Stowaway by Karen Hesse

Stowaway by Karen Hesse

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.

Karen Hesse is the author of some fifteen books for children, and was recently awarded a prestigious MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant for her contribution to the literature of children and young adults. Her many novels have garnered considerable success, including the Sydney Taylor Award, the IRA/YA Award, 5 Notable Books for Children, 4 Best Books for Young Adults, and the Newbery Medal in 1998. Hesse has spent many years promotion her books to the school market, and is well-known in classrooms throughout the country. She and her husband, Randy, live in Brattleboro, Vermont.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780689839870
ISBN 10	0689839871
Title	Stowaway
Author	Karen Hesse
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Year published	2000-11-01
Number of pages	328
Prizes	Short-listed for Massachusetts Children's Book Award 2002
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.