Book 1

The Area 51 Files

by Julie Buxbaum

Published 13 September 2022
Aliens, sassy hedgehogs, and unexplained disappearances . . . Oh, my! Discover the secrets of the universe in this hilarious, highly illustrated middle-grade series from New York Times bestselling author Julie Buxbaum.

“Epically fun!”—Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth


When Sky Patel-Baum is sent to live with her mysterious uncle, she didn’t imagine she’d end up here: Area 51. A top-secret military base with a bajillion rules and so classified not even the president knows its secrets.

Also, it turns out the place is full of aliens. Lots and lots of aliens. But they prefer to be called Break Throughs, thank you very much.

As Sky sets out to explore her extraordinary new home with her pizza-obsessed pet hedgehog Spike, she meets her otherworldly next-door neighbor Elvis and his fluffy pup, Pickles. But something mysterious is afoot in Area 51. Some of the Break Throughs have gone missing… at the exact same time Sky arrived.

Where could they be? How can Sky and her uncle convince everyone they had nothing to do with the disappearance? And why does the macaroni and cheese at Area 51 Middle have eyeballs in it? New best friends Sky, Elvis, Spike, and Pickles try to crack the case, but the clock is ticking…

Book 2

The Big Flush

by Julie Buxbaum

Published 25 July 2023
A killer space toilet is hurtling toward Area 51, courtesy of a mystery traitor on base, and things are about to get messy if Sky and her friends can’t solve the case. Don’t miss book two in the Edgar Award nominated Area 51 Files series!

“Epically fun!”—Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth


Sky Patel-Baum, Area 51’s latest arrival, thought she had finally figured out her strange new home. Sure, there are aliens everywhere, and her new BFF Elvis is from the planet Galzoria. But it turns out things can still get weirder. Because some special visitors just arrived with a warning: Area 51 is in danger!

A hunk of space junk is headed right for the base! And it’s not just any hunk of junk! It’s a giant toilet! Even worse? A traitor on base is working with angry aliens to coordinate the attack.

With one case already under their belts, Sky and her friends are on a mission to save Area 51. But what happens if their investigation goes down the toilet? That would stink!

Book 3

Friend or UFO

by Julie Buxbaum

Published 16 April 2024
Sky and her friends tackle their biggest mystery yet—the discovery of Area 52!—in the third installment of this laugh-out-loud, highly illustrated middle grade series by New York Times bestselling author Julie Buxbaum, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu.

Sky’s life in Area 51 is full of surprises. Like the fact that aliens are real—and now one is her best friend! But the biggest surprise yet comes when Sky learns that her grandmother has been kidnapped and is stuck in Area 52, the only other alien portal on Earth. Even more bananas? Her grandma has been an undercover FBAI agent for YEARS. Like Sky’s whole entire life. How could Sky not have known her grandma had a secret identity?

Uncle Anish says to leave this whole mess to him. For reals this time. The kids just have to hang tight. Spoiler alert: The kids do not, and will never, hang tight.

There’s just one problem: No one knows the location of Area 52. In order to solve this mystery and save Sky’s grandma, Sky and her friends will have to solve a series of secret puzzles and codes, traverse the Area 51 library for clues, break into FBAI headquarters, and more. But someone doesn’t want Sky to solve this mystery, and they’ve got their eyes on her…

Book 4

Way Off Base

by Julie Buxbaum

Published 8 July 2025
Is Area 51’s cover blown?! Sky and her otherworldly friends scramble to protect its secrets when a UFO goes missing in the fourth installment of this laugh-out-loud, Edgar Award-nominated series for young readers.

For the first time since Sky got to Area 51, things seem to be under control. No bunker hideouts. No incoming space toilets. No kidnappings of beloved relatives. In fact, everyone is in a celebratory mood because a special government visitor is coming to Area 51!

But on the morning of the visit, a UFO goes missing from the science lab. And then a mysterious whistleblower goes to the media saying they have evidence of a UFO landing! Did someone steal the UFO in order to reveal it to the whole wide world? Sky and her friends have less than a week to solve the mystery of the missing UFO, or all of Area 51’s secrets will be at risk. Guess things aren’t so calm after all!