I don't read much middle grade fiction, but I needed “a book about a nontraditional education” for a reading challenge and this sounded like a fun diversion from my usual selections. I mean, the publisher's blurb kind of made it seem like Harry Potter but set in space, and who the heck could possibly not want to read about space Hogwarts??

Well, turns out it was kind of meh, at least for me. The plot and characters are one dimensional, everyone is insta-friends, the bad guy is obvious from pretty much the very beginning, and the ending is predictable. I'm not really the target audience, however, so it's probably more relevant that my 12-year-old son (who read it along with me) found it decently amusing. There's lots of vomit and (age-appropriate) gross humor and strange creatures and kids zipping around in space jets. The main character Amelia always seems to have the upper hand over the adults attempting to sabotage her success at Star Quest Academy, and she gets to do really cool things like ride on the back of space whales. I mean, who needs character depth when you have space whales??

And it is rather Harry Potter-ish. There's a mistreated orphan who is whisked away to a special school, a star bus to take her to <s>Hogwarts</s> the academy, space Dementors (called Rapskillions), an evil <s>wizard</s> Lord Fog who wants to take over Earth, secret co-conspirators hidden amongst the school's staff, unusual creatures, and, of course, a tight-knit group of friends (including a girl brainiac) who save the day. As far as other fandoms go, there's also a (presumable) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy “Don't Panic” reference, which was fun.

So, yeah. If you're an adult who enjoys reading middle grade novels with superbly fleshed-out characters and super engaging plots, this might not be the best choice as it's obviously written for a younger (and less discerning) crowd. If, however, you have a Harry Potter-loving future astronaut on your hands, it's very possible that they'll find Star Quest Academy entertaining. My own Gryffindor suggests I give it 3.5 stars as it's “funny but not as funny as Diary of a Wimpy Kid which would probably be a 4.5.” So there you have it. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Book Guild for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is February 28, 2025.

4.5

Doesn’t feel that brand new, possibly has lots of similarities to other works (someone mentioned Harry Potter, can’t confirm though), but it was a fun ride. (And I’m way older than the target group!)
Diverse, adventurous, creative, and focused on friendship, which always is a plus.

• Story:
Quite fast-paced, there’s always something happening with barely any time to rest. Sure, it makes sense for it to be a constant adventure, but even the plot points came right after the other, not giving the reader any time to process.

And quite cliche at times as well. The academy is said to be really safe and high-tech, and yet, Amelia, an earthling with no knowledge of space, was the one who always had to rescue everyone. A bit contradicting and the opposite of "show, don't tell". At least, I’d find it sus if I were a tourist there. (And adds a reason to join the villains.)

It’s diverse, I loved that, but honestly could’ve been a little more so, especially with the pronouns – even with the universal translator, I can’t imagine everyone’s pronouns is translating to he/him and she/her, as well as boy and girl.

Also the skin colors. The appearance of many different creatures have been described, often vaguely, and the skin colors were rarely mentioned. But when it was added, it was always a light one – milky, ebony, pale, etc. A bit odd.
At least their hair, dresses/clothes and even objects (like jets) were quite colorful!

Personal highlights:
- the library
- the talking book
- space whales
- Voice(s) of each building/place
- the jets
- Psymersion
- aliens don’t like humans
- Disability Rep: limping character + character who loses limps, often his ears, which makes him temporarily deaf

Personal confusions:
It’s cool that most are and shops sell only vegetarian, at least on the main planet, but they still have leather, milk products, etc. From what creature do they take these then? A bit contradictory.

• Characters:
It being fast-paced leaves barely any time to flesh out the characters. Amelia and Jingles, and a few side characters (like Honey (can’t believe that’s her name) or Glux), had a relatively deep personality (albeit cliche at times), and I’m especially fond of Jingles.

The male-leaning* characters, however, apart from Toulay, fell a little flat and useless sometimes. But it’s also kinda nice to have more female-leaning* characters in the spotlight and the opposite of Bechdel’s Test to be the case.

(*male/female-leaning: I’m guessing the men/women in the alien species are not called ‘men’/‘women’, possibly have different genders altogether. They are described as such, though.)

The villain(s) were surely interesting; I kinda rooted for them, and yet at the same time I was on the heroes side. Well, could be because the villains aren't evil, just grey-leaning and acting out of fear, rather than wanting to actively harm. That was cool. I do agree with their goal, just not really their ways of doing so…

• Overall:
Recommended. Some nice quotes and messages that aren’t the usual “humans are the best”, but also call out human’s negative sides and show it to the reader well, without forcing it.

A few illustrations would’ve made the reading experience more colorful, like the bus ride was at the beginning. (Wouldn’t have to be anything fancy; simple chapter headings/patterns would’ve worked too. It just feels a little empty.)

If there’s gonna be a sequel, I’m definitely interested.

~

Thank you to The Book Guild on Netgalley for a digital review copy.

-07.03.25

I loved the cover of this book, and the idea that a bunch of earth kids could be trained to be the first to make contact with the alien races that watch over earth.

But I could not get into liking any of the characters. Everyone was one-dimensional. The dialogue was bland. I didn't care what happened to any of them. The main character was super naive, though crafty at the same time.

It just didn't work for me. Doesn't mean that it won't work for other kids who like to read about schools where children learn to save their world. (In only a week, or something like that. It was never clear how they were learning, or what they were learning, or why they were learning, or what was going on, truth be told.)

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book came out in February, so you can get it wherever you get books. I, however, read it as an eARC.

This is a fun book with interplanetary spin. However, it did not feel completely fleshed out, and it seemed chapters flashed by too quickly. I almost felt like an additional 75 to 200 pages could have allowed the author to go further in depth and development of the characters and the world building.

Because of this, I feel like this book is better to be geared towards children who are more in an elementary school age or those who need/enjoy more simple writing. I feel like this could be more developed into a comic series where drawings could do some heavy lifting to support the text.

It is enjoyable. I was rooting for Amelia and her journey. And, I did get invested in the story, enough to finish the book, and I would be interested in reading another book in this series or even another book from the author. There’s a lot of potential.

This is a 3.5 stars rating from me, and I will round up to 4 stars.

I received an eARC from in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting story with a few twists and turns. There were times when i found it a bit slow and tedious but otherwise the story was good. The ending was the best part.

Genre: Middle-Grade Science Fiction
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Review:
Adrian Lynch’s Star Quest Academy: Above and Beyond is a thrilling and imaginative middle-grade science fiction novel that takes readers on a cosmic adventure filled with action, mystery, and friendship. The story follows Amelia, a sharp-witted orphan chosen alongside three other gifted children from across the globe to represent Earth at the prestigious Star Quest Academy. Their mission? To prove humanity's worthiness in the face of looming extraterrestrial threats—or risk Earth’s invasion.

Lynch creates a vibrant and expansive universe, combining futuristic technology with compelling world-building. The intergalactic academy setting, with its eccentric alien creatures, high-tech training modules, and space jets, is vividly described, making it easy to visualize the cadets’ daring escapades. The stakes are high as Amelia and her friends face unexpected sabotage, forcing them to rely on their wit, resilience, and teamwork.

What stands out most is the book's perfect balance of humor and adventure, making it highly appealing to younger readers. The playful inclusion of "gross humor," bizarre creatures, and children outsmarting adults adds a relatable charm. Amelia’s resourcefulness and determination make her a strong and likable protagonist, while the camaraderie among the diverse group of cadets adds emotional depth.

Highlights:
Imaginative World-Building: The descriptions of the academy and alien landscapes are creative and engaging, offering a vivid and immersive reading experience.
Relatable Protagonists: Amelia’s tenacity and the camaraderie of the young cadets create an endearing and inspiring ensemble.
Suspense and Humor: The mysterious sabotage plot adds an intriguing layer of suspense, while the playful humor keeps it light and entertaining.
Minor Critique:
While the book delivers an engaging and fast-paced adventure, some of the plot twists might feel predictable for seasoned sci-fi readers. However, this doesn’t detract from its charm for the intended middle-grade audience.

Verdict:
Star Quest Academy: Above and Beyond is a delightful and adventurous read, perfect for middle-grade readers who enjoy science fiction with humor and heart. Lynch’s creative storytelling and vibrant characters make this book a fantastic pick for young space enthusiasts and fans of academy-style adventures.

✅ Recommended for: Middle-grade readers (ages 9-13), fans of sci-fi adventures, and those who enjoy stories with friendship, teamwork, and intergalactic stakes.

I really appreciate the arc.

This book was very interesting. You jump in following an orphan named Amelia. And she is being stacked by a man. Who tells her a bus is going to pick her up to not be late. So she ends up going and discovers so much about herself. I liked this book it is a great middle garde sci-fi book. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast and heartfelt sci-fi.

Preteens with the power to save or destroy earth. Giant cat-like monsters. Evil traders. This book has all the adventures to quickly hook a young reader. The author, Adrian Lynch, weaves together 4 complete strangers with unique strengths to work together, showcasing their characteristics and ultimately bonding them together. The book was a quick read that kept my interest the entire time, from start to finish. The main character, Amelia, experiences some intense internal battles due to abandonment and loss of belonging. The author shares in Chapter Two a perfect description of the book as Amelia relates to the story of Alice in Wonderland. “The story of a young girl lost in a world that made no sense reflected how Amelia felt about her own life. The fact that the girl found a way back to where she belonged offered hope.” As Amelia explores all of what Star Quest Academy has to offer, she in turn discovers the one thing she’s always dreamed of. Readers ages 8-12, that enjoy a fantasy, sci-fi genre will enjoy this adventure and will relate to the theme of wanting to belong to something bigger than oneself.