Moon Beam

In this SF adventure, teenage geniuses involved in ambitious projects on the Moon struggle to stay alive during a potentially devastating series of coronal mass ejections. Sixteen-year-old Barbara Winton is the newest member of the Bright Sparks, a team of STEM students chosen by a renowned scientist to help make the world a better place. Her first task is to aid in the construction of a radar telescope on the Moon, but before tackling that challenge, she and her team must survive a grueling journey that tests their ingenuity and resolve. When the CMEs strike, the group loses communication with home base and has to ride out the storm. Adult authors Taylor and Nye offer up a tense escapade with engaging characters and a fast-paced plot, but their true focus is on scientific detail, plausibility, and ingenuity; Taylor’s background as an aerospace engineer brings in a level of verisimilitude that occasionally threatens to overshadow the story. Nevertheless, it’s an entertaining and even educational offering, perfect for those who demand science in their science fiction. Ages 12–up. (July)