John David Anderson is SUCH a good writer. This was a middle grade book, and yet it was so enjoyable to adult reader me. Nothing with him is black/white -- characters and situations are always grey, always realistic.

Set in the very near future (30 years from now), aliens arrive. They invite us into the "Coalition" (which sounds a lot like the Federation, huh? Anderson is a sci fi fan and again and again it shows in good ways). The Coalition (the "good guys") are fighting the "bad guy" aliens. The main character (Leo, a young boy), loses his family and spends most of the book on a space pirate ship trying to get them back.

I love how Anderson shows that war is complex. There are no good guys or bad guys. Everyone has their own reasons and motivations, both sides consider themselves the good guys.

I was so sorry when the story ended. Can't wait to get into book 2!

Stowaway was a wicked cool, quick and easy sci-fi read! The story was a great and believable concept with fun characters!

This was a fun middle grade read. The world was interesting and the characters were compelling. However, this didn't do much more me. I'm not going to think about this book a lot after reading it, and one of the biggest things that bothered me with this book was the constant references. It overwhelmed the book and the story. I would recommend this to a middle schooler, if they were looking for a good sci-fi.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Super sweet! The sci fi elements were easy to understand and this story was very heartwarming. Definitely recommend for younger audiences.

Loved this book. Can't wait to read more by the author. Fast paced and interesting. Will add to my classroom library.

Oftentimes, when reading middle grade science fiction such as this, you find the story reduced to a few tropes and a fairly clear cut hero vs. villain story. That's not the case in this one. Rather, Leo is a kid with a lot of internal anguish that is further complicated by the complexity of sorting through past traumas with the help of an uncommunicative father. And that's just the set up. Thrust that same conflicted adolescent into an adventure in space between two warring civilizations, separate him from everyone he knows and trusts, and surround him with a crew of pirates that readers will identify with as being the most identifiable and relatable in the whole book, and you've got an interesting, engaging read. I'd be the first to tell you that science fiction isn't normally my genre of choice, but as you'll hear from many of the readers that I respect, my favorite kind of story is one that's done well. This is that. Anderson writes convincing, well-developed, character-driven narratives that I'd happily read and discuss with children and adults. His writing is rich and thoughtful, and it's perplexing that his titles often fly under the radar. This one definitely leaves you hanging, as it should since it's book one of a duology. I can't wait to see what happens next for Leo and the crew.

A fun read and interesting science fiction; not a great fit for our collection but might do well with others. Will be spreading the word.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was way cooler and funnier than i thought it would be lol liked the culture references! would recommend

This book was very interesting- and had a lot going on. Aliens, Pirates, typical space mineral (the precious LOL). I would recommend this book for any busy-minded 2nd-5th grade student. Since I've been going through a period of where I'm technically reparenting myself via the books I would've read as a child- this is a book I can honestly say lit up the little child inside of me. I was really impressed and enjoyed the narrator.

Thank you so much to net galley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book! I loved this book and the idea of this book. All the characters were amazing and I’m definitely going to read the rest of the series

I have long been a fan of John David Anderson's books and regularly take them to schools to share with middle schoolers. Stowaway made my Christmas gift guide suggestion list for my director's upcoming newspaper column The Hawk Eye. Leo is now one of my favorite characters! Can't wait for the sequel.

I really enjoyed this book! One of my favorite SciFi tropes is found family that's stuck on a ship together and this book did it so well. The entire crew took in the main character and wanted to protect him, it was just so sweet.

I typically love science fiction novels and was really excited to read this middle grade and see what the author came up with. And in all, the story was pretty fun and enjoyable. I liked the accidental stowaway aspect of it and the characters were quirky and fun.

I did think though, for a middle grade, it was rather adult sounding. Or at least young adult sounding. I didn’t like the fact that there was language used especially when thinking that readership is usually 8-12 year olds. That’s probably just a personal preference thing.

In all, the reading experience was not as fun since it’s text to voice and not the actual audio book, but the adventure was fun if a little slow in parts with some odd flash backs. But they did add to the understanding of the main character himself.

I’d personally recommend this for older aged kids after a parent has read.

My rating: 3*

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I received a free copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received a voicegalley of this book, so I cannot say if the narrator in the final version will be fantastic, horrible, or somewhere in between. I will say, it took me a while to get into this book but once I did I didn't want to stop listening.

I thought Leo did a great job of navigating the challenges he faced and the cliff hanger at the end of the book will leave you wanting more.
I cannot wait to read book #2, I need to know what happens next with the coalition, the Icari, and the Djarik (not sure how those alien races are spelled). The cliff hanger at the end of the book will leave you wanting more.

The audiobook was everything! I loved the tone and fell into the world so easily with the audiobook! I highly recommend!

I can’t wait for my students to read this! I know they will love it as much as I did. John David Anderson has an amazing ability to write characters and plots for kids that are both exciting yet moving.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

3.5/5 Leo is a stowaway on a space pirate ship and tries to reunite his family. The novel has quite a slow start, but I liked the characters and the story.

Audiobook format was not a good choice in this case. Of course, I knew that this is a voice galley, and synthesized voice is used. But here, it didn’t work for me. Otherwise, this is a nice middle-grade sci-fi adventure. I'm sure kids who like sci-fi and space will enjoy this.

Thanks to Harper Audio for the ARC and the opportunity to listen to this! All opinions are my own.

This was a great addition to what I feel is a very small selection of middlegrade Sci-Fi titles available. We follow Leo as he and his father and brother are aboard a research vessel in the middle of space. They are having a completely normal trip when 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.

Things I liked:
- The writing was really well done. Especially in the development of a vast cast of characters. Each character was unique with a rich backstory that made you feel like you were right there onboard the starship with them. And with the story continuing in the next books I look forward to learning more of these great characters.
- Found Family. Now this goes well with the last point with how well the characters were written. But I'm a sucker for a well done found family trope and this certainly delivered. Leo finds himself in harsh circumstances but he finds himself in the middle of this new group of friends that are exactly what he didn't know he needed in his life.
-The themes of environmentalism were really well done in a way that I feel readers young and old can take away a good message about taking care of our planet.

Things I didn't love:
- The book had a very slow start for me and it took me a few chapters to get into the story.
- The big plot twist was rather predictable and I guessed it from a few chapters in. But that being said the actual moment of the revile was so well done and came across with so much heart that I teared up. I had guessed that "what" but not the "why" so to speak.
-The flashbacks scenes were a bit to numerous for me and took me out of the story of the present. I understand that it was important parts of what made Leo himself but they got repetitive after a while.
Overall I greatly enjoyed my time with this book. If you are looking for a fun middlegrade space pirate book with a wisecracking cast of characters and a galaxy sprinkled with pop culture references then you should give this book a try.

I was given this book on Netgally in exchange for my honest review.

I'd honestly forgotten what this book was about if I ever actually read the synopsis, but it was so much more than I was expecting! A kid stows away on a pirate spaceship and leaves everything and everyone behind - with no idea of the adventure that is about to happen!

I definitely recommend reading this one if you want a middle grade space adventure with a high focus on family, found family, and the worst pirates in the universe. I wasn't a huge fan of how back and forth everything went with the background information, but the information gathered was necessary. It might have translated better as a physical copy or ebook. The narrator for the true audiobook will probably also flow better.

I received an ARC of the audiobook version of Stowaway by John David Anderson thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review:
When I was reading Stowaway, it was suddenly over. I'm not saying it was too short, or not wrapped up properly (because that was not the case), but rather that I became so hooked in the story that I got lost in it. I love the characters. They remind me of Hitchhiker's Guide but with more purpose, which is wonderful. I haven't been so attached to a robot in so, so long! I also loved the way the ending was handled (no spoilers), but it could have gone in so many directions but this way made so much sense. It also makes me eager for a sequel!

I definitely recommend for those who like space pirates!