The Planet Thieves

April 1, 2013
A routine training voyage for 13-year-old Earth Space Command cadet Mason Stark soon turns into the adventure of a lifetime, when his ship is attacked by the Tremist, “aliens bent on annihilating the human race.” With the regular crew either disabled or taken hostage, it’s up to Mason and his friends to rally the other cadets, take back their ship from the intruders, and defend Earth. Technology capable of stealing entire planets is now in play, and neither humanity nor the Tremist are willing to back down. But when the cadets fail in their desperate mission, they make several startling discoveries that change the balance of power, promising to bring peace—or destruction—to both races. Krokos (False Memory) launches this series with skill and purpose, immediately placing readers in the action and never slowing down. The intriguing concept, intense sense of adventure, and high stakes are more than enough to let readers look past the coincidences that help drive the story. Ages 8–12. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary & Media.

April 1, 2013
Eighteen cadets stand between the terrifying Tremist fleet and the annihilation of Earth! In the year 2800, 13-year-old orphan Mason Stark and the other cadets are logging time in space during summer break on a routine mission when the ship, the SS Egypt, is attacked by Tremists, aliens that have been waging war with humankind for decades over the habitable planet Nori-Blue. Naturally, the cadets escape capture and try to save their acting captain, Susan Stark, Mason's older sister. What they find is that the Egypt was carrying a gate, a device capable of making a wormhole big enough to move a planet to a new part of space, and that Earth Space Command was planning to use it to move Nori-Blue into our sun's orbit to keep it out of the clutches of the Tremists. The Tremists steal the gate...and then use it to steal the Earth! Can Mason and his friends rescue Susan and the whole of the Earth? And what secrets does Nori-Blue harbor that can change the trajectory of the human-Tremist relationship? With a total disregard for the laws of physics and nearly every other science, Krokos kicks off a series of sci-fi adventures with this overstuffed, nonstop adventure that harkens back to pulpy space operas. Far too many plot points tangle a narrative chock-full of one-dimensional characters who excel far too easily at the heroics they must perform. Cliches aside, it's an enjoyable, if totally undemanding read for sci-fi-starved audiences. (Science fiction. 9-12)

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June 1, 2013

Gr 5-8-Thirteen-year-old Mason is on the SS Egypt when it is boarded by the mysterious Earth enemies, the Tremist. They are more technologically advanced than the ESC (Earth Space Command) and have always been victorious in past battles. The Tremist take over the ship, except for 18 cadets, led by Mason. The cadets must retake the ship and save Earth in the process. Thanks to Mason's quick thinking and leadership skills, his team has high-action adventures throughout the galaxy. Along the way there are some conflicts with another cadet, Tom, as well as a nascent romance between Mason and Merrin. Full-page illustrations appear throughout. This book will appeal to science-fiction fans, especially those who are enthusiastic about the upcoming movie adaptation of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game (Tor, 1985). In fact, the rights to this book have already been optioned by Warner Brothers; this is not surprising as the book reads very much like it was written with the sale of film rights in mind.-Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Humans and evil aliens called the Tremist are fighting to control a colony world. When the Tremist steal a powerful weapon, it's up to thirteen-year-old Mason and his fellow Academy for Earth Space Command cadets to stop them. Action and adventure abound in this accessible sci-fi coming-of-age tale. Occasional murky black-and-white full-page pictures illustrate the events.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)