Books like Go Big or Go Home by Will Hobbs

When a meteorite hurtles through the sky over the Black Hills, 13‑year‑old Brady Steele watches a fireball explode into his family’s roof. Branded Fred, the space rock turns out to be one of the world’s most precious specimens. Professor Rip Ripley from the Hill City museum seeks a tiny sample of Fred in hopes of uncovering the first evidence of extraterrestrial bacteria, a breakthrough for astrobiology. Brady and his cousin Quinn dive into a chaotic week of extreme bicycling, fishing, and caving, all while competing against the local Carver boys for control of the meteorite. As Brady discovers he can perform feats beyond his years, frightening new symptoms begin to surface—leaving him and his friends to wonder whether Fred is a treasure or a threat. The story explores friendship, adventure, and the scientific mystery of life beyond Earth, all set against the backdrop of rugged Kansas and the excitement of youthful extremes.

First publish date: 2008