Tyler Jones is the top of his 2380 class. He is leadership material with a capital L and he’s looking forward to choosing his squad from the Draft the following day. He’ll need a Tech person, a Diplomat, a Security member, a Scientist and a key Pilot on their missions.

His night-before-nerves drive him out on a flight when everyone else is asleep, and he discovers something untoward. A signal to a life-form floating in space – a ship filled with dead people, all except one. A teenage human girl named Aurora. Ty misses the all important Draft.

Left with his diplomat sister, best friend and pilot Cat, a surly scientist and two aliens for tech and security, Tyler steps up, knowing he has to be the best squad leader he can with this mismatch of graduates. Half of them may be social outcasts but they know their stuff and their first assigned mission seems an insult to all of their combined skills. They set out together, getting to know each other as a team.

That is the last time they will see their home base. Aurora is not who she seems, and even she doesn’t know it. They are thrown into an adrenaline pumping, draw dropping quest that has them fleeing from all they know and have trained years for.

Through their different view-points we discover  lies, lusts, power-plays, mistrusts, jealousy, and fear. But loyalty, trust, courage, and love are also in the mix, as they face seemingly insurmountable challenges, again and again. So many questions swirl among them.

Why did only Aurora survive the 200 year journey on her colonist ship? What is the strange light that eminates from her? Will Ty finally see what Cat is trying to tell him, and will he be able to hold his team together and keep them alive?

Packed with sarcasm and sass, these teen’s banter made me laugh out loud. The action made me hold my breath one second then gasp, ‘No!’ in the next. Absolutely loved it! The only problem I had with the book was that I haven’t got the next one to dive into!

Authors – Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Age – 13+

Read an extract here

Teachers Tips here (Scroll down to bottom of page)

(Future, Sci Fi, Space, Colonising Planets, Power, Aliens, Secrets, Teamwork, Betrayal, Intrigue, Twins)