Thank you to Walden Pond Press and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This new science fiction middle grade duology is set some 30 years in the future. People of Earth learn they are not alone in the universe. The planet is visited by an advanced race called the Aykarians, who in exchange for their knowledge, begin drilling for a rare element, Ventasium, to aid space travel. Unfortunately, the Aykarians are at war with the Djarik and Earth suffers the consequences in the form of a devastating attack. Leo Fender, after losing his mother, now lives on the spaceship Beagle, with his older brother Gareth and his scientist father, Calvin. Dr. Fender is a specialist in developing Ventasium. The Beagle is attacked by the Djarik, Dr. Fender is taken prisoner, and the rest of the ship is left to drift. Shortly after the attack, the ship is boarded by space pirates looking for Ventasium. Since they have none, the pirates leave but not without Gareth sneaking Leo aboard to keep him safe. Leo is soon discovered by the crew and Leo convinces them to help him find his father.
I found this story to be quite fast-paced. I especially love when authors add in bits that the target audience probably won’t understand but the adult readers will, for example, David Bowie’s vinyl album Ziggy Stardust. Also, Anderson pay homage to Battlestar Galactica in adapting “naughty words,” - fracking in BG and freking in Stowaway. This is a great space adventure for sci-fi fans that will leave readers wanting more. I would recommend this book for readers in grades 4 and up.
#Stowaway #NetGalley

Stowaway by John David Anderson is a middle grade sci-fi novel, first in what is supposed to be a duology, that follows space traveling Leo.
Leo’s dad is a famous scientist that has been working with their alien allies the Aykari exploring and trying to further the lifespan of the element that brought them to the Ayakari’s attention in the first place (and what got them invited into space travel and the Coalition). While traveling in space their ship is boarded by the enemies of the Coalition, the Djarik, and Leo’s father and most of their supplies were taken and they were abandoned to their fate in deep space.
Their ship floundering, supplies low and no way to call for help they are then boarded by a crew of pirates trying to see if there is anything else to be picked over. Gareth, Leo’s older brother, takes the chance to stow Leo on the pirate ship with the plan to at least get him to safety and hopefully sneak off when it lands on another planet to send back help.
Things do not go that way at all.
Leo is quickly found aboard the ship and finds himself with the colorful crew of the Icarus. There he learns all sorts of things he doesn’t know about the world he’s being brought up in and has to decide who is telling the truth. Maybe he shouldn’t trust anyone but himself and his family because space has many sides and war has no winners.
***
The story mostly takes part in the present but it is also broken up with flashbacks to Leo having to give up life on Earth for space and also the day the Djarik attacked Earth and Leo lost his mom. It seemed to slow the pacing a bit when they did do it but it also showed more of who Leo is and what shaped him (mostly his mom, she had the most influence on him).
For the most part the story had a pretty steady drive, Leo trying to find his dad and working towards that goal throughout.
The outside view, of people hurt from the coalition (the captain of the pirate ship) or indifferent to the coalition because they had nothing to offer them so were never offered a place in it (Boo, an alien crew member of the pirate ship) offered interesting perspective to Leo whose only ever known the Ayakari is a kind benevolent ally, Leo didn’t outright accept it but you could see him assimilating the information he got. He had a lot thrown at him, and did his best to keep up and offer help where he could, even when he was clearly out of his element. I liked him very much for that.
This book was a fun read and I’m sure it’ll be a great find for middle grade readers who want an adventure.
***
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s the middle of the twenty-first century, and aliens have discovered Earth. Space travel is common, but there’s also a war, fought over the precious mineral that makes intergalactic travel possible. Leo is living with his brother and father on a research spaceship, having left behind a decimated Earth, when the Djarik attack and kidnap Leo’s dad. Then space pirates board the damaged ship, and Leo finds himself a stowaway on a pirate ship, trying to save not only his father, but perhaps his entire planet and beyond.

This book was SO MUCH FUN! It’s about family and found family and is a rip-roaring space adventure with a lot of heart and humor. It will make you think about the damage we’re doing to our planet and consider what else exists out in the universe. Hand this to any sci-fi loving middle grade reader, especially those who loved We’re Not From Here by Geoff Rodkey or Space Case by Stuart Gibbs. I cannot wait to booktalk this and share it with my students!

This was my first book to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters are amazing and the story flows so well. Really cannot recommend this one enough!!

This has to be one of my favorite Middle Grade Sci-Fi books I have ever written. The way that Anderson weaves the tale of Leo Fender and his family is both heart wrenching and hopeful. An alien race has stumbled upon Earth and they appear to be friendly. They are willing to give the human race advance technology and medicine in return for a very rare resource hidden deep within the Earth's crust. The only thing is, another alien race wants it as well or at least doesn't want the other to have it. We follow Leo on his journey leaving Earth and fighting the unknown with pirates, aliens, and self doubt. I highly recommend this book. I truly enjoyed it. It seems to be a series, so I can't wait for the second one to come out so I can see where the story takes us.

I've always been a fan of John David Anderson, so I was excited when I had the opportunity to read an eARC of this book from NetGalley. It's totally different than anything else I have read by him. This science fiction novel reminds me of Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy. It follows a boy named Leo who has to Stowaway on a space pirate's ship after their ship was attacked and left stranded. Soon Leo and the pirates are off on a wild adventure as they try to find his father. An excellent space adventure, but somewhat long (384 pages) for most middle grade readers. The ending is only the beginning of part 2 as this is a duology. Can't wait to find out what happens next.

This is probably the best middle grades book I've ready so far this year. When aliens introduce themselves to earth, it's as friends and as beings eager to get precious minerals out of the planet. Is the trade of resources for science, technology, and adventure beyond humanity's dream worth it. This is a weighty question, and I'm excited to see someone going all in on moral complexity for middle schoolers. They can handle it, and this is a fantastic read. Leo is a protagonist who gets to feel the full range of human emotions, which is also just really special. He gets to mourn is mom, be angry at how she died, and be scared and excited by everything his life has become. I'm going to be shoving into this into kids' hands come August.

This book is really fun! Earth has been under attack for a newly discovered resource which has caused Earth to join an interplanetary coalition in an effort to survive. Once in space, the ship that Leo, his scientist-father, and his brother are on is boarded and his father is taken. With his ship disabled, Leo and his brother decide to risk stowing away on a pirate ship and ask the misfit band of pirates for help retrieving his father. The only problem, once the ship leaves, Leo quickly realizes his brother didn't make it on the ship!

The journey across space is filled with entertaining destinations and characters that will remind you of the fanciful (and sometimes fear inducing) characters of other science fiction classics of old!

I will say there is a jaw-dropping twist at the end that leads into the second book of this duology! I am VERY excited to read that!

I had to read several chapters before I was hooked, but then this space adventure was gripping. Our young hero Leo is a shy boy who loves his dad and big brother, and misses his mom, who we find out late in the book was killed in an alien attack. He is necessarily lonely, being on a space ship with no other children, brought along by his dad, a famous scientist. The galaxies are engaged in war, and Leo's dad has expertise that both sides want. Leo tries to escape on a pirate ship, but then stays on board as the crew adopts him. While human characters are white, and mostly male, alien variety resembles the bar scenes in Star Wars, and Kit makes for a notable young female heroine with courage and charisma to spare.

3.5 stars. This was a fun, sci-fi story that had interesting and memorable characters. It focused on friendship and family, including the family you choose. It was also a story about being brave, grief, loss, and the importance of getting the whole picture. I absolutely loved Boo and his relationship with Leo. It was so sweet. The whole band of misfit pirates were wonderful. And Skits the robot is hilarious.

I did feel that although this is a story for middle schoolers, which is usually considered for ages between 8-12, I felt that some of this content was not appropriate for this target age range and seemed more YA to me.

Personally, even though the story started out a little slow, it picked up and I enjoyed it. The ending had some nice twists. I also appreciated the music quotes at the beginning of some of the chapters. I wish we didn’t have to wait for book two to find out what happens next.


Thank you Net Galley and HarperCollins Children’s books- Walden Pond Press for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #Stowaway

A departure for Anderson and what looks to be the first in a series, Stowaway is a science fiction book that follows 12-year-old Leo Fender and his quest to reunite his family.

The plot is definitely middle grade, while some of the language and insinuations make it feel more like young YA/middle school, making it a bit difficult for this 5th grade teacher to decide its appropriateness.

The parts that struck me the most were allegorical in nature: Anderson’s commentary on what happens to people when another group, more technologically advanced, arrive with promises to help, but that are actually destroying the land, the ecosystem, and the people living on it. The reality of what happens to the ones caught “in between” the two sides of a war. And that there is always more than one perspective to an event.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the supporting group of characters, “pirates” that each prove, in their own way, how characters - and people - are complicated and motivated by unseen, often very personal, lived experiences. Looking forward to continuing Leo’s journey as this series continues!

Stowaway by John David Anderson is a very well written and engaging novel. While it takes place thirty years in the future, it is relevant to us today.
The story tells about Dr. Fender, Leo Fender, and Gareth Fender who leave Earth for a life on a research ship in space. After an attack, the doctor is taken, and only Leo stows away on a pirate ship, the Icarus, because he was tricked by his brother into doing so. The story follows the crew as it encounters different dangerous situations in its attempt to reunite the Fenders.
At the beginning of the novel, names of aliens may seem daunting;however, that does not pose a problem. I really like this book. It has primarily the universal themes of loyalty to family and friends, responsibility to and for others, love, and acceptance. Those themes are why I think this novel could be used in a classroom. It is also told in an engrossing way, which means that it may reach reluctant readers. I found it difficult at times to put it down. I highly recommend this book.

Those students who I know are always looking for the next sci-fi book. I love adding more middle grade sci-fi to my classroom.
The plot line is great and keeps you engaged in wondering whats going to happen next and if what you are thinking is truly what's real or what's not. There's so much in the story that I know kids wonder about and this takes it to a real life simulation event. Great for book clubs on fantasy/plot development and character building.

Without giving away any spoilers, I like to think that one is like X-files meets Snowpiercer. You just cannot predict what is going to happen next with each passing chapter and I think if you like JDA, you will enjoy this one a ton.

I do love John David Anderson. He is one of my personal favorite authors. I have met him personally and absolutely love his books. That being said, this is not my favorite but I did enjoy it. It is a personal preference alone, I am not a huge sci-fi/space reader. His character development is absolutely fantastic, as are all his books. I love them and they stick with me for a long, long time. I think students who enjoy space/sci-fi will love this one.

There is just not enough middle grade science fiction out there. And my adventure story loving students will really enjoy this one. There's snappy dialogue and a great deal of humor combined with all of the action. Thank you Walden Pond Press for letting me read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4+ stars

Highly enjoyable young adult space book.

Fifty years in the future space travel is real and aliens live on earth. One species of aliens has given Earth lots of technology in exchange for mining rocket fuel and destroying our planet. Aliens are at war with each other over this rocket fuel. Teenagers Leo and Gareth are living on a space ship for three years with their scientist father. When their father is kidnapped, Leo becomes a stowaway on a pirate ship and the adventures begin.

There is so much going on in this book but it works well with lots of humor and cool futuristic ideas. I really liked the little tidbits at the start of each chapter that helped give background to what has happened in the book’s backstory. The author does a great job developing the pirate crew characters—Boo is awesome! It felt like a YA version of Star Trek or Guardians of the Galaxy. Looking forward to more books in this series.

Imagine the world 40 years in the future . . . the people of Earth have discovered they are not alone. In fact, they have learned that the universe is so much more immense than they can ever imagine and that humans are one of the more underdeveloped species! Add to this mix a war between species and Earth being ravaged to develop the most crucial elements for space travel and you've got the backdrop to this Middle Grade Science Fiction novel.
Leo and his brother and father live aboard a space ship traveling throughout the universe. Leo is grappling with the loss of his home, his mother and life as he knew it and loved it. And then the unimaginable happens and Leo is separated from what family he has left.
John David Anderson beautifully handles the theme of loss and family in this beautifully crafted novel for Elementary to Middle Grade readers. There is enough humor and space talk that any young reader will be hooked immediately and I so appreciate the honest depiction of Leo's anxiety and his bravery. There's so much about Leo that young readers will be able to relate to and learn from, all while enjoying a fast paced Guardians of the Galaxy-esque read!

I am always looked for Sci-Fi titles to add to our collection. This book will make a perfect addition to that genre! This book will capture the attention of those students who can’t help but imagine what would happen if aliens approached, if there was contact with life outside of the humans and species native to Earth, and if there was space travel of all sorts going on. This hook has danger, adventure, pirates, aliens and wonder. It makes you think and keeps you engaged. It is sure to be a hit with many readers!

I was blown away by this book! It was so amazingly fun and exciting to read! Reminiscent of the movie, Guardians of the Galaxy in it's feel, I loved it's humor, it's action, it's quirky characters, and the way it made me feel. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins, I was able to read and review an eARC of this book, Stowaway by John David Anderson.

In the beginning of this book, Leo and Gareth, are playing a tag-type game, when the space ship they have been living on the past few years with their scientist father and the friendly alien species the Ayakari, is attacked by the enemy alien species, the Djarik. The Djarik take Leo's father as a hostage and all of the Ventasium, a highly sought after energy resource. Shortly after the Djarik leave their ship stranded, a ship of pirates raid it also looking for Ventasium. Unbeknownst to the pirates, Gareth, the older of the two boys, hides Leo in the pirate's ship's hold, hoping he can get away and get help.

Thus begins Leo's journey. Where he is taken on great adventures, faces many dangers, meets many unique characters, and begins to question who really are the bad and the good guys in the war between the worlds. I would love to see this book turned into a movie!