Despite living in a universe teeming with dragons, Lunar Jones hasn't experienced much wonder growing up on Mars. He was orphaned long ago, and after Mars' resident dragon was killed, the cursed planet has become increasingly inhospitable to humans. Lunar scavenges for scrap to keep himself afloat, but after one expedition goes awry, he takes refuge in an underground military school preparing young recruits and one secret dragon to save their planet. A last-minute reprieve sees Lunar tapped to train, too, and it will take all of his hard-won street smarts to manage hostile peers, potential allies, a galaxy in turmoil, and an enormous dragon who may not be what he appears. This fantastic first entry in the Dragonship series is incredibly imaginative, combining intriguing dragon lore, fierce friendships, and full-tilt action into a whirlwind story sure to keep readers riveted. It's part sf (dragon spaceships!), part fantasy, and all enormous fun, complete with a twist ending that will leave the audience eagerly awaiting future installments. A rollicking reminder to remember your roots and stay open to the unexpected.

A tenacious 13-year-old battles to save Mars, the only home he knows, in this series openerLunar Jones, called "Dad" by the other orphans at the understaffed, underfunded Martian Relocation Clinic, is a scrapper in the dying Mars settlement, which is ironically named Harvest. Although the atmosphere supports human life, Martian plants, animals, and weather pose threats to survival, and the salvagers risk their lives with every expedition. A century ago, people killed Ares, Mars' King-Dragon, hoping to make the planet "a paradise. A second version of Earth." But that plan backfired. After a bloody attack by a rival salvage group, Lunar regains consciousness in an underground bunker, under the care of Gen. John Poppy, who's secretly rearing a dragon named Dread. Poppy has rallied a group of young people with assorted special skills. Soon Dread will choose his dragoon, the human he bonds with for life. In the world of the story, which is reminiscent of Mad Max and Star Trek, each celestial body has its own dragon avatar. The backstory is fairly well developed, and the short chapters are packed with action. Lunar and some other key characters show positive growth, while the minor characters feel more like types. Lunar presents white; there's some diversity in race among the supporting cast.Fast-paced dragon flights and mid-space fights-plus underdog heroes who are easy to root for.(Fantasy. 10-14)