Space Trucker Jess

This action-packed outing from Kressel (the Worldmender series) introduces readers to feisty, profane, and resourceful teenager Jess Darger. Her grifter father, Ignatius, taught Jess from a young age how to con people, but she intends to turn over a new leaf. After Ignatius is arrested mid-con, Jess is left all alone on Chadeisson Station, “the absolute center of nothing cept cosmic dust,” without food, funds, or a place to stay. Jess lands a job fixing starships and hopes to use her savings to buy her own vessel. Her plans change when she learns that Ignatius has been shipped off-station to parts unknown. Despite his mistreatment of her, Jess still cares for Ignatius and gathers all her resources to find him, a mission made more complex by careful efforts to conceal the route his transport had taken. Jess’s scrappy narrative voice will put readers in mind of the television show Firefly, and Kressel skillfully balances suspense and humor in the service of a page-turning adventure set in an inventive universe. A sequel would be welcome news to space opera fans. (July)