Oom

By D.J. Webber

This story is about a ten year old boy called Joe who lives on a farm in Australia miles from anywhere. He is an ordinary intelligent boy, but is more troubled than most by some of the Big Questions in life, such as "why are we here?" and "why am I me and not someone else?". On the farm, months of drought are taking their toll on the sheep and his weary parents. Joe meets a stranger from another world called Oom who knows how to help them, but it is Joe who has to do the real work of convincing his father to try something new. And then Oom isn't visiting Earth to top up his tan His real reason for being here blows Joe's mind and will forever change his way of looking at the world and the human race. But that doesn't mean there is nothing Joe can do to help his alien friend.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1439261873
• ISBN13: 9781439261873
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Booksurge Publishing
• Length: 182 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Oom is a great book

At first I wasn't sure what to think about Oom. The first couple of chapters are a bit slow, but the author builds the story for the characters well. Once you're past those chapters, the book really shines. At times the books will make you think about alien contact, and at others you're just enjoying a good story. I enjoyed the story presented and have given this book to my daughter to read as well.

Author's Review/Pitch

Set in the dry Australian grasslands, "Oom" uses an original take on the boy-meets-alien storyline to provide an intriguing look at humanity from the outside. When Oom, an alien exiled from his home planet, appears to Joe, the ten year old son of an Australian farmer, everything changes. Joe's family face the prospect of having to sell their drought crippled farm to their arrogant and self-righteous neighbours. Oom knows the farmland intimately by another name, "Ascension", and tells Joe of a secret that could save the farm. But Oom is not visiting Earth to make contact with humans. His higher purpose is to seek the wisdom of, and be judged by, another species entirely. These telepathic creatures have been intricately connected with Oom's people for millennia, remotely acting as their supreme leaders. Through their philosophical discussions, Joe and Oom become close friends. Later, Joe accompanies Oom for two important meetings. Firstly, Oom indulges humanity's curiosity and agrees to meet with the US president. The second meeting is infinitely more profound and changes Oom's life forever.

A book to make you think

This is a wonderful story that will really make you think about whether or not life exists on planets other than our own. This is a book that readers of all ages will be able to relate to.