The Invasion 2026

Thirteen-year-old Atticus Olrich never expected his pizza-stealing Australian Shepherd, Shipmate, to be an alien. But when dogs across the country start responding to a mysterious signal, and a spaceship appears above the local dog park, Atticus finds himself in the middle of an interstellar homecoming. Shipmate, now speaking through a cobbled-together translation collar, reveals a secret: dogs are descendants of the Lunaris, an ancient spacefaring wolf species, and they're returning to reclaim their own.

With only hours to prepare, Atticus must rally his friends, coordinate the city’s confused pets, and prevent chaos when the arriving wolves discover what humans have done to their bloodline. From organizing dogkind to managing human panic, Atticus must prove he's more than just a kid with a weird dog, he's a leader worthy of the pack.

The Invasion 2026 blends the humor and heart of The Last Kids on Earth with the sci-fi charm of Fenris & Mott by Greg van Eekhout and the emotional depth of A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga. It’s written as a standalone with series potential. A full teacher study guide is also available to support classroom use.