will you invite? Which cake would you like to eat? Will you dance to a steel pan band or bagpipes? The possibilities are endless in this magical storytelling toolkit which...

By Pippa Goodhart

Hardback

$25⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$34⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today
New Release

Matihe! Achoo!

What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...

By Qiane Matata-Sipu

Paperback

$18⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.