Benny leaves his hardscrabble desert life on Earth when he and a hundred other children are chosen to visit philanthropist Elijah West's lunar resort. After uncovering the truth behind their visit, Benny and his new friends must convince their fellow scholarship winners to help stop an impending alien invasion. An appealing hero and interesting gadgetry will help sci-fi fans overlook the tired alien-invasion scenario.

Two weeks spent at a luxury resort on the moon prove to be much more dangerous than a group of young people can imagine.In the year 2085, eccentric inventor Elijah West invites 100 young people from around the world to spend two weeks at the Lunar Taj. Twelve-year-old Benny Love is one of the lucky scholarship winners. But while the experience promises to be out of this world, the $1 million given to each recipient will change the future for Benny's nomadic family, which roams the Drylands that were once the United States' West Coast. Once on the moon, the scholarship winners—from as far away as the Middle East, South America, and Japan—pilot Space Runners, reverse bungee jump, and compete for West's attention and a place in his Pit Crew. But in all the fun, Benny discovers something that threatens not only the Taj, but the Earth. Holograms, artificial intelligence, and space-travel tech abound, but the familiar plot, cut-and-paste characters, and flat setting are stale. Even Benny, while likable, is a bit too good to be true, as Kraatz mines his background (poor and motherless, with a dad who insists on looking on the bright side) for his sterling qualities. Perhaps the promised sequel will be more out of this world. A cosmic adventure that fails to attain escape velocity. (Science fiction. 8-12)

In this SF thriller, the world-s best and brightest youths become its last line of defense after they-re taken to the Moon to participate in a scholarship program at the behest of a wealthy philanthropist. For Benny, who has grown up in a caravan community amid the desert wastelands of California, it-s a chance to change his family-s fortunes as well as play with the best toys, including the luxurious, tech-laden Space Runners, cars capable of interplanetary travel. At the Lunar Taj, he befriends daredevil Hot Dog, hacker Ramona, and obnoxiously confident Drue, but their curiosity to investigate the Moon-s secrets brings them face-to-face with the real reason they-ve been gathered together. Kraatz (the Cloak Society series) maintains a satisfying balance of action, intrigue, and wonder in this first book in the Space Runners series. Memorably entertaining characters play well against the tense premise and high stakes. Although some of the worldbuilding is glossed over, such as the current state of affairs on Earth, this remains an enjoyable adventure. A Full Fathom Five property. Ages 8-12. Agent: Eric Simonoff, William Morris Endeavor. (May)