The Planet Thieves Series by Dan Krokos

The Planet Thieves is the first thrilling installment of a new middle-grade series by Dan Krokos.Two weeks ago, thirteen-year-old Mason Stark and seventeen of his fellow cadets from the Academy for Earth Space Command boarded the SS Egypt. The trip was supposed to be a short routine voyage to log their required spacetime for summer quarter.But routine goes out the airlock when they're attacked by the Tremist, an alien race who have been at war with humanity for the last sixty years... moreThe Planet Thieves is the first thrilling installment of a new middle-grade series by Dan Krokos.Two weeks ago, thirteen-year-old Mason Stark and seventeen of his fellow cadets from the Academy for Earth Space Command boarded the SS Egypt. The trip was supposed to be a short routine voyage to log their required spacetime for summer quarter.But routine goes out the airlock when they're attacked by the Tremist, an alien race who have been at war with humanity for the last sixty years.With the captain and crew dead, injured, or taken prisoner, Mason and the cadets are all that's left to warn the ESC. And soon they find out exactly why the Tremist chose this ship to attack: the Egypt is carrying a weapon that could change the war forever.Now Mason will have to lead the cadets in a daring assault to take back the ship, rescue the survivors, and recover the weapon. Before there isn't a war left to fight. less

Mason Stark has a problem with minding his own business. This worked to his advantage when he helped bring peace between humans and the alien Tremist. He's now considered an intergalactic hero, but that hasn't made school any easier. With his new reputation, any bully with something to prove wants to fight him.With the new peace treaty on shaky ground, Mason is called upon to infiltrate the Tremist school for soldiers... moreMason Stark has a problem with minding his own business. This worked to his advantage when he helped bring peace between humans and the alien Tremist. He's now considered an intergalactic hero, but that hasn't made school any easier. With his new reputation, any bully with something to prove wants to fight him.With the new peace treaty on shaky ground, Mason is called upon to infiltrate the Tremist school for soldiers. Mason's bound to find trouble, especially now that he has the power to channel electricity through his Tremist gloves, but when his new classmates begin to disappear under mysterious circumstances, trouble might find him first. The Tremist are working on a secret project, but what Mason discovers goes beyond that, to an ancient, powerful enemy.With that very enemy threatening to invade, Mason must call on his friends, both human and Tremist, to fight. They call him a hero, and now that's what he must be—even if it requires the ultimate sacrifice.In this stellar follow-up to The Planet Thieves, Dan Krokos imbues The Black Stars with all the tension and action that made his first middle-grade novel such a gripping tale. less