Welcome to the first in a duology series for middle school students. Most reluctant readers will love this author as he knows just how to write and catch their attention. For readers who enjoy space/sci-fi or those wanting to try the genre, this one will be a great start. For those who like to see the spellings of new world words, print is preferred. Audio is to help with pronouncing them but grab the print too to help with following along, as not all audiobooks make it easy. Space pirates, aliens, gratuitous pop culture references make this one they'll enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Loved this book. Can't wait to read more by the author. Fast paced and interesting. Will add to my classroom library.

Fun for youths and adults. It's a great discussion book with students on the what if scenarios about how it would feel to discover something rare and what would they do in the alien situation.

An exciting introduction to a new series. Interesting and complicated characters, and a battle between two sides that is also complicated. Bit of a cliffhanger ending.

Guys. GUYS. Guys! GUYS!
This story? The one we're diving into right now?
Well, it may sound cliché, but it was OUT OF THIS WORLD! Whether you're a die hard science fiction fan or simply a dabbler that loves a good story no matter where it takes place, this one is for you!

Leo is our little leading man, despite not knowing that it the direction his story is heading. Once upon an EARTH, he had an ideal life. Mom and Dad at hand, a loving yet annoying older brother close by, a house, a cat, neighbors, trees, and beaches along which to collect seashells. It may not sound like much, but it was paradise...until one day that paradise came to be noticed by others not of this world. It seemed like a peaceful match, sharing knowledge, technology, RESOURCES, and things went well, until they didn't and they landed smack dab in the middle of a galactic war. They joined the good fight, making choices that were suppose to hold their shrinking family together, and managed to do so for a while. They built a life they never asked for in a place they never imagined, but heartache came knocking once again, and this time it was out for annihilation. Some quick thinking on a big brother's part managed to secure someone a chance to make it through, but the obstacles ahead, Leo's inability to leave them behind, and that overwhelming desire to see his family once again, may put them all in harm's way. Good thing quick thinking runs in the family. Good thing leading with one's heart is a virtue not a hardship. Good thing there are still those in the universe that we can call friend...even if they may be the most unlikely of candidates.

Guys, guys, GUYS, GuYs, GUYS! The adventure that awaits at every turn of the page will leave you feeling like you've just gazed at the most amazing starfield and can't look back down. I loved how we got caught up on the past while still driving forward in the present. I loved the varied cast of characters and how you could never really pin them down in the best way possible! I loved the unexpected moments of laughter, violence promised (but not overtly so!), and awkward moments defused in ridiculous ways! Boo's kiss...Skits rescue...Leo's inhaler...all moments among the moments I won't soon forget and YOU should watch for! And yes, it ends with loose ends because it IS a duology, but not so many that you don't get a clear picture of where we've landed after all is said and done. I know I'll be eagerly awaiting the second release much as Boo awaits his hot cup of gyurt!

3.5 stars = Good +

I enjoyed this science fiction story from the always enjoyable John David Anderson. Leo's a great protagonist, and I enjoyed the group he ends up traveling with. The frequent flashbacks slowed the story down a lot for me. Some of the "twists" were predictable, but still enjoyable. I thought the epilogue was a great way to set up a sequel.

*I received this book from the publisher, but this in no way impacts my review*

I've never been a big middle grade person, but the second I saw pirates in space I knew I was going to enjoy this book. In stowaway we are following a young boy whose father is a well-known scientist. Due to this fact, they are often targeted by the enemy and pirates in search of the rare and mysterious mineral that allows for hyper space travel. One day they are attacked and Leo and his brother are left stranded in space with out their father. Until Leo's brother forces him onto a pirate ship in exchange for assistance to their wrecked ship.

I absolutely adored these characters, they very much have similar vibes and humor to that of Han Solo and Chewie or Star Lord, Gamora, and Drax which is my exact type of humor. They were such a fun bunch and I was immediately was sucked into their story.

I love the way John weaves this humor into bigger and more intense plot points. I think he does it beautifully and effectively. He even manages to throw in a few pop culture references (Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Drake are the classics).

My only complaint was the flashbacks, they took me out of the story a few times and I felt the transitions could've been a little more seamless between past and present day. However, I did get used to them over time.

Overall this was a beautiful story about learning more about your enemy and your allies and discovering you might be on the wrong side. It really opens up conversation about being open minded and the intentions of people not just the actions they do. It ended perfectly for a first novel and set up the next book quite well. I can't wait to read the sequel!

There are very few authors that I have encountered that can write across genres and do it well. John David Anderson is one of those authors. I have read almost all of his books and they include fantasy, realistic fiction, and sci-fi, and all are so well done and so different than each other. Stowaway adds another awesome title to his works list.

Once again, Anderson is able to mix adventure, humor, and seriousness in a way that only he can to have the reader reflect on death, choices after loss, mental health, first impressions, and war while also making us laugh about snoring, clothing, descriptions of gyurt, and bad (GOOD!) puns.

And you will love the world-building in this one. Anderson did a great job of making the universe as vast and diverse as it is but not making it all so complicated that the reader cannot keep up with the planets and species.

But I think my favorite thing about this book is the characters. Each character is intriguing, has its own back story, and is so much more than you at first realize. And this is not just Leo’s character, it is all of the characters in the book. I love Baz and his crew, I love Leo and his family, and I love all of the aliens & humans that Leo meets along the way, good and bad! And I assume we’ll get to know even more in the 2nd book!

As you’d expect from John David Anderson, this multi-layered story blends exciting adventure, heartbreak, found family, and a hard look at what progress is and who pays for it. The book starts in the middle – Leo Fender and his older brother Gareth are playing tag when their ship is attacked by Coalition enemy the Djarik. Leo is forced to flee with only the two items he always carries with him – his smartwatch and his inhaler, which he frequently needs for his anxiety-induced asthma. Once stowed away, we meet the crew of the Icarus – the flamboyant, classic rock t-shirt-wearing captain, Bastian Black, who brags of the price on his head. The tough-as-nails former street thief Katarina Corea, who has the requisite piratical metal arm. The gentle giant alien Boo, an outcast from his own society, and Skits, the snarky robot with the attitude of a rebellious teen. And even though Leo has a healthy distrust of pirates, these are the only people between him and the void of space.

But intercut with the present-day timeline of Leo trying to reunite with the rest of his family are stories of his life on Earth, before and soon after his mother’s death. Leo and his mother had bonded over magic tricks, collected seashells together, and mourned when the smog got so bad that hummingbirds no longer visited their yard. Leo watched as his adored father struggled to avoid despair after his mother’s death, and though Dr. Calvin Fender sees leaving Earth as a way to embrace hope and the future, Leo refuses to be happy about leaving the home they shared when their family was home.

And yet, when Leo is on his own, caught right in between the two sides of the war and wanted by both, he will find ways to use lessons learned from both his parents, as well as the two items he was able to bring with him, to overcome his anxiety and save the day. At least enough to see another day, because this is definitely not the end of the story. As in Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, there is a fine blend of adventure, humor, and grief, with the kind of twist that readers of Sidekicked would expect. I saw the twist coming this time, but it was still good both for the story function and for the deeper thoughts behind the book. I’ll definitely be on board for the next one!

A different genre for Anderson as he pens his first science fiction novel! I read this one as an e-galley, and I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had a physical copy. When I read digitally, it's in smaller segments spread out over a couple of weeks. This was a novel I wish I could have had longer time periods to read, especially since it is lengthy (close to 400 pages, which is a fairly typical amount for Anderson). This story has a lot of adventure - I mean, there are space pirates - a lot of heart, and a great moral dilemma. You won't get everything answered as there looks to be a sequel. I recommend this one to 5th grade and up because of some mild language (again, if you've read Anderson's previous books you won't be surprised) and the length.

I’ve enjoyed John David Anderson’s books since 2016 when I was first introduced to his story telling with Ms. Bixby’s Last Day. In 2017 came Posted; 2019’s Finding Orion; and last year’s One Last Shot. All of these were heartfelt contemporary dramas with doses of humor.

With STOWAWAY, Anderson takes us to the future and a space adventure involving a war like none other.

At nearly 400 pages, I’d hold off if new to the MG label. This is best for patient science fiction readers who don’t have many selections to choose from in this genre. Although it is tagged as 3-8th grade, I’d also recommend closer to 6-8th grade with some of the content. Nothing close to the YA realm but inching that way.

The concept of a found family is an important one to cover whether a story is set now or in the future. Leo must connect with his “new” family while searching for his own. The backstory is covered throughout the pages and I would have like to have this made into two books with the backstory becoming a book of it’s own. But that’s just me.

There will be a sequel to this epic beginning given the TO BE CONTINUED… statement at the end plus an epilogue.

If you are fan of Star Trek or Star Wars, this one is for you.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT STOWAWAY by John David Anderson

1. There are an engaging set of space characters. Baz, Kat, Boo, and Skits the Robot have wide ranging personalities and they bring many surprises to the story.
2. Leo is a believable character as he tries to understand the politics of what is going on in the universe. The third person narration stays close to him the entire way and it’s time well spent.
3. The decisions world leaders of countries made to buy into the help of an alien group was also believable and a little scary.
4. Older brother Gareth is the impetus of the plot though not in the center of the action. His role in the second book will be intriguing to follow.
5. The story had me thinking this would make a great discussion topic: With climate change and disappearing fuel sources big issues right now, if we do nothing to correct this pattern is the world characterized in Stowaway inevitable?

I loved this book SO MUCH. John David Anderson has done an amazing job building a complex (but not complicated to understand) sci-fi universe set on earth several decades in the future and on ships traveling across the galaxy faster than the speed of light.

This book has everything: space pirates, adventure, a relatable main character, interesting supporting characters, a few plot twists, family relationships (both birth and found), a wicked cliffhanger, and, again: SPACE PIRATES.

As I was reading, I kept thinking that it was kind of like a middle grade version of Firefly and pictured the pirate captain as Mal Reynolds/Nathan Fillion -- hello.

I was sucked into this book immediately and am officially dying to read the second book as soon as it is available.

Highly recommended for ages 10+.

Join Leo on an epic trip around the galaxy as he partners with space pirates to find his Dad after he was kidnapped by an enemy species. This book is like Star Wars meets Guardians of the Galaxy with a touch of The Wump World. It is perfect for fans of sci-fi and adventure stories with a hero-journey story arc. It's full of fast-paced action, mysterious plot twists, and heart-warming characters. There are also some deep messages embedded in this book about the impact of global warming, the meaning of war, the value and risks of patriotism and loyalty, and how to deal with grief and loss that would make rich conversations with young people. I highly recommend this book to 4th-8th grade readers.

Thank you to Walden Press and NetGalley for the early copy of this E-ARC.

I have been a fan of John David Anderson ever since reading Ms. Bixby's Last Day. I love how he weaves humor into even the most heart-wrenching of stories. If you ever have the chance to meet him or listen to him speak about his books, you will see that his sense of humor radiates from every fiber of his being.

Stowaway was a shift from other books by Anderson. It is the sci-fi adventure story of Leo Fender, a twelve-year old boy, born on Earth, now living on a spaceship with his scientist father and older brother after losing his mother in an alien attack of Earth. Early in the book their ship is taken over by alien forces, his father is taken hostage, and they are left stranded with no way to send communication asking for help. Thus starts Leo's crazy and dangerous adventure as his brother tricks him into stowing away on another ship in order to go for help. This ship happens to be captained by a pirate with a bounty on his head along with a mishmash of interesting and lovable crew members that readers will thoroughly enjoy. Leo will have to learn to trust these questionable characters if he is ever to reunite his family.

This is a fun adventure filled middle grade novel, most appropriate for upper elementary and middle school. Fans of Star Wars and Marvel movies will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the review copy of this book. I was intrigued by Stowaway because I have enjoyed the work of John David Anderson in the past, and wanted to read more by him. I absolutely loved this science fiction story in space.

Stowaway takes place in the not so distance future where scientists have discovered a rare mineral buried in Earth’s crust. It is the most valuable substance in the universe. It isn’t long before aliens show up on Earth to excavate the powerful mineral. After his mother is killed in an alien attack, Leo and his father and brother board the Beagle and escape into space so Leo’s father can study the mineral more. When the Beagle is attacked, and Leo’s father kidnapped, Leo stops at nothing to get his father back and hold his family together.

Through many twists and turns and meetings with crazy characters, this story is full of heart, and can’t help but make you think of all kinds of what ifs, could bes, and should have beens. I cannot recommend this book enough and cannot wait to share it with my students!

Stowaway is one of those novels that swiftly sweeps you away. Author John David Anderson’s prose is nimble and engaging, drawing readers in from the first page.

There’s also a familiarity to Stowaway. Some of the settings are decidedly alien. But the book unfolds in such a way that it doesn’t feel that way.

And then there’s sort of a sci-fi familiarity. Stowaway feels like a mashup of the television shows Firefly and Farscape. It’s not an exact mirror of them, but they both came to mind when considering different elements. The pirates have the same banter and character development fans of Firefly will appreciate and the wild and weird aliens definitely have a Farscape vibe.

At the center of it all is Leo. His naivety, his grit, his entire being is one that readers will both relate to and respect. His story is the perfect one to unfold against this backdrop.

Stowaway is the first book in a planned duology, and I can’t wait to read the next installment. In fact, my biggest problem with Stowaway is that it ended too soon. I want answers, and I hate that I have to wait for them.

This fun adventure story is set in outer space and includes pirates and villains and aliens. It's a very fun read with great characters and lots of plot twists. Kids are going to love this one.

After their scientist father is kidnapped and their spaceship and crew are rendered useless, Gareth stows his younger brother Leo on a pirate ship that came to commandeer some ventasium – a rare Earth mineral. Leo is upset at his brother for leaving him alone on a notorious pirate’s ship, but he must have courage to help his only family left.

Although the story is interesting, it felt really long. Many of the chapters begin with Leo as a child still living on Earth and his fascination with space ships. I liked these chapters, giving a glimpse of young Leo and Gareth before they left Earth for good – memories of their mother that had passed. The characters are rather interesting. Some are described strangely, so it’s hard for me to picture (and remember) what they look like, but what do you expect in a galactic realm. There are still a lot of loose ends that need to be tied, I am looking forward (even after the epilogue) to see where and what Gareth does…

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for this ARC. I think the students at my school would really like this book, they are always looking for sci-fi. Personally, I would give it 3 stars, but I think my students would rate it higher.

I really enjoyed Stowaway. But I can't decide who its target audience is. The main character's age leads me to believe this is a middle grade story. But, in the end I don't think my 5th graders are ready for this.

The beginning seemed too intense for my 5th graders. Or is it just that I've read adult space opera and my mind went places that weren't on the page? The language and action scenes also seemed more appropriate for teens than tweens.

The politics seem like a great introduction for teens to space opera's style of government politics and propaganda.

There is some nostalgia throughout, but I know it would be meaningless for most of my 5th graders. And honestly, the teens I know wouldn't get it either. So, the rock band references seemed aimed at adults. Will teens get the Pirates of the Caribbean references? I'm not sure.

In the end, I don't think this is right for my 5th grade classroom library. But I liked the story myself. The characters were terrific and the plot was good. This is a really tough one to rate.