
The night before the attack, Leo’s other had introduced him to a new trick, seemingly passing a chain of colored scarves through her skull, in one ear and out the other. “I’m cleaning my brains,” she said. “Just getting the dust out.” It was marvelous, just like she was. He begged her to teach him, but it was already late.
“Tomorrow,” she said. “I promise.”
STOWAWAY, by John David Anderson is a riveting MG space opera covering themes of grief, loss, loyalty, family, identity, courage, and sacrifice. Authentic characters, an immersive setting, and a fast paced plot makes this the kind of story that will engage readers of all ages–and it’s the first in a series! I can’t wait to read the next book.
To win a copy of this book, comment on this post. If you share on facebook or twitter, you get another entry. Giveaway closes in one week.
About the Book:
The beloved author of Posted and Ms. Bixby’s Last Day returns with the first book in a coming-of-age sci-fi duology about Leo, a kid trying to navigate the galaxy in order to save his family—and, possibly, the planet Earth.
When scientists discover a rare and mysterious mineral buried in the Earth’s crust, they have no idea that it just happens to be the most valuable substance in the entire universe. It’s not long before aliens show up to our little corner of the galaxy offering a promise of protection, some fabulous new technology, and entry into their intergalactic coalition—all in exchange for this precious resource. A material so precious that other alien forces are willing to start a war over it. A war that soon makes its way to Earth.
Leo knows this all too well. His mother was killed in one such attack, and soon after, his father, a Coalition scientist, decides it would be best for them to leave Earth behind. It’s on this expedition that 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.
But the road is dangerous, and pirates, of course, only look out for themselves. Leo must decide who to trust as he tries to stay alive and save his family, even as he comes to understand that there aren’t many people—human or alien—that he can count on in this brave new universe.

John David Anderson is the author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Posted, Granted, One Last Shot, and Stowaway. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife, two frawesome kids, and clumsy cat, Smudge, in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at www.johndavidanderson.org.
Blog Tour
August 15, 2021 Nerdy Book Club
August 17, 2021 Writer’s Rumpus
August 23, 2021 A Library Mama
August 24, 2021 Unleashing Readers
August 26, 2021 Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
This looks like such a good book to read . I cant wait.
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Going to be ordering for my library this Fall.
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Looking forward to reading this book by John David Anderson!
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I don’t read SciFi, but I just might make an exception for this one. I love survivor stories, and I have loved everything I have read by John David Anderson, so I think this one is for me. Thanks for the heads up.
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This book sounds amazing! And it sounds like an exciting twist on a real-life debate: there were two recent SAT Reading passages where authors passionately defended the pros and cons of space mining.
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I can’t wait to read this book! Making sure it’s on my Goodreads TBR. I shared on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.hammelef/posts/10222414255318996
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You won the book, Danielle! Please email me at kirsti dot call @gmail.com!
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Wow, this looks like an excellent read! Very original.
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Congratulations to John—sounds like a fun read!
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Oh, sounds riveting! Congratulations, John!
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Thanks for sharing. Exciting!
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