"Swiedler offers a fresh take on heroism through an honest portrayal of the emotional struggle of overcoming anxiety. The friendship between Michael and Lilith feels real and grounded. Readers will be left breathless by stunning descriptions and harrowing feats of survival."
In The Red is a thrilling combination of wide-eyed imagination and gritty real science, starring courageous young heroes using their smarts to battle impossible odds. A non-stop, pulse-pounding adventure!
Praise for In the Red: "Hang on to your helmets. Christopher Swiedler takes you on a nail-biting, sci-fi adventure where every page holds unexpected peril for his bold heroes. He makes the impossible seem plausible in a universe where strolling on Mars can be normal, wondrous and at times, terrifying. It will leave you breathless."
"Swiedler offers a fresh take on heroism through an honest portrayal of the emotional struggle of overcoming anxiety. The friendship between Michael and Lilith feels real and grounded. Readers will be left breathless by stunning descriptions and harrowing feats of survival."
05/10/2021
Though the Naval Academy has never accepted a cadet from the Asteroid Belt, Lucas Adebayo, 13, a crack pilot who grew up on his father’s mining ship, dreams of joining his adoptive sister Tali Chen, 16, who was accepted because of the lack of discrimination against Mars-born applicants. When Lucas is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend, he accepts wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, he’s subjected to anti-Belter prejudice and bullying, constantly forced to justify his presence. Worse, to protect her own reputation, Tali pretends not to know him. With the aid of his roommates—tall, blonde Elena, who cannot tell a lie, and Rahul, who uses corneal implants to overcome astral vertigo—Lucas perseveres. But when the academy teaching ship Orpheus is drawn into the middle of a miner-led uprising, Lucas must decide where his loyalties lie, especially when torn between duty and conscience. Though themes surrounding marginalization feel poorly wrought, Swiedler (In the Red) offers a fast-paced tale about defying expectations; the novel’s focus on character dynamics and scientific plausibility makes this a read reminiscent of Robert Heinlein novels. Ages 8–12. Agent: Bridget Smith, Dunham Literary. (June)
"A fast-paced tale about defying expectations; the novel’s focus on character dynamics and scientific plausibility makes this a read reminiscent of Robert Heinlein novels." — Publishers Weekly
“Josh Hurley’s youthful and enthusiastic narration is the perfect match for this fast-paced science fiction adventure that will be enjoyed by fans of Orson Scott Card and Marissa Meyer.” — Booklist Online (review of audio edition)
Praise for In the Red: "Hang on to your helmets. Christopher Swiedler takes you on a nail-biting, sci-fi adventure where every page holds unexpected peril for his bold heroes. He makes the impossible seem plausible in a universe where strolling on Mars can be normal, wondrous and at times, terrifying. It will leave you breathless." — D.J. MacHale, New York Times bestselling author
“In The Red is a thrilling combination of wide-eyed imagination and gritty real science, starring courageous young heroes using their smarts to battle impossible odds. A non-stop, pulse-pounding adventure!” — Kevin Emerson, author of Last Day on Mars
"Swiedler offers a fresh take on heroism through an honest portrayal of the emotional struggle of overcoming anxiety. The friendship between Michael and Lilith feels real and grounded. Readers will be left breathless by stunning descriptions and harrowing feats of survival." — Booklist
"Michael and Lilith are well-written characters. Their teamwork and ingenuity in the face of danger are admirable. This is a wonderful adventure novel filled with many twists and turns. The story manages to invoke a real sense of danger. The writing is reminiscent of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet and Andy Weir’s The Martian—it maintains a skillful blend of science and survivalism to keep readers engaged and invested in the outcome." — School Library Journal
2021-04-14
A young Belter cadet deals with a rebellion in space.
Lucas Adebayo’s dream has come true: He’s the first Belter cadet in the Earther Navy. Well, the first openly Belter cadet—the true first was his adopted sister, Tali Chen, who’s posing as the only Martian. Though Tali’s actions are understandable given the Navy’s history of bias against people from the asteroid belt, who are marginalized and disdained by those from Earth, Luna, and Mars, Lucas is hurt that Tali doesn’t want anyone to know they are siblings. After Tali discourages him from joining the Navy with ambiguous, ominous warnings, Lucas sees her planting a device on the ship’s hull, investigates, and a rebellion plot unfolds. Lucas wrestles with guilt over his enjoyment of being in the Navy, loving the thrill of the chase but feeling conflicted about arresting Belters for relatively minor infractions while knowing how devastating imprisonment will be for them. Unfortunately, the theme of marginalized communities seeking justice is presented without nuance in a way that feels culturally disconnected from current events and seems to equate identity and difference with conflict while erasing the fundamental problem of an existing imbalance in power. The narrative’s assertion that the oppressed simply need to talk with their oppressors to bring about change feels simplistic at best, undermining what is otherwise a well-paced and well-plotted book. Racial and ethnic diversity are suggested through names.
Disappointing. (Science fiction. 10-14)
