The Planet Thieves

Though marketed as a middle grade novel, do not let the age of the protagonists scare you away if you're an older reader. Krokos' sophomore novel is well-written and does not speak down to the audience. I loved Krokos' debut, False Memory, and he's hit it out of the park once again. The Planet Thieves is funny, full of adventure, and packed with delightful characters.<br /><br />Novels for children and teens are full of absent parents and authority figures. This construct allows for young people to feel empowered, the weight of the world on their shoulders. Only these kids can save the day and all that. Well, Krokos does use this basic plot structure. At the beginning of The Planet Thieves, the SS Egypt is attacked by humanity's enemy, the Tremist. All of the adults on the ship but one are captured or killed, leaving the cadets, thirteen and under to save the day.<br /><br />Krokos does a great job making this believable. Though the cadets are young, they are by no means out of their element entirely. They've already been in training for years, and have the skill sets they need to perform the tasks they need to, though they may not be as good as the adults yet. Also, they don't come by anything too easily. They suffer injuries, frequently consider giving up and waiting for adults to handle everything, and are stressed rather than excited by the roles they find themselves in.<br /><br />That said, the cadets really rise to the occasion. The one remaining adult on the Egypt is injured, so he names Mason captain, which ends up being a great choice. Mason isn't the most talented or brilliant of the trainees, but he's creative, something he'd ill-advisedly shown in his pranks. Rather than ever giving up, his mind is always churning for solutions, and most of his ideas turn out to be good ones, though some do go awry.<br /><br />The characters are likable and exhibit complexities. For example, the friendships between these cadets are tentative, so they also have to work to trust one another implicitly while facing odds they never should have been left alone to face. The villains too are much more complex than in most books for younger readers. They're not left as monsters out to destroy for the fun of it, and I love when authors take the time to establish motivations and shades of grey in the actions of the antagonists.<br /><br />Another aspect that makes this book a delight are all of the references. Science fiction nerds will likely pick out even more than I did, as I'm not nearly as well read as I would like to be. Most overt perhaps are references to Star Wars and Star Trek. However, though there are cute allusions, the overall story was fresh and original.<br /><br />The ending leaves space open for more books in this world, and I, for one, would be excited to read more. I'd love to find out more about Mason and Merrin, especially. Dan Krokos' The Planet Thieves is a novel that lovers of science fiction will not want to miss, whatever their age!

<br /><b>3.5 stars</b> A fun read overall, with tons of cliffhanger chapter endings to ensure you'll be turning the pages to find out what happens next. I'd recommend this one specifically for readers in the book's target age range of upper middle grade or younger YA, who will likely find the quick pacing and action-packed story an easy and entertaining read.<br /><br />The full text of this review may be found in<a href="http://www.themidnightgarden.net/2013/05/planetthieves.html" rel="nofollow noopener">The Midnight Garden</a>.

Reading, in my household, is a way of life. Books are everywhere. Stacked on shelves, stuffed in random boxes, perched precariously on the tops of lamps. Walking into my house is like walking into hermit’s habitat, with slightly more light. Though it irritates my husband from time to time (I’ve deduced this from his annual threats of “Don’t make me sell your books!”) I have found that my children don’t seem to mind. So I asked my son once, “Why doesn’t mommy’s books bug you? They are all over the place.” His answer: “It’s like a library in here. It’s kinda cool.” Apparently, after a little conversation, and a lot of prodding, I discovered that BOTH of my kids view the books as an extension of ME. They see me read them. Laugh with them. Cry with them. Even (from time to time) chunk one with great force across the living room in a fit of anger. Mommy loves the books, so THEY love the books.<br /><br />But it got me thinking. As much as I adore their thought process, I don’t want my children to love books because I do. (Abstractly or otherwise.) I want my children to love books because THEY connect with them. I want them to get lost inside new worlds. Battle dragons, and save planets. I want my children to READ the books I have stacked around the house, not just stare at them in wonder.<br /><br />So I devised a plan. I registered for library cards. And I went to work. The mission: find that 1 book that lights a fire in my child’s mind. The 1 book that turns reverie into reality. Months later, I’m still trying to find my daughters. She’s only four so I’ll cut her some slack. But my son? Jackpot! The book? “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick. A 533 page jaunt through clocks and evil station guards that my 8 year old boy threw back in just 4 days. Poof! A reader was born.<br /><br />Since then, he has read 5 books. The latest and greatest being an ARC that was sent to ME not him. “The Planeet Thieves” by Dan Krokos. And while it would give me great joy to hand over the reigns for an hour and let you hear HIS thoughts on the book, I think 4 paragraph of: “Omg, Mom! It was awesome!” might be a little much. So I think I’ll take it from here.<br /><br />"Two weeks ago, thirteen-year-old Mason Stark and seventeen of his fellow cadets from the Academy for Earth Space Command boarded theSS Egypt. The trip was supposed to be a short routine voyage to log their required spacetime for summer quarter.<br /><br />But routine goes out the airlock when they’re attacked by the Tremist, an alien race who have been at war with humanity for the last sixty years.<br /><br />With the captain and crew dead, injured, or taken prisoner, Mason and the cadets are all that’s left to warn the ESC. And soon they find out exactly why the Tremist chose this ship to attack: the Egypt is carrying a weapon that could change the war forever<br /><br />Now Mason will have to lead the cadets in a daring assault to take back the ship, rescue the survivors, and recover the weapon. Before there isn’t a war left to fight."<br /><br />Much like my kiddo, I loved this book.<br /><br />As should be (with middle grade literature) “The Planet Thieves” was action packed from beginning (were Mason pranks his older sister by removing the screws from her chair) to the end (where…wait, I can’t tell you that.) And much like adult literature (specifically Science Fiction) this book was absolutely FILLED with crazy/entertaining/unexpected twists, which made it “read” much more mature than it actually was. (That’s not a dig, thats a compliment. A weird one, but hey.)<br /><br />The truth is, I love authors (like Krokos – who I had the pleasure of chatting with at ATBF12 last year, just FYI) who don’t feel the need to “dumb down” their writing. You can’t educate or elevate a child by writing on THEIR level, you have to take it up a notch and challenge them. Teach them.<br /><br />This was the very first thing I noticed about this novel. I didn’t feel like I was reading something penned for a toddler. I (as an adult) was as equally engaged in the story as my son. Which is a credit to Krokos’ writing ability.<br /><br />Here…let me give you a few examples:<br /><br />“No one spoke for a few seconds. Mason’s mind spun, and his heart hammered: having the enemy inside the ship was so different than fighting them on a planet’s surface. Here there was metal surrounding them, like a cage. No place to run. And if one of the energy weapons somehow melted through the hull… “We’re able hands,” Jeremy said. “That’s us.” “We’re trained,” Mason added immediatly, hoping the idea would catch. Stellan stepped back. “Lockwood’s orders supersede any thoughts of heroism you might have. You saw his face – he was dead serious.”<br /><br />“Commander Lockwood, balk head shiny with sweat, lay on his back in a bed, burns covering his neck and the side of his face. His ESC uniform was singed in places, but burned away completely under his right ribs. There the skin black and red. He was going to die if they didn’t get him to a real hospital soon, that much was clear. Mason felt hollow, because he knew Lockwood, who was the unofficial cadet herder sometimes He also felt heavy, because when Lockwood died, they would truly be alone. Just Elizabeth to keep them company on a ship controlled by the enemy.”<br /><br />Supersede? Heart hammered? Felt hollow? All of these require vivid thought (for a young mind.) What does supersede mean? How does one FEEL hollow?<br /><br />But solid writing isn’t the MOST important thing is it? Even horrible (ok, maybe that should say sub-par) writing can be over shadowed by an uniquely imaginative story. And the story that lived inside the pages of “The Planet Thieves” was a character driven, roller-coaster ride of WOW. Aliens were invading. Teenagers were in charge, and jet packs were hanging about like sparkly little droplets of awesome.<br /><br />Personally? I wish the plot had slowed in a few places so I could relish what was happening. But that in no way effects the quality of the book. Let’s just call those “desires of an old coot.”<br /><br />Overall…a truly enjoyable (for both me and my son) ride through hostile space.<br /><br />I highly recommend this for young readers trying desperately to forge a path to literary love. It has everything a child (and a mother) could ask for.<br /><br />Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Reading is contagious…pass it on.

Oh goodness! I can't wait for this book! The first sentence totally got my attention <i> Star Trek meets Rick Riordan </i>. As a fan of Rick Riordan, I will really check this out! <br /><br />I hope 2013 will come soon. A few more months and this would be released! I can't wait! :)

THE PLANET THIEVES is something I don't think I've encountered in middle grade before - military sci-fi. The closest I can think of are the later Alien Adventures books by Bruce Coville. I loved those books, and I enjoyed THE PLANET THIEVES quite a bit. The genre isn't the only unexpected thing.<br /><br />THE PLANET THIEVES was darker than I expected. I was expecting a bit of a madcap adventure based on the cover and tagline ("Two civilizations. One planet. And a race to see who steals it first!"). But those two civilizations are at war, and neither side has behaved their best. Dan Krokos does a good job of describing war, and the actions that are acceptable and unacceptable during wartime, in a way that's suitable for children but not didactic. (There's also a subtle environmental moral, since both races want a new planet after using their own up.)<br /><br />Mason Stark is a thirteen-year-old cadet on a diplomatic mission. He and seventeen other cadets are just supposed to be along for the ride, but when their ship is attacked by the Tremist, the crew is killed or taken hostage. The cadets have to take charge and Mason become acting captain almost by accident. His two greatest allies are Tom, a former rival who likes to play by the rules, and Merrin, his best friend who he has a bit of a crush on.<br /><br />THE PLANET THIEVES weakest aspect is that it's rather boy heavy. Tom's mother and Mason's older sister are both competent, in-charge women who get sidelined early in the novel. Willa is the only named female cadet aside from Merrin, and she only plays a part for a split second - fake crying to act as bait. Several of the male cadets get to take turns as leader. Merrin, meanwhile, has to be rescued at least twice. Tom and Mason at least trade off rescuing each other. When Merrin does get a chance to save Mason, it's Tom who saves him instead. In the end, Merrin only gets to keep her agency by the skin of her teeth. She's not weak. But she is relegated to the damsel-in-distress and love interest roles despite the fact we're told she's a fierce fighter and good with a computer.<br /><br />The strongest aspect is the plot. THE PLANET THIEVES is fast and furious, keeping Mason constantly on the move. They're doing anything they can think of to save the day, but what the day needs saving from keeps changing. I also liked that Mason rarely comes out ahead. He and his allies are clever, but they're thirteen and still training. They lose in physical contests against adults. They're out thought by high-ranking officers. But they keep trying, because they want to do what's right and Mason has the courage and charisma to keep them coordinated and motivated.<br /><br />THE PLANET THIEVES is a terrific choice for sci-fi fans looking for culture clashes and unexpected revelations. (I'm definitely giving the nod to Doctor Who fans.) It ends with quite the hook for the sequel, and I know I'll be back for more.

The Planet Thieves, by Dan Krokos, is the first in a new children's science fiction series set in a far future during a half-century-old interplanetary war between humanity and a mysterious race known as the Tremist. Thirteen-year-old Mason Stark, his best friend Merrin, and his sometime rival Tom Renner, along with another dozen or so cadets, are on board the warship SS Egypt for what is supposed to be a routine mission when they are suddenly attacked by a Tremist ship. Soon, Mason and his fellow cadets are on their own, fighting to regain control of their ship, prevent the Tremist from getting hold of a supersecret weapon, and save the Earth.<br /><br />The Planet Thieves starts out with a bang (almost literally, as the Egypt is buffeted by the Tremist’s surprise attack) and the pace continues at a breakneck speed with our characters being placed in one perilous situation... Read More:<br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-planet-thieves/">http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...</a>

Four stars: A fun book that feels like a Star Trek adventure!<br><br>Mason is horrified to hear the alarms sounding while he is on the bridge trying to play a silly prank on his older sister Susan. Quickly, he hides and watches in terror as The SS Egypt is engaged by their enemy the Tremists. Before the action gets dangerous, Susan insists on escorting Mason off the bridge and locking him in the Brig, not only to punish him for his actions, but in her mind it is a great way to keep him safe. Mason refuses to be held prisoner. He resorts to calling on one of his fellow cadets, Tom, for aid. Tom and Mason have not exactly gotten along, but soon the two are thrust together as they are in a fight for their very lives. Can Mason, at thirteen, somehow save the Egypt and his planet?<br><br>What I Liked:<br>*Okay, I admit it, I am a big Star Trek fan. Not to the point that I would dress up and attend a Trekkie convention, but I do love the TV series and the movies. When I picked up The Planet Thieves, I was delighted to find that it read much like a Star Trek episode. It is packed full of adventure and danger and there are deadly aliens, unexplored planets, intelligent computers, advanced weapons and technology and more! I had a lot of fun with this book and I would highly recommend it! <br>For all of you adrenaline junkies out there, this book won't disappoint. In the first few pages, the action comes at you with a frenzy. It doesn't let up the entire book! I almost wished that there were a couple more slow scenes just so I could catch my breath. Many of the chapters end on a cliffhanger so you are forced to keep turning the pages. I think this is an excellent read for the younger crowd as it will stir their imagination and encourage them to stick with the book.<br>*Mason, the main character, at thirteen he is rash, a bit immature and doesn't always stop to think things through, but he has a lot of heart and he is incredibly courageous. He is willing to do what it takes to ensure the safety of the others and the entire human race, for that matter, even if it means paying a great price. I think that he is a character that young readers will really enjoy. <br>*I appreciated that one of the focuses of the story is upon friendship. Mason has formed a solid bond with a female cadet named Merrin. Mason learns a shocking secret about Merrin that could put her in terrible danger. Mason refuses to let any harm befall his friend, and he goes to great lengths to protect her. I admired his loyalty, especially when it would have been so easy for him to turn his back and resort to hate and prejudice. I also liked the fact that Mason ends up forming a strong relationship with Tom. At the beginning of the story, Mason and Tom aren't exactly friends. They have had a difficult past and even gotten into a squabble. When faced with danger, the two are forced to set aside their differences and learn to work together. This is an important theme in the book as it once again surfaces at the end. I certainly appreciated the positive messages in this one. It is a reminder that we need to set aside our prejudices and work toward a better future!<br>*This book has illustrations! I loved that there were pictures of some of the things that weren't exactly easy for me to imagine. I am a fan of pictures in books and I wonder why we don't get them anymore in adult books, who says we grow to old for pictures?<br>* I loved that this one had a solid ending with a couple of exciting hints dropped at the end that will be followed up in the next book. It just goes to show that you can easily generate excitement and interest for the sequel without resorting to the despicable cliffhanger. This book is a great example of how it should be done!<br>And The Not So Much:<br>*This book is being billed as a Middle Grade novel. I think that it is best for readers on the older end of the middle grade range. Not because there is anything inappropriate, but more so because the material is a bit complicated. As an adult, I even had a bit of trouble wrapping my mind around the hyper gates and all of that. If I hadn't watched plenty of Star Trek I would have maybe struggled a bit more. Some people may feel like this is a rip off of Star Trek, but I personally liked that it seemed familiar to me since I have watched plenty of Star Trek. Due to the sci-fi elements, I think this is best suited for readers 11 and up. <br>*At first, I was wondering why the cadets didn't just do away with the Tremists when they were in a fight for their life. I thought it was crazy that they would resort to trapping them and trying to lock them up instead of killing them. However, once I thought it through, I realized that I was reading a book for younger readers and then I appreciated that the author steered away from violence. For all of you parents who are concerned about violent content, this book does have some confrontations and a few characters get beat up. There are some deaths as well, but the majority of the deaths occur from falling. There is nothing graphic or brutal with these scenes. It is mild violence. <br>*This is the adult reader coming through, I was a tad bit disappointed that there wasn't a romance. I thought that the pieces were in place for a romantic development, but it doesn't go there. Even though, I was let down that there was not a romance, once again I realize this is a book geared toward younger boys and so romance is not what they are looking for in their reading. <br><br>Planet of Thieves was a fun, action packed adventure that kept me thoroughly entertained. If you are a fan of sci-fi you are sure to enjoy this book. Don't be fooled by the middle grade label, there is plenty to like in this book for teens and even adults. If you want an adrenaline fueled read and a great adventure definitely get this one, whether it be for you or a younger reader. <br><br>Favorite Quotations:<br>“I am not a brave man. But bravery, like most things, can be faked. And sometimes, in rare instances, it will lead to the real thing.”<br>“With icy clarity, he saw now what the worst part of command was. The glory came by chance, after you made the hard calls.”<br><br>I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.<br>Posted@ <a href="http://www.rainydayramblings.com" rel="nofollow noopener">Rainy Day Ramblings</a><br><a href="http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380311755i/688599.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> <br> </a><br><br><br>

Το "Κλέφτες πλανητών" είναι ένα από τα βιβλία εκείνα που έφτασαν στα χέρια μου στην πρωτότυπη μορφή τους -δηλαδή, στα αγγλικά-, όταν ακόμα οι εκδοτικοί το αξιολογούσαν προκειμένου να αποφασίσουν αν θα το εντάξουν ή όχι στο εκδοτικό τους πρόγραμμα. Ως αξιολογήτρια, λοιπόν, βρέθηκα τότε σε πολύ δύσκολη θέση καθώς, ναι μεν το βιβλίο είναι πάρα πολύ καλό στα περισσότερα σημεία του, ανήκει όμως σε ένα λογοτεχνικό είδος που στην Ελλάδα, όπως έχει αποδείξει η ίδια η Ιστορία, δεν τραβάει και δεν χαίρει της αποδοχής και της αναγνώρισης από το αναγνωστικό κοινό. Σε μια τέτοια περίπτωση, λοιπόν, τι πρέπει να κάνεις; Να πεις "ναι", ή να πεις "όχι"; Προσωπικά, είπα "όχι", αλλά αυτό δεν σημαίνει πως η αξία του βιβλίου δεν αναγνωρίστηκε από μέρους μου.<br /><br />Οι άνθρωποι και οι Τρέμιστ βρίσκονται σε μάχη για την διεκδίκηση ενός πλανήτη ο οποίος μπορεί να φιλοξενήσει και τις δύο ράτσες. Η Γη πλέον είναι υπερπληθής και η μετοίκιση σε άλλους πλανήτες ανέφικτη. Ο 13χρονος Μέισον Σταρκ μόλις έχει αποφοιτήσει από την Ακαδημία Διαστημικής Διοίκησης Γης, περιμένοντας την ώρα που θα συνεχίσει την εκπαίδευσή του στην ηγεσία του σκάφους. Ένα αθώο παιχνίδι, μια φάρσα στην αδερφή του, θα αποδειχτεί μοιραία καθώς, με την αφελή του αυτή πράξη, οι Τρέμιστ καταφέρνουν να εισχωρήσουν στο σκάφος, να πιάσουν ομήρους και τελικά, να καταλάβουν τον έλεγχό του. Ο Μέισον μαζί με τον Τομ, τον γιο της αρχηγού και τη Μέριν, μια παράξενη και γοητευτική κοπέλα, είναι η μοναδική ελπίδα του σκάφους και των επιβατών του να γλιτώσουν από τον αφανισμό και να νικήσουν τους καταληψίες. Φυσικά, αυτό δεν είναι εύκολη υπόθεση ενώ πολλά μυστικά περιμένουν να αποκαλυφθούν.<br /><br /><br />Η γραφή του Dan Krokos είναι κατανοητή και άμεση, καθ��στώντας το σύνολο του κειμένου ιδιαίτερα ευκολοδιάβαστο για τους νεαρότερους ηλικιακά αναγνώστες, χωρίς αυτό να σημαίνει πως με τον τρόπο του απορρίπτει ένα πιο ενήλικο κοινό. Η "κόντρα" ανάμεσα στην ανθρώπινη φυλή και των Τρέμιστ είναι ενδιαφέρουσα, προσφέροντας υλικό που μπορεί να εξελιχθεί ιδιαίτερα στο μέλλον, με πολύ ωραίο τρόπο, περνώντας μηνύματα σχετικά με το πόσο πολύ απομυζούμε την γη μας οδηγώντας την στην καταστροφή κι εμάς στον αφανισμό. Ενδιαφέρουσα είναι επίσης η αναγκαία συνύπαρξη του Μέισον και του Τομ, και το πως το χειρίζεται ο συγγραφέας, δύο χαρακτήρων που με μια πρώτη ματιά φαίνονται εκ διαμέτρου αντίθετοι και οι οποίοι, παρά τις διαφορές, τις συμπάθειες ή τις αντιπάθειές τους, καλούνται να σταθούν πλάι-πλάι προκειμένου να αντιμετωπίσουν την κρίση και να ανακτήσουν τον έλεγχο του σκάφους τους.<br /><br />Η ιστορία εξελίσσεται σε έναν αρκετά περιορισμένο χώρο, που αν και περιγράφεται διεξοδικά και είναι ξεκάθαρη η ταυτότητά του, μας προκαλεί ώρες-ώρες ασφυξία. Αυτό έχει τα θετικά και τα αρνητικά του. Το θετικό είναι πως -προφανώς- ο συγγραφέας πετυχαίνει τον στόχο του, να μας προκαλέσει δηλαδή ένα αίσθημα αγωνίας και να δημιουργήσει ένα κλειστοφοβικό περιβάλλον που θα εντείνει όλο αυτό, αλλά προσωπικά θα ήθελα να υπάρχει λίγο μεγαλύτερο εύρος δράσης. Αν και καλή, η ιστορία στερείται πρωτοτυπίας. Κανείς δεν αμφισβητεί την φαντασία και τις προθέσεις του δημιουργού ωστόσο, θα μπορούσε να προσπαθήσει για το κάτι παραπάνω που θα έκανε τελικά τη διαφορά. Επίσης, οφείλουμε να αναφέρουμε πως ο συγγραφέας παρασύρεται ορισμένες στιγμές με αποτέλεσμα να πέφτει στην παγίδα της επανάληψης κάτι που δεν είναι απαραίτητα ενοχλητικό αλλά κακά τα ψέματα, κουράζει αρκετά.<br /><br />Το "Κλέφτες πλανητών", στο σύνολό του, είναι ένα ιδιαίτερα καλό βιβλίο, αν και δεν θα λέγαμε πως είναι ιδιαίτερα πρωτότυπο. Αντίθετα, η ιστορία στερείται πρωτοτυπίας και παρά που κανείς δεν αμφισβητεί την φαντασία και τις προθέσεις του δημιουργού, δεν μπορεί να μην αναφέρει πως θα μπορούσε να προσπαθήσει για το κάτι παραπάνω που θα έκανε τελικά τη διαφορά και, ίσως, να έκανε πιο εύκολο το να πλασαριστεί το βιβλίο του και σε ένα άλλο κοινό, πέραν αυτού που αγαπάει έτσι κι αλλιώς το sci-fi. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, είναι μια ιστορία με έντονα κοινωνικοπολιτικά, ανθρωπιστικά μηνύματα, μηνύματα γύρω από την φύση και την προστασία της από την ίδια την καταστροφική τάση του ανθρώπου, ενώ δίνεται αρκετά μεγάλη έμφαση στον αδελφικό δεσμό και στην ανάγκη να προστατεύει ο ένας τον άλλον με όποιο κόστος. Αν μη τι άλλο, αυτό περνάει με θετικό τρόπο στον αναγνώστη, τον συγκινεί, αλλά και αυξάνει την ένταση καθώς, αν υπάρξουν απώλειες, μπορεί να είναι τραγικές.

I still don't entirely know how I feel about this book. While some parts really had me invested into the story, others had me dozing off. Did I enjoy The Planet Thieves wholly? Yes. Did I enjoy it at all times? Not exactly.<br /><br />The biggest problem I had with The Planet Thieves was the main character - I never connected to Mason. He seemed to whiny and jokester-like for me to enjoy. Yes, being a jokester character does work in middle-grade fiction sometimes, but given the circumstances and the plot of The Planet Thieves, I don't think it worked so well. Right from the first page, I didn't like Mason. I was hoping he would develop and mature as the book went on, but... I just never liked him.<br /><br />Luckily, the plot redeems The Planet Thieves (Mason just annoyed me). Very sci-fi action paced, and with an awesome twist - that's what I liked the absolute most about this book. It did have slow parts, but for the majority, it's hard to find a dull moment in The Planet Thieves. Dark and sinister as space itself, The Planet Thieves rocks!<br /><br />Overall, The Planet Thieves has an awesome plot, but very obnoxious and annoying protagonist. So... maybe I half liked it, and half didn't? If you're looking for a new epic middle grade, I'd recommend The Planet Thieves!

Okay … <i>The Planet Thieves</i> has to be the most frightening book I’ve read all year. Is it a horror book? Nah. But it terrified me all the same. It feels like a very conservative novel meant to make 8-12yos want to join the military. It’s a military recruitment tool.<br /><br /><b>Content warnings:</b><br />ableist language (cr*ppled is EVERYWHERE in the prose!)<br />antisemitism mention (e.g., the enemies could even be LIZARD PEOPLE)<br />basically everything I explained above … <br /><br /><b>This review is pretty harsh and judgmental, sorry. Be prepared. It took me all week to write.</b><br /><br />Thirteen-year-old Mason Stark, his best friend, Merrin, and his fellow cadets aboard the <i>SS Egypt</i> were just part of a routine voyage when they were attacked by their alien enemy, the Tremist. When all the other officers are killed or captured, Mason is appointed caption, and it’s up to him and the cadets to save their other officers and find out the mysteries behind the Tremist and what they’re after aboard the <i>Egypt</i>.<br /><br />Oh, boy. There is so much. <i>So. Much</i> to deal with here. The prose and the writing is a mess, but so is the plot. It’s a small book and a quick read, but it tries to do <i>so much</i> without room to do so. The beginning half of the book deals with Mason’s struggle to find out why the Tremist targeted his ship, which feels a lot like Orson Scott Card’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/375802.Ender_s_Game?ac=1&amp;from_search=true" rel="nofollow noopener">Ender’s Game</a>, and then the second half plunges into some ludicrous plot taking a lot of inspiration from H.G. Well’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2493.The_Time_Machine?ac=1&amp;from_search=true" rel="nofollow noopener">The Time Machine</a>. The pacing seems way off for such a quick read. It’s over so fast, but the plot tries to be <i>so vast</i>--the effect comes off as strange, awkward, and leaves me with a taste of “that’s it?” in my mouth. <br /><br />I mentioned weak writing but it was <i>Really Weak</i>. “Nori-Blue had rivers and lakes and edible plants that grew fruits more delicious than any on Earth” ; “Tom spit on the ground and bent over, like he was about to throw up. Merrin put her hands over her mouth. Mason wanted to do the same things they were doing, [...] but he didn’t.” There’s also compound words missing hyphens, other editing errors, etc. In the first half, for every page taking place in the present, there’s two more going into backstory, most of it unnecessary. <br /><br />Then there’s everything I mentioned in the beginning: the book feels like a military recruitment tool aimed at middle-grade readers. First there’s the glorification of the military in general (these characters are so honored and proud to have their grandparents serve and etc.), then there’s the targeting of anyone who’s “different” from them. Especially those who look like … the “Enemy”, aka the Tremist, even if it happens to be your friends. Suddenly it’s “ARE YOU TREMIST? ARE YOU THE ENEMY?”, aka you’re us or you’re them kind of mindset. There’s also the “you have to be a MAN” type bullsh*t. In the text, it’s that Mason can’t cry and be a man at the same time; pain is for soldiers to know they’re strong. There’s also this frightening line: “Be prideful of the uniform, but not of your abilities”. <br /><br />Not only that, but even though the book has some diverse characters (mentioned in the background, of course. The cover makes it seem like Mason is black but … lmao, no, he’s not), they’re just described as you would normally expect. At one point the book says where people come from on Earth isn’t important, because Earth has become so diverse and mixed. But then suddenly this Swedish kid comes by, and the book completely pauses to describe him: “Stellan was the tallest of them, and bone thin, with hollow cheeks, like he never got enough food at mealtime. His hair was so blond it was almost white. He was from a country called Sweden ([...]), and Mason wondered if all people from Sweden looked looked like him.” Then it goes into how Mason admires him for his unique strength or something, something the book hasn’t done for anyone else. It’s like … the book paused to describe and glorify the one kid who was what, Aryan?<br /><br />Could I be reaching? Sure. But with all the elements? This book is scary. It’s also written by a white hardcore gamer (stereotyping here, but I’ve listened to my brother and his friends talk, and I’ve heard about what they talk about on 4chan, now 8chan. I can just see someone from there want to write a military propaganda novel for middle-grade readers …). <br /><br />Anyway, yeah. This book scared me, and it wasn’t written well, even looking past that (past my own biases and stereotyping and fears). I think it’s definitely my least favorite read from this year -- and probably the last couple years, too.