Harrison, Zac. Crash Landing.

Harrison, Zac.    Crash Landing.    Capstone/Stone Arch  2014  288p  ISBN 978-1-4342-6306-3     elem/ms    VG    Science fiction    

Young John Riley leaves home on a bus to go to boarding school.  He gets to boarding school all right -- but it’s Hyperspace High, the premier boarding high school in the galaxy.  Now he has to find a way to stay there.  The large type-face and campy book cover made this reader feel a bit leery.  But, once past the first five pages, I was caught.  The premise is not a new one -- mistaken identity leading to a unique opportunity -- but the use of a galactic, class A boarding school for youngsters gives it a new twist.  Young John is a bit of an over-achiever to begin with, and he finds his strengths in science, math and gaming to be a serious asset in his new school.  He makes friends fast and easily passes muster with the headmaster of the school.  Of course the school has bullies, but they are eventually shown up by the “good guys.”  Remember - all of this takes place on a huge space station with an intergalactic cast of students.  Again, a tad hokey, but still a fast, imaginative read.

Summary: Young John Riley leaves home on a bus to go to boarding school.  He gets to boarding school all right -- but it’s Hyperspace High, the premier boarding high school in the galaxy.  Now he has to find a way to stay there.        

School stories, Science fiction                          --Lynn Fisher