Hi guys and gals!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're heading back into deep space with Walden Pond Press as we celebrate the release of author John David Anderson's latest Children's Fiction release. It's the completion of his duology that began with Stowaway, a title featured here on my site that I REALLY enjoyed, so when I caught wind of its approach...I simply had to join the fun. Now, it's been just about a year since the first book's release, so you may need a mini-refresher to stir the old memory, a request I am more than happy to oblige....
by
John David Anderson
9780062985941
Walden Pond Press
About the book...
The beloved author of Posted and Ms. Bixby's Last Day returns with the first book in a coming-of-age sci-fi duology about Leo, a kid trying to navigate the galaxy in order to save his family—and, possibly, the planet Earth.
When scientists discover a rare and mysterious mineral buried in the Earth’s crust, they have no idea that it just happens to be the most valuable substance in the entire universe. It’s not long before aliens show up to our little corner of the galaxy offering a promise of protection, some fabulous new technology, and entry into their intergalactic coalition—all in exchange for this precious resource. A material so precious that other alien forces are willing to start a war over it. A war that soon makes its way to Earth.
Leo knows this all too well. His mother was killed in one such attack, and soon after, his father, a Coalition scientist, decides it would be best for them to leave Earth behind. It’s on this expedition that their ship is attacked, Leo’s father is kidnapped, and Leo and his brother are stranded in the middle of space. The only chance they have is for Leo to stow away on a strange ship of mercenary space pirates bound for who knows where and beg the captain to help him find his father.
But the road is dangerous, and pirates, of course, only look out for themselves. Leo must decide who to trust as he tries to stay alive and save his family, even as he comes to understand that there aren’t many people—human or alien—that he can count on in this brave new universe.
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...there, now that we're on the same spaceship, let's depart for BIGGER waters...
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by
John David Anderson
9780062986009
Walden Pond Press
About the book...
Leo Fender is no stranger to catastrophe, whether it’s the intergalactic war that took his mother’s life or the ongoing fight for his own. He’s seen his planet plundered, his ship attacked, his father kidnapped, and his brother go missing—and found himself stranded on a ship with a bunch of mercenary space pirates. Still, nothing could have prepared him for the moment he and the crew tried to save his father—and discovered a dark plot that could destroy hundreds of worlds in the blink of an eye.
Now, Leo is adrift. His father has sent him on a mission with nothing but a data chip and a name of someone who could help, and Captain Bastian Black and the crew of the Icarus are determined to see this through to the end with Leo, to fulfill his father’s wish and prevent further conflict. But as Leo searches for answers, he can’t help but wonder what it would take to end the war, to track down his father and brother and return to whatever home they have left—and if the cost of doing so is one he would be able to pay.
John David Anderson returns with the conclusion to the epic coming-of-age adventure that began in Stowaway—a riveting and heartfelt search for hope and home, family and future, in a galaxy ravaged by war.
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Leo and the Icarus crew are back in this second space adventure filled with dangers unknown and a future as murky as a black hole.
Our little leading man and his current company, the pirate crew of the Icarus, as mentioned, have been tasked with transporting a chip with infinitesimally important information that could help end or win the war. Is there a difference? You bet, and it's all in the body count, whether they be actual beings or celestial bodies. He's to deliver it to someone his father trusted implicitly, though once introductions are made, it's hard to imagine why. Their lives are in peril on more than one occasion, and the weapons (and patience!) of both ship and crew are tested more times than worth mentioning. Let's just say it's not a friendly time to be out of the stratosphere wandering among the stars. Will they carry the plan out to completion? What does the chip actually hold? Will Leo ever see his father or brother again? Will Captain Black ever change his musical selections for pre-attack mode? These questions and more are answered within the pages of this stunning conclusion...and who am I to spoil all the surprises!
I will say this...as much as I loved the first book, I was anxious about the second. Sequels or follow-ups have a tendency to talk the talk, but not walk the walk. This one moonwalks with the best of them, and not only catches us up with the ragtag motley crew we've grown to love, but builds our relationship with them further, establishing roots where none should have been possible. It certainly speaks to the idea of family being those we choose to include in our inner circle, and home not being a building, but a feeling when we are surrounded by those we love and care for (a hard lesson for our young friend, Leo). The issues covered in the story may be presented as Science Fiction, but they are grounded in realities. Taking from people or a place just because we can. Destroying civilizations or lands simply because we are better equipped. Acting like Mother Earth is a completely renewable resource with no end, without understanding that it can be made finite by the choices we make, the impact we have.
Come aboard the Icarus for one last ride...and discover worlds, and people beyond your imagination...
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About the author...
John David Anderson is the author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Posted, Granted, One Last Shot, and Stowaway. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife, two frawesome kids, and clumsy cat, Smudge, in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at www.johndavidanderson.org.
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Special thanks to Debbie and the Walden Pond Press team for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to snag your copy today, and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!
August 23, 2022
August 26, 2022
September 3, 2022
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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