Journal of a UFO Investigator is Mr. Halperin's debut novel and it is an extraordinary story. Danny Shapiro is a teenager who has a terminally ill mother and a hostile father. Understandable because a) mom's terminally ill, and b) his son spends his time in his fantasy world of being a UFO investigator.
Danny and his bff just had a falling out because they liked the same girl, he's in that awkward stage of life, he can't sleep because his mom's labored breathing at night funnels through the thin walls, and his dad isn't exactly approachable.
Danny uses his imagination and journals about being an elite UFO Investigator with a hot babe, a great friend by his side, and is chosen by an alien race. A coping mechanism? Sure, but Halperin spins such a wonderful story, you will be impressed with Danny's cleverness, and heartbroken for him with the relations or lack of with his parents. He's just trying to grow up and live through a tough situation the only way he knows how. Part coming of age story and part fantasy, Journal of a UFO Investigator is an engaging read with a likeable hero and a realistic situation, although, his imagination is out of this world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
In the 1960s, David Halperin was a teen-age UFO investigator. Later he became a professor of religious studies — his specialty, religious traditions of heavenly ascent.
From 1976 through 2000, David taught Jewish history in the Religious Studies Department at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Now retired from teaching, he lives in North Carolina with his wife Rose. Journal of a UFO Investigator is his first novel.
http://www.davidhalperin.net/
This sounds like a really interesting book. I had not heard of it before. Thanks for the review!
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