Star Voyager Acadamy by William R. Forstchen Baen Books (c)1994

It is 150 years in the future, and the space program has finally got off the ground. Aliens have attacked, and the Earth is mobilizing for war, training new crews and building new ships. Before the UN deals with the Tracs, it must deal with a threat from the inside. Mars and its fellow colonies on asteroids are growing restless, and the UN has to deal with them, as well, should they try to secede, or worse, start a civil war.

Justin is headed to the Academy, to fill some huge shoes of his hero father, and to see if he will survive "scrub summer," the first summer, a probationary period, until they could join in full. Matt is also headed there, off a solar sailor ship. They makes friends, enemies, girlfriends, and bad grades on the way through.

This book is a good book; ok for kids but it has mild swearing. I would range it from 11+ age. The reason I liked this book is because Forstchen had a good grasp of the mix of humor, politics, suspense, and action to make a truly excellent story.

I give this book a nine out of ten; and if there is a sequel; 10/10.
You can find the book on amazon here.

-----KK