Overview
It's 1969 and thirteen-year-old Scott MacLeod is doing all of the normal activities that boys do—and just happens to fly airplanes with his air force flight instructor father. When Scott manages to successfully crash-land a plane, he catches the sys of NASA, who recruits him for a top-secret space program that will send a test flight to the Moon before the first lunar landing. The craft was originally supposed to be piloted by chimps, but when one of them is taken off the mission, they call on Scott to take his place.
Soon Scott finds himslef in the midst of grueling training for this mission—and quickly realizes the chimps are much more clever and competent than their human counterparts give them credit for. But things are not quite adding up at the training facility. Could NASA be hiding a secret from the boy aviator and his crew of chimps?
G-forces and goverment secrets collide as Scott sets out on his journey to the Moon—and goes on the adventure of a lifetime!
Synopsis
It's 1969 and thirteen-year-old Scott MacLeod is doing all of the normal activities that boys do and just happens to fly airplanes with his air force flight instructor father. When Scott manages to successfully crash-land a plane, he catches the sys of NASA, who recruits him for a top-secret space program that will send a test flight to the Moon before the first lunar landing. The craft was originally supposed to be piloted by chimps, but when one of them is taken off the mission, they call on Scott to take his place.
Soon Scott finds himslef in the midst of grueling training for this mission and quickly realizes the chimps are much more clever and competent than their human counterparts give them credit for. But things are not quite adding up at the training facility. Could NASA be hiding a secret from the boy aviator and his crew of chimps?
G-forces and goverment secrets collide as Scott sets out on his journey to the Moon and goes on the adventure of a lifetime!
Children's Literature
Set in 1969 when space travel was in its infancy, this novel makes the reader wonder if NASA conceals the truth regarding what actually occurs during space travel. The only thing that thirteen-year-old Scott likes better than airplanes is flying airplanes. Instructed on the art of aircraft flying by his Air Force flight-instructor father, Scotts attracts the attention of NASA after he puts his training to the test by crash landing a training plane in which he was not even supposed to be a passenger. In order to keep his father from being dishonorably discharged from the army and ruining the only chance of reuniting his estranged parents, Scott agrees to pilot, along with two chimpanzees, a test flight to the moon. During his NASA adventure, Scott learns that chimps are smarter than one might think, NASA keeps many secrets, and the moon is home to much more than just craters and dust. The reader gets much more than a tale of space travel, including an extremely detailed account of various flying techniques, numerous flying apparatuses, unique NASA training techniques, and questionable animal behavior modification practices. At times the details are mundane and monotonous and distract the reader from the plot line and character development. This novel would be ideal for the middle school student who is fascinated with space travel. Reviewer: Karen Galenis
Editorials
Children's Literature -
Set in 1969 when space travel was in its infancy, this novel makes the reader wonder if NASA conceals the truth regarding what actually occurs during space travel. The only thing that thirteen-year-old Scott likes better than airplanes is flying airplanes. Instructed on the art of aircraft flying by his Air Force flight-instructor father, Scotts attracts the attention of NASA after he puts his training to the test by crash landing a training plane in which he was not even supposed to be a passenger. In order to keep his father from being dishonorably discharged from the army and ruining the only chance of reuniting his estranged parents, Scott agrees to pilot, along with two chimpanzees, a test flight to the moon. During his NASA adventure, Scott learns that chimps are smarter than one might think, NASA keeps many secrets, and the moon is home to much more than just craters and dust. The reader gets much more than a tale of space travel, including an extremely detailed account of various flying techniques, numerous flying apparatuses, unique NASA training techniques, and questionable animal behavior modification practices. At times the details are mundane and monotonous and distract the reader from the plot line and character development. This novel would be ideal for the middle school student who is fascinated with space travel. Reviewer: Karen GalenisSchool Library Journal
Gr 7-9
Thirteen-year-old Scott MacLeod has been an underage pilot since his dad, a Korean War-era ace and flight instructor for Vietnam War jet pilots, secretly let him take the stick of his Cessna at age 12. Now, dad's letting him take occasional control of a "Tweet," the two-engine jet trainer he uses to ready "fresh meat" for duty in beefier aircraft. Though Scott, a quick study, handles the airborne aircraft well, he's never had to do the most difficult thing-land a jet aircraft. That changes suddenly when a fluke occurrence forces him to land a damaged plane himself, possibly ending his father's career. The incident arouses the interests of NASA officials who, in a top-secret program, have been sending chimps into space as a rehearsal for manned Apollo missions. The agency thinks that the diminutive Scott would be a perfect candidate to accompany two trained chimpanzees on a scaled-down test mission to orbit the moon in preparation for the upcoming Apollo 11 moon landing. In order to save his dad's career-and to satisfy his own thirst for adventure-Scott convinces his reluctant father to allow him to serve as the first tween-aged astronaut. Accompanied by two endearing primates, he will do everything the adult astronauts are scheduled to do-except actually land on the moon. Unless, that is, he decides to go the distance and take the mission into his own hands. Allusions to things like sneaking cigarettes, beer, and peeks at Playboy magazine are authentic and realistic. This is a gripping and well-researched piece of space-age historical fiction.-Jeffrey Hastings, Highlander Way Middle School, Howell, MI