Three best friends receive strange signals on their phones which lead them to an alien in need of a way back home. Tuck is a video blogger with a YouTube channel and he documents most of his activities. This story is captured on his camera and plays out from his perspective. His good friends Alex and Munch are almost always part of his journals and soon they fear that they will be separated since their families are moving away. The current construction of a freeway in their neighborhood has pushed them to relocate soon so the three are making the most of what remains to be their final days together.
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One day, the boys receive strange signals and images on their phones which seem to come from the desert. They decide to check it out as part of their last adventure. The friends also find it strange that the highway crew seem particularly interested in replacing their old phones with new ones, the boys hold on to their phones and can tell that something fishy's going on. When night falls, they bike out for miles.
Whey they try to locate the signal, they come upon a metallic box. Soon, more signals and maps appear on their phone leading them from one metallic object to another, each piece attaching itself to the original metallic box. The "thing" is a friendly alien and the boys interrogate it with yes or no questions. The alien needs their help to retrieve its missing pieces which are scattered all over town, namely a pawnshop, a house (of their classmate Emma who is suspicious of the boys' activities), a bar, an arcade, and a diner. Echo, as the boys call the alien since it mimics their sounds, can manipulate metallic objects, thus causing electric disturbances that soon catch the attention of the men who have been posing as construction crews but are really there to find Echo. They are on Echo's trail so the boys are now on the run trying to harbor the alien to safety.
The boys are finally caught by the men at a construction site, but the boys escape with Echo. Their final task leads them back to their neighborhood, to Alex's backyard where Echo's ship is buried. Echo is the key to starting the craft and as the boys hoist him into the ship, it turns on and starts to magnetize metal from all over. Increasing size and power, the ship rockets off, taking Echo home. The boys are forever changed with their experience. They go their separate ways but remain the best of friends.
Best part of story, including ending:
It reminded me of E.T. in terms of being a story about friendship and adventure, plus it has more advanced special effects.
Best scene in story:
When Echo manipulated metal to form a vehicle, ala Transformers.
Opinion about the main character:
Tuck's curiosity and inquisitiveness enabled him and his friends to help someone in need, plus they gained an unforgettable experience in the process.
