The Big Flush

When Sky Patel-Baum thinks she's finally getting used to life at Area 51, complete with alien best friends and routine UFO landings, her new normal is completely upended by a galactic plumbing emergency. The threat isn't a hostile alien fleet, but a colossal piece of space debris—a giant toilet—hurtling directly toward her top-secret home. This absurd cosmic crisis forces Sky and her best friend Elvis, who hails from the planet Galzoria, to confront a threat as bizarre as their daily lives.

Buxbaum masterfully grounds the utterly ridiculous premise in the authentic voice of a teen just trying to navigate friendship and belonging, making the interstellar stakes feel surprisingly personal. Readers who love sci-fi that doesn't take itself too seriously will find the blend of heart and humor utterly compelling, proving that sometimes the biggest adventures start with the most mundane objects. The result is a wildly original story that flushes away any predictability, delivering a fresh and hilarious take on the save-the-world mission.