Category: Review
Author: Stuart Gibbs
Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Series: Moon Base Alpha
It’s a murder mystery on the moon in this humorous and suspenseful space adventure from the author of Belly Up and Spy School that The New York Times Book Review called “a delightful and brilliantly constructed middle grade thriller.” Like his fellow lunarnauts—otherwise known as Moonies—living on Moon Base Alpha, twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson is famous the world over for being one of the first humans to live on the moon. And he’s bored out of his mind. Kids aren’t allowed on the lunar surface, meaning they’re trapped inside the tiny moon base with next to nothing to occupy their time—and the only other kid Dash’s age spends all his time hooked into virtual reality games. Then Moon Base Alpha’s top scientist turns up dead. Dash senses there’s foul play afoot, but no one believes him. Everyone agrees Dr. Holtz went onto the lunar surface without his helmet properly affixed, simple as that. But Dr. Holtz was on the verge of an important new discovery, Dash finds out, and it’s a secret that could change everything for the Moonies—a secret someone just might kill to keep...
Gibbs’ first book in his Moon Base Alpha series, Space Case, kept me turning the pages to find out “who done it.” The book has a nice mixture of humor and suspense as the protagonist, Dash, does his best to acclimate himself to life on the moon and trying to help solve a murder that few think was indeed an actual murder. Dash’s points of view are interesting, from learning how to use a toilet on the moon, to walking in low gravity, to getting used to living within a very, very small community. I look forward to reading the remaining books in this series.
As a part-time Librarian, I am glad to be able to recommend all of Mr. Gibbs’ books to young readers.
Space Case (Moon Base Alpha, #1)