Spacejackers

Gr 3–7—Pirates, space travel, orphans, and monsters are all part of the futuristic world of young Jake Cutler. Jake has never known his family or his home; he was brought to live with the cyber monks on Remota when he was just an infant. His origins are a mystery, though some have suggested that he comes from the planet Altus, which some people are certain is made of fine gems and circled by moons of pure crystal and which many others believe exists only in legend. When pirates attack Remota, he escapes on a cargo ship with an Altus-seeking bounty hunter, only to find that he has really taken refuge on a pirate ship with an odd and interesting crew. As Jake flees from the evil Interstellar Navy and tries to find his way to Altus, he encounters space villains, spaceship-eating monsters, aliens, and black holes on his adventures through many solar systems. Mike Grady voices each character with much enthusiasm and with clearly recognizable voices, which draw listeners into the exciting tale. While the plot may be familiar to science fiction fans, Jake's personality and his interactions with the wide cast of eccentric characters are amusing, and he learns not to judge people by their job titles or first impressions.