Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

"Relocated" by Margaret Fieland is a very different approach to the standard sci-fi concept of extra-planetary settlement. That places "Relocated" in a class by itself. In this book, Terrans from Earth maintain a military presence on Aleyne, where the residents look very much like humans, with some very minor differences, and a major one: the Aleyni are born with telepathic abilities. They can "read" or "hear" other people's thoughts and emotions. If that is the case, why was 14 year old Keth's father transferred from Earth to Aleyne for top secret work to sniff out the perpetrators of unrest amongst the humans toward the Aleyni? Why did Keth have to go with him? Like any 14 year old boy, Keth does not want to be uprooted and leave all his friends behind. Little does Keth suspect what a major role he will play in ferreting out the trouble-makers on Aleyne. Casting caution to the wind, Keth lays his life on the line to help an Aleyni friend in trouble, only to find himself a captive pawn in the nest of malcontents. Will he survive this ordeal? Or will his premonitions of trouble on Aleyne lead to his downfall? Keth is in for some big surprises on Aleyne. He learns his father was actually from there originally, and that he has a living grandfather with whom he will stay. He also learns he is part Aleyni, which explains why he always seemed to know what other people thought. But all is not "beer and skittles" for Keth. Being half human and half Aleyni makes him a target for prejudice from both races, although the Aleyni tend not to hold any prejudice. His biggest critic is his own father, who does not want him to grow up an Aleyni. But as circumstances evolve, Keth finds himself falling in love with a young Aleyni girl, and learning a marketable Aleyni skill. Ultimately his future is determined by events beyond his control, but very much to his liking.

The protagonist faces some seriously heart-breaking situations, but his progression from an outsider to family makes for an interesting read. Margaret Fieland offers readers a unique plot in this sci-fi book. She brings out several issues that young people face today. The main character faces prejudice and a feeling of not belonging to either race. There is also the issue of being uprooted to a new area and making new friends or enemies. The relationship between father and son is another. Fieland handles these issues successfully making it suitable for middle and high school students.