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Very Happy Reader
, February 28, 2014
Space Tiger by S. R. Shuja is the spirit of young adult science fiction. In addition to taking place nearly 100 years in the future, the book has elements of thriller, adventure and fantasy, as well as a touch of romance, which is a plus in most any read. Taz, a bright, unassuming 14-year-old, leads a secret life unknown to his parents. Until now. He is asked by the Bureau of Space Detectives to join a team for a trip to Mars aboard Space Tiger. The adventures of Taz and the others include escapades with robots called Smartmans, spaceships and space pirates.
Always a sucker for a love story, I honed in on Mila, Taz's love interest on Mars. She spouts spiky words that have Taz in a tizzy. "There was an air of recklessness in her attitude. She didn't seem to care what others thought about her," was Taz's first thought of Mila, though advised to keep his distance by another investigator because "She is one tough crazy nut."
I particularly like the simple language of Space Tiger. Not that Shuja writes down to YA readers, but it is written in a way that the story doesn't get complicated by an unnecessarily complex style. The only slightly negative is that on at least two occasions "complains" is used instead of "complaints." It is not disrupting to the story and could slip by unnoticed.
For the young reader in your life who is interested in science fiction/fantasy, this would be a good addition to a library. Space Tiger moves quickly and I see good possibilities for a series starring Taz. Many kids with bigger than life dreams will find a hero in him.
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