A rebellion in space pits one boy’s past against his future in this gripping adventure from the critically acclaimed author of In the Red! This out-of-this-world story about fighting for what’s right, chasing your dreams, and believing in yourself is perfect for fans of Kevin Emerson, Yoon Ha Lee, and D. J. MacHale.
Lucas Adebayo grew up on a small mining ship in the asteroid belt, but wants to join the Navy and become the best pilot in the galaxy. The Navy has never accepted a Belter cadet before, but Lucas’s skills secure him a place on the training ship, the Orpheus.
Life in the Navy couldn’t be more different than life in the Belt, and Lucas struggles to find his place. As a Belter, he’s an outsider among his peers; as a Navy cadet, he doesn’t quite fit in at home anymore, either. Lucas is caught between the worlds of his past and his future when a Belter rebellion puts everyone’s lives at risk. Only he can lead the way to peace.
Praise for In the Red“It will leave you breathless.”―New York Times bestselling author D. J. MacHale
“A non-stop, pulse-pounding adventure!”―Kevin Emerson, author of Last Day on Mars
“Stunning descriptions and harrowing feats of survival.”―Booklist
- Space Opera for Kids: From the dusty asteroid belt to the polished corridors of the military training ship Orpheus, Lucas must navigate two worlds that are heading for war.
- Sibling Conflict: Lucas dreams of following in his adopted sister Tali’s footsteps, but she’s a senior cadet who believes a Belter has no place in the Navy—and seems determined to prove it.
- Found Family: As the first Belter ever accepted, Lucas is an outsider among his fellow cadets. To survive, he’ll have to earn the trust of his bunkmates and forge new alliances in the stars.
- Coming-of-Age Adventure: When a rebellion threatens to tear the galaxy apart, Lucas is caught in the middle. He must choose between the family he was born into and the one he’s fighting to join.
Christopher Swiedler is an author and software engineer who lives with his wife and three children in California, where they’re under constant threat from earthquakes, tsunamis, and the occasional Martian dust storm. His goal in life is to win the Newbery Honor (not the medal itself) because he believes being a runner-up builds good character. In the Red is his debut novel. You can visit him at https://christopherswiedler.com.
