Nessa Luna
Written on Jan 22, 2020
The Breakfast Club meets Guardians of the Galaxy in this YA sci-fi adventure by debut author M. K. England.
Hotshot pilot Nax Hall has a history of making poor life choices. So it’s not exactly a surprise when he’s kicked out of the elite Ellis Station Academy in less than twenty-four hours. But Nax’s one-way trip back to Earth is cut short when a terrorist group attacks the Academy.
Nax and three other washouts escape—barely—but they’re also the sole witnesses to the biggest crime in the history of space colonization. And the perfect scapegoats.
On the run, Nax and his fellow failures plan to pull off a dangerous heist to spread the truth. Because they may not be “Academy material,” and they may not even get along, but they’re the only ones left to step up and fight.
Full of high-stakes action, subversive humor, and underdogs becoming heroes, this YA sci-fi adventure is perfect for fans of Illuminae, Heart of Iron, or the cult classic TV show Firefly and is also a page-turning thrill ride that anyone—not just space nerds—can enjoy.
- ISBN10 0062657674
- ISBN13 9780062657671
- Publish Date 7 February 2019 (first published 18 December 2018)
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 22 August 2023
- Publish Country US
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Inc
- Imprint HarperTeen
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 368
- Language English
Reviews
emruth13
Written on Apr 23, 2019
katie
Written on Dec 11, 2018
But until then, let me just say that this book is FANTASTIC and you need to read it ASAP!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Stephanie
Written on Dec 1, 2018
shannonmiz
Written on Nov 8, 2018
This is going to be a bit of a hard book to review, because it was, in essence, very middling for me. I liked it well enough, I don't have much in the way of negatives, even. It just didn't blow me away, and sometimes that happens. It was entertaining enough, though maybe I won't necessarily find it to be memorable down the road. So I will try to break it down as best I can, yes?
The Stuff I Liked:
- •It's really quite fun. The humor is definitely a plus. It wasn't "rolling on the floor in hysterics" funny, but it was charming and amusing. The characters got into some real antics, and some of them certainly gave me a few chuckles.
- •The main character group is really well done. They're all pretty well developed, with different quirks and traits. And I liked them! Even when I didn't necessarily like their choices, they made sense for the character at the time/situation. And I felt sympathetic toward them all too. In addition, it's a very diverse group, in so many ways!
- •There are a lot of space shenanigans! I love space shenanigans! And we definitely are not lacking for them in this book. The gang has a huge undertaking (think: saving worlds and such) and they definitely are trying their hardest, running all over the universe to do so basically! Obviously I won't say too much here, but if you're looking for adventure, this book has it!
The Stuff I Didn't:
- •The future didn't progress a ton in some aspects. Like the MC is eating Cheetos in one scene, browsing a Sky Mall catalog in another. Sky Mall is barely a thing now for goodness sake! People are texting each other and like... no, I feel like if there are space academies, we've probably moved past texting? Maybe I am being picky, but it kind of took me out of the whole "futuristic" setting.
- •It felt kind of safe, considering. I mean, granted it started out with a deadly bang, but I never really feared for our main group. Things just kept coming way too easily for them, way too coincidental, that I kind of assumed everyone would be just fine by the end. (Was I right? You'll have to read it to find out 😂) But the book to a big hit on intensity for me because of that.
Bottom Line: Good characters, amusing moments, and space shenanigans are definite reasons to grab this one! If you don't mind a little suspension of disbelief and ease of accomplishment, it's certainly worth the read!