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Frozen Secrets
He has trouble following the rules on Earth, but Jupiter’s moon could kill his curiosity for good…
Thirteen-year-old Max Parker is a grounded Earthling with the soul of a space explorer. So when he learns his family is relocating to Jupiter’s moon, Europa, he readily agrees to stay out of trouble. But his promise is soon forgotten, and his snooping lands him on a shuttle doomed for a fiery disintegration.
Convinced someone sabotaged the craft to cover up the theft he witnessed, Max digs into the incident. What else could they be hiding? Dodging a series of deadly accidents, he follows the clues to an abandoned outpost and discovers a secret that could blow the lid off a moon-wide conspiracy. Can he solve the mystery before his interplanetary escapade gets him killed?
Thirteen-year-old Max Parker is a grounded Earthling with the soul of a space explorer. So when he learns his family is relocating to Jupiter’s moon, Europa, he readily agrees to stay out of trouble. But his promise is soon forgotten, and his snooping lands him on a shuttle doomed for a fiery disintegration.
Convinced someone sabotaged the craft to cover up the theft he witnessed, Max digs into the incident. What else could they be hiding? Dodging a series of deadly accidents, he follows the clues to an abandoned outpost and discovers a secret that could blow the lid off a moon-wide conspiracy. Can he solve the mystery before his interplanetary escapade gets him killed?
298 pages, Paperback
Published January 25, 2020
32 people are currently reading
765 people want to read
About the author
Myles Christensen
7 books33 followersMyles Christensen loves to write exciting adventures because he loves to read exciting adventures. The hopeless romantic in him will usually sprinkle a teensy bit of romance into his stories. While writing, he listens to music that matches—and sometimes inspires—the storyline.
His mild-mannered alter ego is a product development engineer, university professor, and game inventor. He lives in Utah with his wife and children.
His mild-mannered alter ego is a product development engineer, university professor, and game inventor. He lives in Utah with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 26, 2020
Although this gives every appearance of being a book that introduces middle grade children to the science fiction genre, make no mistake this is most definitely an introduction to the thriller genre as well.
Thoughts:
The premise of this series is that a new city is being built on Europa. The fathers of 13-year-old Max and his friend Jonathan had previously been part of a Europa base that had been destroyed in an explosion and they are now being asked to come back with their families and live there at the city. Of course, if you are going to have families then you’re definitely going to need a school, which is how Europa Academy comes into the picture. Families from all over Earth come to live on Europa, making it very multi-cultural and soon the kids are getting to know each and diving into all the adventures that Europa can provide and then some. There are also some crushes and flirting with others that occur too, albeit awkwardly since this is middle school.
I’m not exactly sure what took me so long, but I believe it was about the 3rd serious near-death experience that the kids in the story encountered when I finally realized this wasn’t just an adventure story, but in actuality a thriller within a science fiction story.
What makes this a thriller? Without giving anything away, let’s just say Max loves adventure and danger and wants to be a spy when he grows up. Prior to arriving on Europa there had been a disaster at the base. The disaster had killed 3 individuals. Shortly after leaving Earth Max spies someone acting a bit too secretive and one thing leads to another and somehow we find our main characters in multiple near-death moments where the kids have to think on their feet to survive. Literally survive. But these aren’t moments where an accident has occurred or where the kids are just being kids and find that they have put themselves into bad situations, these are premeditated sabotage events that only come from an outside villain.
This story has all the elements a typical thriller book would have (but in middle grade appropriateness) that includes a definite heightened sense of suspense, conspiracies, electronic surveillance and spying, red herrings, but most importantly the bad guys coming after Max again and again in more than an ‘adventure-style setting.’ If that isn’t enough to declare it a thriller, then there is even a car chase.
Fun Fact from the Book: A day in Europa is approximately 85 hours.
This one made me think – How long does a child go to school each day on Europa? How would that actually work? Typically on Earth a child goes to school approximately 1/4-1/3 of each day. But considering the length of a day on Europa, would that mean they are at school for 21 to 28 hours? Probably not, but it gave me something to think about. In this story, there is actually a city clock that everyone goes by so they don’t go by Europa’s day.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read with lots of thrills that will keep a middle grader on the edge of their seat.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Moon Zoom Press for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
Thoughts:
The premise of this series is that a new city is being built on Europa. The fathers of 13-year-old Max and his friend Jonathan had previously been part of a Europa base that had been destroyed in an explosion and they are now being asked to come back with their families and live there at the city. Of course, if you are going to have families then you’re definitely going to need a school, which is how Europa Academy comes into the picture. Families from all over Earth come to live on Europa, making it very multi-cultural and soon the kids are getting to know each and diving into all the adventures that Europa can provide and then some. There are also some crushes and flirting with others that occur too, albeit awkwardly since this is middle school.
I’m not exactly sure what took me so long, but I believe it was about the 3rd serious near-death experience that the kids in the story encountered when I finally realized this wasn’t just an adventure story, but in actuality a thriller within a science fiction story.
What makes this a thriller? Without giving anything away, let’s just say Max loves adventure and danger and wants to be a spy when he grows up. Prior to arriving on Europa there had been a disaster at the base. The disaster had killed 3 individuals. Shortly after leaving Earth Max spies someone acting a bit too secretive and one thing leads to another and somehow we find our main characters in multiple near-death moments where the kids have to think on their feet to survive. Literally survive. But these aren’t moments where an accident has occurred or where the kids are just being kids and find that they have put themselves into bad situations, these are premeditated sabotage events that only come from an outside villain.
This story has all the elements a typical thriller book would have (but in middle grade appropriateness) that includes a definite heightened sense of suspense, conspiracies, electronic surveillance and spying, red herrings, but most importantly the bad guys coming after Max again and again in more than an ‘adventure-style setting.’ If that isn’t enough to declare it a thriller, then there is even a car chase.
Fun Fact from the Book: A day in Europa is approximately 85 hours.
This one made me think – How long does a child go to school each day on Europa? How would that actually work? Typically on Earth a child goes to school approximately 1/4-1/3 of each day. But considering the length of a day on Europa, would that mean they are at school for 21 to 28 hours? Probably not, but it gave me something to think about. In this story, there is actually a city clock that everyone goes by so they don’t go by Europa’s day.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read with lots of thrills that will keep a middle grader on the edge of their seat.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Moon Zoom Press for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
February 25, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a nice Middle Grade story taking place in space. The aspect of friendship was one of the things I liked most. There were some things, in my opinion, that needed a bit of work, but I'm sure that this is a great debut for Myles Christensen. I can easily picture the kids in my classroom devouring this book.
A longer review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
This is one of those books that can be liked by old and young and everything in between. I do feel that this story is more suited for Middle Grade children. I could see to many flaws in the book to TOTALLY go bonkers on it, but I did enjoy the story. I liked the main characters and I liked some of the side characters as well. The ending in this book was nice, but I'm not going to read the other books if this is going to be a series.
This is a nice Middle Grade story taking place in space. The aspect of friendship was one of the things I liked most. There were some things, in my opinion, that needed a bit of work, but I'm sure that this is a great debut for Myles Christensen. I can easily picture the kids in my classroom devouring this book.
A longer review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
This is one of those books that can be liked by old and young and everything in between. I do feel that this story is more suited for Middle Grade children. I could see to many flaws in the book to TOTALLY go bonkers on it, but I did enjoy the story. I liked the main characters and I liked some of the side characters as well. The ending in this book was nice, but I'm not going to read the other books if this is going to be a series.
November 27, 2019
This is a great book for tween readers-fast paced, humorous, descriptive and some innocent romance all thrown together in a thriller/mystery/sci fi appropriate for younger readers.
The protagonist, Max, is a boy on the cusp of childhood and his teenage years, still living in a world of fantasy, but developing more mature emotions and feelings. Surrounded by a diverse set of friends who are loyal and gracious, Max indulges himself in reckless spy adventures. Next thing he knows, he & his friends really are part of a real life conspiracy filled with good & bad guys.
Set against Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, this futuristic story gives just a taste of scientific facts on how people could live in space and deal with its effects. Inquisitive readers may just be inspired to find out more. Overall, a good story that should keep your tween engaged and eager to discover what happens.
* I received a free advanced reader copy from Goodreads giveaways *
The protagonist, Max, is a boy on the cusp of childhood and his teenage years, still living in a world of fantasy, but developing more mature emotions and feelings. Surrounded by a diverse set of friends who are loyal and gracious, Max indulges himself in reckless spy adventures. Next thing he knows, he & his friends really are part of a real life conspiracy filled with good & bad guys.
Set against Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, this futuristic story gives just a taste of scientific facts on how people could live in space and deal with its effects. Inquisitive readers may just be inspired to find out more. Overall, a good story that should keep your tween engaged and eager to discover what happens.
* I received a free advanced reader copy from Goodreads giveaways *
April 22, 2020
(Well, I wrote my whole review and then lost it, so let's see if I can reproduce most of what I just said. I hate it when this happens...)
I recently read a book of a similar genre to Frozen Secrets, but for a younger audience. It had the potential to be a good space adventure series for kids, but it was rather anticlimactic for me, the pacing of the story was really off, and it heavily mimicked the basic structure of Harry Potter, set in a futuristic moon base academy instead of a wizarding school in England. I still enjoyed the story and would consider attempting another book in the series if one came out, just to satisfy my curiosity of what will happen next in the conspiracy, but it still fell quite short of expectations.
The author of Frozen Secrets agreed with my dissatisfied review, and he offered me the opportunity to read his book for comparison. He told me it was a similar genre to the other book I had read, space adventure series, but for a slightly older audience, most of the characters being about 13-15, but hopefully done more successfully than the other. Well I love to read anyway, so naturally I chose to read Frozen Secrets and do the comparison for myself.
Aside from a few scattered typos, the editing and writing were well done. The pacing of the story was just right. The amount of time spent on Earth before moving on to the real action on Europa was just enough to establish the main character, Max, as a clever and adventurous young teenager who likes secret spy stuff, and has a talent for acting spontaneously and getting into trouble. The mystery surrounding the original Europa mission was felt from the beginning, and I was engaged in the discoveries with Max and his friends as they pieced it together. There were plenty of action sequences that kept me on the edge of my seat, with regular spacing of mystery-solving, dialogue, bits of middle school drama, and normal life events to emphasize the peaks. The climax was really exciting and dangerous, and left just enough time to wind down at the end and allude to further excitement at Europa Academy next school year!
There was flirting and bits of teen romance sprinkled throughout, as the author likes to put it. Max is a confident, adventurous young teenager, but still inexperienced when associating with pretty girls, who take advantage of that and often leave him embarrassed and confused. Poor Max... It wasn't overwhelmingly hormonal or dramatic though, just the right amount to be realistic but keep it mostly focused on the mission of saving the universe! I also appreciated the cover art and detailed sketches included, which helped me visualize the foreign environment better.
I was impressed by the main character's family dynamic. His parents were supporting and loving, but firm when Max got into mischief that could put him in the hospital! He has a close relationship with his older sister, Kelli, and they're actually friends and hang out. He also has a couple of younger siblings who are briefly mentioned. They don't play as big of roles in the story, so that's okay. It's refreshing to see a teenager who isn't angsty or embarrassed to be seen with his family. Not everyone grew up like the stereotypical teen on TV.
Overall, Frozen Secrets was a unique adventure in space, with a compelling mystery, good pacing, loveable and fun characters, and room to grow and expand on the events of book one. It was even that much more satisfying to me after reading that other book that I was so disappointed with. I look forward to reading the continuing adventures and dangers of Max and his friends in Europa Academy book two!
I recently read a book of a similar genre to Frozen Secrets, but for a younger audience. It had the potential to be a good space adventure series for kids, but it was rather anticlimactic for me, the pacing of the story was really off, and it heavily mimicked the basic structure of Harry Potter, set in a futuristic moon base academy instead of a wizarding school in England. I still enjoyed the story and would consider attempting another book in the series if one came out, just to satisfy my curiosity of what will happen next in the conspiracy, but it still fell quite short of expectations.
The author of Frozen Secrets agreed with my dissatisfied review, and he offered me the opportunity to read his book for comparison. He told me it was a similar genre to the other book I had read, space adventure series, but for a slightly older audience, most of the characters being about 13-15, but hopefully done more successfully than the other. Well I love to read anyway, so naturally I chose to read Frozen Secrets and do the comparison for myself.
Aside from a few scattered typos, the editing and writing were well done. The pacing of the story was just right. The amount of time spent on Earth before moving on to the real action on Europa was just enough to establish the main character, Max, as a clever and adventurous young teenager who likes secret spy stuff, and has a talent for acting spontaneously and getting into trouble. The mystery surrounding the original Europa mission was felt from the beginning, and I was engaged in the discoveries with Max and his friends as they pieced it together. There were plenty of action sequences that kept me on the edge of my seat, with regular spacing of mystery-solving, dialogue, bits of middle school drama, and normal life events to emphasize the peaks. The climax was really exciting and dangerous, and left just enough time to wind down at the end and allude to further excitement at Europa Academy next school year!
There was flirting and bits of teen romance sprinkled throughout, as the author likes to put it. Max is a confident, adventurous young teenager, but still inexperienced when associating with pretty girls, who take advantage of that and often leave him embarrassed and confused. Poor Max... It wasn't overwhelmingly hormonal or dramatic though, just the right amount to be realistic but keep it mostly focused on the mission of saving the universe! I also appreciated the cover art and detailed sketches included, which helped me visualize the foreign environment better.
I was impressed by the main character's family dynamic. His parents were supporting and loving, but firm when Max got into mischief that could put him in the hospital! He has a close relationship with his older sister, Kelli, and they're actually friends and hang out. He also has a couple of younger siblings who are briefly mentioned. They don't play as big of roles in the story, so that's okay. It's refreshing to see a teenager who isn't angsty or embarrassed to be seen with his family. Not everyone grew up like the stereotypical teen on TV.
Overall, Frozen Secrets was a unique adventure in space, with a compelling mystery, good pacing, loveable and fun characters, and room to grow and expand on the events of book one. It was even that much more satisfying to me after reading that other book that I was so disappointed with. I look forward to reading the continuing adventures and dangers of Max and his friends in Europa Academy book two!
November 16, 2019
If there was one word I'd use to describe this novel's protagonist, Max, it would be "endearing." Maybe that's because I was once a thirteen-going-on-fourteen year-old who had a wild imagination, the best friend who would always tag along on my antics (nothing quite like Max, though), and was quite awkward when dealing with the opposite sex. Before getting into the meat of my review, I wanted to share this detail because for a large portion of Frozen Secrets I couldn't help but smile at the thought processes that went through Max's head, then ask myself "Was I really like that at thirteen years old?" and then soon realize that actually, yes - yes I was.
So what's this book all about? Frozen Secrets takes place a hundred or so years in the future, in a time when humanity's colonized Europa, one of Jupiter's more notable moons of which we presently have a great deal of interest. Max, his best friend Jonathan, and their families are selected to join scores of other families and people to Europa City, the first major colony on Europa's surface but the second established human presence on the frosty satellite. That second establishment is what holds Max's interest: a research station where his father once worked before a disaster forced everyone to abandon it. And now that he's on Europa, he just has to find out more about the abandoned base, even if he gets in trouble for his curiosity.
And trouble is this teen's middle name. Well, it's not that he wants to get in trouble, but he's mostly made peace with knowing his actions tend to lead him and his friends into hot water. It is also this perchance for mischief which drives the plot forward when his antics result in he and Jonathan find themselves in the middle of nefarious activity.
Not too technical, but certainly not lacking in detail, the various environments we explore throughout the novel - from Europa City to a futuristic Houston, Texas - were vivid and easy to envision. As a reader who loves getting lost in the world's details and technologies, I thought Frozen Secrets hit a sweet spot where various technologies were not at all explained but simply presented as fact. Because of how they were described I could quickly put together various other possible facts about them, such as the Houston Mesh, the name given to the automated network of vehicles which navigated all around the region. Or how Europa City was built on the inside of a spinning ring, the centrifugal force allowing people to live there with near-Earth gravity. Though there were some environmental descriptions which I felt were lacking at times, it didn't take away from the overall experience for me, and fortunately those moments were few.
The cast of characters were diverse. The dynamics between them definitely evoked past memories of a time long past for me, which I say is a good thing. The antagonists weren't always who you expected, but I guessed who the "mastermind" was WAY before it was officially called out near the end of the book.
I did feel the parental presence - or lack thereof - especially after Max got himself in serious hot water, was very odd. Almost like they didn't really care if he broke any number of laws. I suppose this is where I couldn't help but feel the plot simply demanded he - and his close friends - have parents and other authority figures who really didn't care (or somehow forgot) that these particular kids broke local policies under the guise of exploring "and just being nosey kids." Their parents would've likely been fined or sued for half the things Max got away with. I also found the chapter where the kids were effectively given various controls of a space shuttle a bit of a stretch, though I ultimately gave that part a pass. All of this would require a decent amount of belief-suspension, but does it really detract from the story as a whole? I have to say no.
Though I don't normally read YA, let alone middle grade fiction, I found this story to be very enjoyable. The writing style I felt was quite appropriate considering the target audience. I can see Frozen Secrets being an excellent primer for new, young sci-fi readers. As an adult, the story could trigger nostalgic moments from yesteryear and be quite predictable, but for someone Max's age, I'd readily pass this book along to have them read.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of Frozen Secrets by the author in exchange for an honest review.
So what's this book all about? Frozen Secrets takes place a hundred or so years in the future, in a time when humanity's colonized Europa, one of Jupiter's more notable moons of which we presently have a great deal of interest. Max, his best friend Jonathan, and their families are selected to join scores of other families and people to Europa City, the first major colony on Europa's surface but the second established human presence on the frosty satellite. That second establishment is what holds Max's interest: a research station where his father once worked before a disaster forced everyone to abandon it. And now that he's on Europa, he just has to find out more about the abandoned base, even if he gets in trouble for his curiosity.
And trouble is this teen's middle name. Well, it's not that he wants to get in trouble, but he's mostly made peace with knowing his actions tend to lead him and his friends into hot water. It is also this perchance for mischief which drives the plot forward when his antics result in he and Jonathan find themselves in the middle of nefarious activity.
Not too technical, but certainly not lacking in detail, the various environments we explore throughout the novel - from Europa City to a futuristic Houston, Texas - were vivid and easy to envision. As a reader who loves getting lost in the world's details and technologies, I thought Frozen Secrets hit a sweet spot where various technologies were not at all explained but simply presented as fact. Because of how they were described I could quickly put together various other possible facts about them, such as the Houston Mesh, the name given to the automated network of vehicles which navigated all around the region. Or how Europa City was built on the inside of a spinning ring, the centrifugal force allowing people to live there with near-Earth gravity. Though there were some environmental descriptions which I felt were lacking at times, it didn't take away from the overall experience for me, and fortunately those moments were few.
The cast of characters were diverse. The dynamics between them definitely evoked past memories of a time long past for me, which I say is a good thing. The antagonists weren't always who you expected, but I guessed who the "mastermind" was WAY before it was officially called out near the end of the book.
I did feel the parental presence - or lack thereof - especially after Max got himself in serious hot water, was very odd. Almost like they didn't really care if he broke any number of laws. I suppose this is where I couldn't help but feel the plot simply demanded he - and his close friends - have parents and other authority figures who really didn't care (or somehow forgot) that these particular kids broke local policies under the guise of exploring "and just being nosey kids." Their parents would've likely been fined or sued for half the things Max got away with. I also found the chapter where the kids were effectively given various controls of a space shuttle a bit of a stretch, though I ultimately gave that part a pass. All of this would require a decent amount of belief-suspension, but does it really detract from the story as a whole? I have to say no.
Though I don't normally read YA, let alone middle grade fiction, I found this story to be very enjoyable. The writing style I felt was quite appropriate considering the target audience. I can see Frozen Secrets being an excellent primer for new, young sci-fi readers. As an adult, the story could trigger nostalgic moments from yesteryear and be quite predictable, but for someone Max's age, I'd readily pass this book along to have them read.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of Frozen Secrets by the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2020
I received a copy of Frozen Secrets through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Frozen Secrets is Myles Christensen’s debut novel, and it is a space adventure perfect for anybody looking for a little bit of an escape from reality. This science fiction novel is especially perfect for young adults and younger, as it is very approachable.
Max Parker is one of those kids who is both brilliant and has a knack for getting into trouble. That makes him a handful, even on Earth. But now he and his best friend, alongside their families, are about to go on their biggest adventure yet.
They’re going to one of Jupiter’s moons. Along the way, there are plenty of exciting things to behold, and a fair amount of mischief to find. Including, but not limited to, uncovering and solving a case of sabotage – or something much worse.
“His brain had barely registered the idea that he was about to die, when the safety line brought his free-fall to an abrupt end.”
Frozen Secrets was a fun and fast-paced read. It easily ate the time as I devoured the pages, following Max and friends as they got themselves into trouble and saved the day. This science fiction novel had a sound plot, and used facts from real science to support what was an intriguing plot. It was the perfect combination.
Looking back on it, I feel like this novel really is perfect for anybody curious about science fiction or just looking for a nice and light escape. As I mentioned above, it is highly approachable, both to a younger audience and to people less experienced in the genre.
Max and his friends were exuberant, which sounds like it should be exhausting, but it was actually quite fun to read about their adventures here. It seemed like they were constantly running around or diving into this or that – which you can imagine resulted in a fair amount of chaos, given that they were in a space station.
While the plot was interesting, I honestly think it was the balance of humor and pacing that really sold me on this novel. There was always something to laugh at, or at least to make me smile or chuckle. Okay, there might have been an indulgent eye-roll or two, but it was all in good fun. It made for a really amusing read, and given how many dark novels I’ve been reading lately, I really appreciated that.
Frozen Secrets was everything it advertised. It was light and fun, yet full of science and space travel. Max and his friends really are quite talented at getting into trouble, so let me tell you that description did not oversell there. I’m looking forward to seeing what other novels and plots Myles Christensen comes up with next.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Frozen Secrets is Myles Christensen’s debut novel, and it is a space adventure perfect for anybody looking for a little bit of an escape from reality. This science fiction novel is especially perfect for young adults and younger, as it is very approachable.
Max Parker is one of those kids who is both brilliant and has a knack for getting into trouble. That makes him a handful, even on Earth. But now he and his best friend, alongside their families, are about to go on their biggest adventure yet.
They’re going to one of Jupiter’s moons. Along the way, there are plenty of exciting things to behold, and a fair amount of mischief to find. Including, but not limited to, uncovering and solving a case of sabotage – or something much worse.
“His brain had barely registered the idea that he was about to die, when the safety line brought his free-fall to an abrupt end.”
Frozen Secrets was a fun and fast-paced read. It easily ate the time as I devoured the pages, following Max and friends as they got themselves into trouble and saved the day. This science fiction novel had a sound plot, and used facts from real science to support what was an intriguing plot. It was the perfect combination.
Looking back on it, I feel like this novel really is perfect for anybody curious about science fiction or just looking for a nice and light escape. As I mentioned above, it is highly approachable, both to a younger audience and to people less experienced in the genre.
Max and his friends were exuberant, which sounds like it should be exhausting, but it was actually quite fun to read about their adventures here. It seemed like they were constantly running around or diving into this or that – which you can imagine resulted in a fair amount of chaos, given that they were in a space station.
While the plot was interesting, I honestly think it was the balance of humor and pacing that really sold me on this novel. There was always something to laugh at, or at least to make me smile or chuckle. Okay, there might have been an indulgent eye-roll or two, but it was all in good fun. It made for a really amusing read, and given how many dark novels I’ve been reading lately, I really appreciated that.
Frozen Secrets was everything it advertised. It was light and fun, yet full of science and space travel. Max and his friends really are quite talented at getting into trouble, so let me tell you that description did not oversell there. I’m looking forward to seeing what other novels and plots Myles Christensen comes up with next.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
November 22, 2019
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is available now.
Funny story: I couldn’t find this book one afternoon. I looked in all the usual places that I “lose” things, but I still couldn’t find it. Guess where it was? In the hands of my sixth grader, who was very interested in reading it. That’s a pretty high recommendation for the book just right there. I have a feeling he’ll be curled up with it soon.
This book follows Max and his best friend Jonathan. They’ve just moved with their families to Europa, as part of a colonization. The two best buds manage to get themselves into trouble on a pretty regular basis, but their usual hijinks give way to the possibility of real trouble when they notice that things seem a little off. What did they stumble on? More importantly: will they survive?
Max was a fun character to read about. Trouble follows him, but he’s not a bad kid. He was actually really sweet. Both he and Jonathan were very believable and- I’m sure- easy for middle-graders to relate to. Their relationship was a joy to read.
This book is full of action, very rarely pausing to explain things. This is perfect for someone like my son, who is able to glean any background information that is included among other things that are happening, and prefers his stories to be action-packed. There’s never a dull moment.
Frozen Secrets is the beginning of what I think will be a highly enjoyable series. If you’ve got a middle-grade/YA reader who likes sci-fi, this is not one to miss. Keep this book in mind if you’re looking for something fun to give as a gift.
Funny story: I couldn’t find this book one afternoon. I looked in all the usual places that I “lose” things, but I still couldn’t find it. Guess where it was? In the hands of my sixth grader, who was very interested in reading it. That’s a pretty high recommendation for the book just right there. I have a feeling he’ll be curled up with it soon.
This book follows Max and his best friend Jonathan. They’ve just moved with their families to Europa, as part of a colonization. The two best buds manage to get themselves into trouble on a pretty regular basis, but their usual hijinks give way to the possibility of real trouble when they notice that things seem a little off. What did they stumble on? More importantly: will they survive?
Max was a fun character to read about. Trouble follows him, but he’s not a bad kid. He was actually really sweet. Both he and Jonathan were very believable and- I’m sure- easy for middle-graders to relate to. Their relationship was a joy to read.
This book is full of action, very rarely pausing to explain things. This is perfect for someone like my son, who is able to glean any background information that is included among other things that are happening, and prefers his stories to be action-packed. There’s never a dull moment.
Frozen Secrets is the beginning of what I think will be a highly enjoyable series. If you’ve got a middle-grade/YA reader who likes sci-fi, this is not one to miss. Keep this book in mind if you’re looking for something fun to give as a gift.
Read
February 13, 2020This "reading" of my book was actually tracking as I read it to my 8 & 11 year-old boys. I'm not going to leave a rating, because that would be too self-serving (just know, it would definitely be a 5 :)
Actually, the biggest complaint I got from my youngest boys was that I kept putting the characters in scary or high anxiety situations. And apparently I got the chapter endings right, because they would frequently yell "Noooo!!" as I would close the book to stop reading for the night. There was even one point when the 11 y.o. could tell the 8 y.o. was feeling nervous and he said "it's okay, they're going to be alright." I guess he had faith in my tendency for HEA.
Their other complaint was that when they would stop me and start talking to each other about what they thought was going to happen next, they would often look at me hoping for a hint. I would usually say something like "we'll have to wait and see." I got in trouble for that. A lot.
I'm not sure what else I can say about it. I wanted the story it to be a science-realistic entry into the science-fiction genre. If you love sci-fi, and you want an age-appropriate book to get your kids/siblings/nieces/nephews/grandkids interested, then give this book a shot.
In reality, I simply wrote the book I would have wanted to read as a 11 or 12 year-old.
My son officially put his stamp of approval on it when (immediately following reading the last page) he said, "Can you write the second book by next week? We won't have anything else to read if you don't."
Me:
Actually, the biggest complaint I got from my youngest boys was that I kept putting the characters in scary or high anxiety situations. And apparently I got the chapter endings right, because they would frequently yell "Noooo!!" as I would close the book to stop reading for the night. There was even one point when the 11 y.o. could tell the 8 y.o. was feeling nervous and he said "it's okay, they're going to be alright." I guess he had faith in my tendency for HEA.
Their other complaint was that when they would stop me and start talking to each other about what they thought was going to happen next, they would often look at me hoping for a hint. I would usually say something like "we'll have to wait and see." I got in trouble for that. A lot.
I'm not sure what else I can say about it. I wanted the story it to be a science-realistic entry into the science-fiction genre. If you love sci-fi, and you want an age-appropriate book to get your kids/siblings/nieces/nephews/grandkids interested, then give this book a shot.
In reality, I simply wrote the book I would have wanted to read as a 11 or 12 year-old.
My son officially put his stamp of approval on it when (immediately following reading the last page) he said, "Can you write the second book by next week? We won't have anything else to read if you don't."
Me:
November 21, 2021
I honestly didn’t know that Middle Grade science fiction thrillers were a thing until I started “Frozen Secrets”, which follows young Max in a futuristic setting where the nations of the world are colonizing space. Max has a knack for trouble as any burgeoning teenager would, especially as Max really loves adventure and really wants to be a super-spy. He’s often the ring-leader with his friends, getting them to go along with his exploits, because if Max smells something even vaguely like a conspiracy or a new place to explore, this young man is going to insert himself into it, consequences be damned! It’s a very endearing story, and I think MOST actual middle grade readers will enjoy it.
This was a fun, quick book that is equal parts spy thriller in space, and also coming of age as Max adjusts to a new galactic school off of Earth. We see his interactions with his friends and his first crushes, and his playful manner just as much as we see him trying to figure out who may have sabotaged his shuttle and following those clues down a rabbit hole of dangerous cover ups, conspiracies, and secret organizations. The non-thriller parts could feel a bit slow at times, but I didn’t mind them too much and thought they did a good job setting up Max and his core group of friends, as he does have several. But I did really enjoy the thriller aspects the most and liked watching these kids really consider who may be behind something, and if they were going to follow up on executing an idea, what was the best plan of action. It was refreshing for an MG read where the kids actually do consider options to follow besides just flying by the seat of their pants, even if trouble likes to follow Max wherever he goes no matter how careful he tries to be.
Christensen really went all out with the science in this one. You can tell the author put a lot of care and research into how things would function in space and the science behind the travel. Unfortunately, sometimes the terminology gets used so casually in conversation by these space kids (which does make sense for them to use!) that it may be hard for younger readers to follow. So just keep that in mind. But Max is a fun kid to root for, he may get his friends into trouble a lot but he’s not mean at all and he’s a great brother, so I enjoyed him quite a bit as a main character. The one thing I personally had trouble with, and that may be because I am an actual adult, is the fact that when these kids did get into very serious trouble, and not always because they were doing something they shouldn’t have been either, the adults were very quick to punish them rather than, I don’t know, just be happy their kids were ok? But that may just be me though.
I’m not the biggest MG reader, but I had fun with this one. I do worry that some of the terms may be a bit difficult for middle grade readers who aren’t big into hard(ish) science fiction, and a lot of the parents and adults’ reactions to serious things happening to their kids bothered me personally, but younger readers may connect to that aspect a lot more. But that’s ultimately why I’m giving this book 4 stars. It’d make a great book for MG fans who like thrilling chases in space—both literal and figurative—science fiction, and boys and girls working together to bring down the bad guys. And thanks to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review!
This was a fun, quick book that is equal parts spy thriller in space, and also coming of age as Max adjusts to a new galactic school off of Earth. We see his interactions with his friends and his first crushes, and his playful manner just as much as we see him trying to figure out who may have sabotaged his shuttle and following those clues down a rabbit hole of dangerous cover ups, conspiracies, and secret organizations. The non-thriller parts could feel a bit slow at times, but I didn’t mind them too much and thought they did a good job setting up Max and his core group of friends, as he does have several. But I did really enjoy the thriller aspects the most and liked watching these kids really consider who may be behind something, and if they were going to follow up on executing an idea, what was the best plan of action. It was refreshing for an MG read where the kids actually do consider options to follow besides just flying by the seat of their pants, even if trouble likes to follow Max wherever he goes no matter how careful he tries to be.
Christensen really went all out with the science in this one. You can tell the author put a lot of care and research into how things would function in space and the science behind the travel. Unfortunately, sometimes the terminology gets used so casually in conversation by these space kids (which does make sense for them to use!) that it may be hard for younger readers to follow. So just keep that in mind. But Max is a fun kid to root for, he may get his friends into trouble a lot but he’s not mean at all and he’s a great brother, so I enjoyed him quite a bit as a main character. The one thing I personally had trouble with, and that may be because I am an actual adult, is the fact that when these kids did get into very serious trouble, and not always because they were doing something they shouldn’t have been either, the adults were very quick to punish them rather than, I don’t know, just be happy their kids were ok? But that may just be me though.
I’m not the biggest MG reader, but I had fun with this one. I do worry that some of the terms may be a bit difficult for middle grade readers who aren’t big into hard(ish) science fiction, and a lot of the parents and adults’ reactions to serious things happening to their kids bothered me personally, but younger readers may connect to that aspect a lot more. But that’s ultimately why I’m giving this book 4 stars. It’d make a great book for MG fans who like thrilling chases in space—both literal and figurative—science fiction, and boys and girls working together to bring down the bad guys. And thanks to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review!
January 5, 2020
I received and ARC of this book from the publisher through a giveaway hosted in GoodReads.
Frozen Secrets is an adventure from start to finish. Opening with their attempt to fly a jetpack they rebuilt themselves, Max Parker and Johnathan Perez have no idea that their lives will soon be changed drastically. Shortly after making friends with a young pilot after he rescues them from an awkward situation in an abandoned space facility, the boys learn that their families will soon be moving to a new settlement on one of Saturn’s moons, leaving behind all their knew to basically start new lives in space. Although things will still be the same on the surface, the teens will make new friends in a new school with new teachers in a new town, but unlike most uprooted students, they will be doing so in a town with artificial gravity, and were recreational activities and school field trips sometimes require them to put on space suits and monitor their oxygen supplies while traveling in low gravity. As if that is not enough, though, Max accidentally uncovers a scientific conspiracy while on orientation for the big move, and despite multiple warnings (and sometimes death threats or murder attempts) from the adults around him, he will not keep his nose out of it until he knows exactly what is going on, nor will he let his new friends on Europa miss out on the dangerous fun, either. With little information an no idea who can and cannot be trusted, though, Max and his classmates may be getting in way deeper than any of them are prepared for.
This is a great science fiction novel for middle-level readers, or anyone from any other age group. The plotline is great, and the science never talks down to readers like some books may do in an attempt to make sure readers understand everything. To the contrary, the book presents information just as it would be encountered in the real world, and when information is important that may be above the average middle-schooler’s head, it is explained in a very organic way by having the characters ask questions and be instructed by knowledgeable adults. Far from being preachy or boring, though, the information is right at home in the narrative as Max and his group of friends navigate normal middle school issues while also trying to discover information on a mission that, as an adult reader I felt they had no business investigating, but I also quite enjoyed reading about and know that I would have been equally excited about when I was the character’s age and most likely would have happily partaken in if given the chance. That being said, though, the story also does a very good job of placing these teens in situations that no one would want a thirteen-year-old to be in but also still feel realistic, using a childhood sense of curiosity and troublemaking to build the plot, rather than creating some sort of convoluted reason that children would be intentionally sent to do these things (you all know the sorts of books I’m referring to). The adventure and the mundane is also balanced very well to make it feel like something that could actually happen in the next few decades, when colonizing planets and moons hopefully becomes a reality. School and relationships are not trivialized in relation to the bigger problems faced, nor are they exaggerated to hold them at the same level as the “super-spy” investigations. Friendship, crushes, and school are all treated with the same level or importance to Max and his companions that any other child their age would view them as, but at the same time, friends and (perceived) enemies at school are not given any more power than an average student. All the major players in the Xenon League plot are adults, with no child becoming any sort of super-genius or evil mastermind working behind the scenes. And I apologize if some view that as a spoiler, but believe me, there are plenty of adults in the mix for readers to puzzle over without having to resort to unrealistic child-villain plots.
While the plot and its handling are amazing, though, there were a few small things that irked me. Nothing major, nothing big enough that I feel it disrupts the plot or completely shatters my immersion, but just a few little details that stuck in the back of my mind. First of all, as with all Advanced Reader Copies I’ve gotten my hands on, there are some small typos in the book, mostly just forgetting a letter or minor preposition or including extra ones, but always in a context where the intention can be easily assumed. Also, there were a few scenes that I did find slightly unrealistic, despite my praise of the novel’s success in treating the kids like real kids, though usually in cases where there was little way around it in order to advance the plot. Mainly, these were any instances where students were sanctioned to explore dangerous places or do dangerous things where they could very easily be hurt or even killed. The use of the snow bikes as a recreational activity is fine, especially considering certification was required before they were allowed to bring them out on their own, and of course a teenager would be eager to push the boundaries and go where they know they shouldn’t because they think it would be fun, so any instant where Max leads his friends or sister someplace without permission to go there also gets a pass. However, [spoiler]the mayor’s supervised exploration of the old base and the Iditarod race[/spoiler] are both pushing it, as even if they had been normal activities without the government plotting behind the scenes, they both hold way to many possible dangers for teachers and authority figures, much less parents, to willingly sign off on. Of course, they also present valuable opportunities to advance the plot that may have push realism even further if they had not been there, so maybe we can just assume parents in the future are less like helicopters and are more open to letting their kids take calculated risks.
Overall, I highly recommend this book, and cannot wait for the rest of the series to come out. If you have a young teen in your life who is fascinated by space and the future, or if you had these interests when you were young and are still mourning your lost opportunities to be an astronaut or a space explorer, then this is a must-read. If is more than enticing enough to encourage avid young readers to step out of their comfort zone and dip their toe into the scifi genre, and would very likely help science-minded young people who are a little reluctant to pick up a book to expand their horizons a bit, as well. That being said, it would make a great addition to a classroom where teachers are trying to encourage higher literacy rates and more cross-subject crossover in their classes. Or, add it to your home library, and enjoy looking back on simpler days when you could dream of whatever your wanted and never had to consider the consequences of what it might entail. I know I will be doing so with future additions.
Frozen Secrets is an adventure from start to finish. Opening with their attempt to fly a jetpack they rebuilt themselves, Max Parker and Johnathan Perez have no idea that their lives will soon be changed drastically. Shortly after making friends with a young pilot after he rescues them from an awkward situation in an abandoned space facility, the boys learn that their families will soon be moving to a new settlement on one of Saturn’s moons, leaving behind all their knew to basically start new lives in space. Although things will still be the same on the surface, the teens will make new friends in a new school with new teachers in a new town, but unlike most uprooted students, they will be doing so in a town with artificial gravity, and were recreational activities and school field trips sometimes require them to put on space suits and monitor their oxygen supplies while traveling in low gravity. As if that is not enough, though, Max accidentally uncovers a scientific conspiracy while on orientation for the big move, and despite multiple warnings (and sometimes death threats or murder attempts) from the adults around him, he will not keep his nose out of it until he knows exactly what is going on, nor will he let his new friends on Europa miss out on the dangerous fun, either. With little information an no idea who can and cannot be trusted, though, Max and his classmates may be getting in way deeper than any of them are prepared for.
This is a great science fiction novel for middle-level readers, or anyone from any other age group. The plotline is great, and the science never talks down to readers like some books may do in an attempt to make sure readers understand everything. To the contrary, the book presents information just as it would be encountered in the real world, and when information is important that may be above the average middle-schooler’s head, it is explained in a very organic way by having the characters ask questions and be instructed by knowledgeable adults. Far from being preachy or boring, though, the information is right at home in the narrative as Max and his group of friends navigate normal middle school issues while also trying to discover information on a mission that, as an adult reader I felt they had no business investigating, but I also quite enjoyed reading about and know that I would have been equally excited about when I was the character’s age and most likely would have happily partaken in if given the chance. That being said, though, the story also does a very good job of placing these teens in situations that no one would want a thirteen-year-old to be in but also still feel realistic, using a childhood sense of curiosity and troublemaking to build the plot, rather than creating some sort of convoluted reason that children would be intentionally sent to do these things (you all know the sorts of books I’m referring to). The adventure and the mundane is also balanced very well to make it feel like something that could actually happen in the next few decades, when colonizing planets and moons hopefully becomes a reality. School and relationships are not trivialized in relation to the bigger problems faced, nor are they exaggerated to hold them at the same level as the “super-spy” investigations. Friendship, crushes, and school are all treated with the same level or importance to Max and his companions that any other child their age would view them as, but at the same time, friends and (perceived) enemies at school are not given any more power than an average student. All the major players in the Xenon League plot are adults, with no child becoming any sort of super-genius or evil mastermind working behind the scenes. And I apologize if some view that as a spoiler, but believe me, there are plenty of adults in the mix for readers to puzzle over without having to resort to unrealistic child-villain plots.
While the plot and its handling are amazing, though, there were a few small things that irked me. Nothing major, nothing big enough that I feel it disrupts the plot or completely shatters my immersion, but just a few little details that stuck in the back of my mind. First of all, as with all Advanced Reader Copies I’ve gotten my hands on, there are some small typos in the book, mostly just forgetting a letter or minor preposition or including extra ones, but always in a context where the intention can be easily assumed. Also, there were a few scenes that I did find slightly unrealistic, despite my praise of the novel’s success in treating the kids like real kids, though usually in cases where there was little way around it in order to advance the plot. Mainly, these were any instances where students were sanctioned to explore dangerous places or do dangerous things where they could very easily be hurt or even killed. The use of the snow bikes as a recreational activity is fine, especially considering certification was required before they were allowed to bring them out on their own, and of course a teenager would be eager to push the boundaries and go where they know they shouldn’t because they think it would be fun, so any instant where Max leads his friends or sister someplace without permission to go there also gets a pass. However, [spoiler]the mayor’s supervised exploration of the old base and the Iditarod race[/spoiler] are both pushing it, as even if they had been normal activities without the government plotting behind the scenes, they both hold way to many possible dangers for teachers and authority figures, much less parents, to willingly sign off on. Of course, they also present valuable opportunities to advance the plot that may have push realism even further if they had not been there, so maybe we can just assume parents in the future are less like helicopters and are more open to letting their kids take calculated risks.
Overall, I highly recommend this book, and cannot wait for the rest of the series to come out. If you have a young teen in your life who is fascinated by space and the future, or if you had these interests when you were young and are still mourning your lost opportunities to be an astronaut or a space explorer, then this is a must-read. If is more than enticing enough to encourage avid young readers to step out of their comfort zone and dip their toe into the scifi genre, and would very likely help science-minded young people who are a little reluctant to pick up a book to expand their horizons a bit, as well. That being said, it would make a great addition to a classroom where teachers are trying to encourage higher literacy rates and more cross-subject crossover in their classes. Or, add it to your home library, and enjoy looking back on simpler days when you could dream of whatever your wanted and never had to consider the consequences of what it might entail. I know I will be doing so with future additions.
December 24, 2019
What Made Me Read It I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The author described it as a "teen science fiction story perfect for readers who like spunky characters and exciting adventures in space, filled with fearless friends, high-orbit mysteries, and immersive worlds". It sounded like something I would enjoy reading so I decided to give it a go.
The Plot In the near future, the discovery of the Catarium fusion led to the formation of the World Alliance and the beginning of an era of peace. With free energy available everywhere, humanity started to colonize the solar system and explore its resources.
When the Parker family is selected to relocate to the newly-constructed Europa City on Jupiter's moon, 13-year-old Max sees his lifelong dream of going to space come true. Not only is he one step closer to becoming an astronaut like his father, but he will also get the chance of exploring the old Europa Base where his father used to work, before the accident that took the life of 3 astronauts.
But during an orientation trip to the Faraday Industries, Max witnesses the theft of the rare compound Zeenium from a restricted section, and now the Xenon League is threatening to kill him if he keeps snooping around. Max is determined to learn the secrets of the abandoned Europa Base and solving its 14 years old mystery suddenly becomes crucial to stop the stolen Zeenium from getting into the wrong hands.
The Good "Frozen Secrets" is the first book in the "Europa Academy" series, a science fiction thriller for young readers. It follows the adventures of the main character Max, a 13-year-old boy whose family is relocated to a newly-constructed colony on the Jupiter moon of Europa. Max starts his new life in Europa City, getting in typical teenage mischief with his best friend, making new ones among his peers and involving himself in an interplanetary intrigue of greed and power that could affect the entire solar system.
The plot is fast-paced and action-packed, filled with thrilling sequences that will keep you glued to your seat, and an intriguing mystery with plenty of twists, turns and a few red herrings to keep the suspense going throughout the book. The worldbuilding is imaginative, complex and very plausible. Even without the inclusion of technical explanations found in YA/adult novels, the detailed descriptions of futuristic technologies are more than enough to fuel a young reader's imagination: house AIs with distinctive personalities and quirks; the Mesh, a driver-assist control system to handle traffic; sports in zero-g and alien environments like Z-Ball and the Europa Iditarod sled challenge; school subjects and activities, living on a space station and off-world colony...
The characters are 3-dimentional, realistic and relatable. The young characters are diverse with distinctive personalities: Max and his friends Jonathan, Cameron, Mei Li and Elise are typical teenagers, getting into trouble when following their wild imagination and curiosity with poor judgment skills, building their personalities, exploring friendship, dealing with peer pressure and rivalry, feeling awkward around the opposite sex... but also showing emotional growth as the story progresses. The adults are more stereotypical but they serve their purpose well as support characters helping to move the plot along.
Even though it's the first book in a series, this novel seems to be a standalone with a satisfying end, no strings left unresolved and no cliffhanger. A truly enjoyable reading experience that will surely please young readers but also entertain more mature audiences.
Read the full review on: https://literaryportals.blogspot.com/...
Final Rating 5 of 5 stars. "Frozen Secrets" is the first book in the "Europa Academy" series, a science fiction thriller for young readers set in future Earth and on the Jupiter moon of Europa, with thrilling action sequences and an intriguing mystery. Recommended for those who enjoy science fiction and adventure stories in space colonies.
The Plot In the near future, the discovery of the Catarium fusion led to the formation of the World Alliance and the beginning of an era of peace. With free energy available everywhere, humanity started to colonize the solar system and explore its resources.
When the Parker family is selected to relocate to the newly-constructed Europa City on Jupiter's moon, 13-year-old Max sees his lifelong dream of going to space come true. Not only is he one step closer to becoming an astronaut like his father, but he will also get the chance of exploring the old Europa Base where his father used to work, before the accident that took the life of 3 astronauts.
But during an orientation trip to the Faraday Industries, Max witnesses the theft of the rare compound Zeenium from a restricted section, and now the Xenon League is threatening to kill him if he keeps snooping around. Max is determined to learn the secrets of the abandoned Europa Base and solving its 14 years old mystery suddenly becomes crucial to stop the stolen Zeenium from getting into the wrong hands.
The Good "Frozen Secrets" is the first book in the "Europa Academy" series, a science fiction thriller for young readers. It follows the adventures of the main character Max, a 13-year-old boy whose family is relocated to a newly-constructed colony on the Jupiter moon of Europa. Max starts his new life in Europa City, getting in typical teenage mischief with his best friend, making new ones among his peers and involving himself in an interplanetary intrigue of greed and power that could affect the entire solar system.
The plot is fast-paced and action-packed, filled with thrilling sequences that will keep you glued to your seat, and an intriguing mystery with plenty of twists, turns and a few red herrings to keep the suspense going throughout the book. The worldbuilding is imaginative, complex and very plausible. Even without the inclusion of technical explanations found in YA/adult novels, the detailed descriptions of futuristic technologies are more than enough to fuel a young reader's imagination: house AIs with distinctive personalities and quirks; the Mesh, a driver-assist control system to handle traffic; sports in zero-g and alien environments like Z-Ball and the Europa Iditarod sled challenge; school subjects and activities, living on a space station and off-world colony...
The characters are 3-dimentional, realistic and relatable. The young characters are diverse with distinctive personalities: Max and his friends Jonathan, Cameron, Mei Li and Elise are typical teenagers, getting into trouble when following their wild imagination and curiosity with poor judgment skills, building their personalities, exploring friendship, dealing with peer pressure and rivalry, feeling awkward around the opposite sex... but also showing emotional growth as the story progresses. The adults are more stereotypical but they serve their purpose well as support characters helping to move the plot along.
Even though it's the first book in a series, this novel seems to be a standalone with a satisfying end, no strings left unresolved and no cliffhanger. A truly enjoyable reading experience that will surely please young readers but also entertain more mature audiences.
Read the full review on: https://literaryportals.blogspot.com/...
Final Rating 5 of 5 stars. "Frozen Secrets" is the first book in the "Europa Academy" series, a science fiction thriller for young readers set in future Earth and on the Jupiter moon of Europa, with thrilling action sequences and an intriguing mystery. Recommended for those who enjoy science fiction and adventure stories in space colonies.
March 26, 2020
Frozen Secrets is a fantastic book. While geared towards tweens, it will appeal to sci fi fans of all ages. There was something about it that reminded me in a good way of the Lost in Space remake on Netflix. The story is smart, well written, and a quick read. I truly hope that Frozen Secrets is the first in a long series of books involving these characters.
While I received an advance review copy of this book for free, it in no way influenced my opinion of the book or this voluntary review.
While I received an advance review copy of this book for free, it in no way influenced my opinion of the book or this voluntary review.
October 19, 2019
* I was asked to review this book by the author, but my opinions are my own.
If you get nothing else of this review, understand this: This book was absolutely amazing! I was genuinely afraid for the characters' lives, rooting for their friendships and super-secret spy adventures to go well, and basically having the time of my life.
In this novel, our spunky protagonist Max and his family move to the newly built colony on Europa (one of Jupiter's moons) where his penchant for trouble-making gets him and his friends embroiled in much bigger schemes than he is used to. While acclimating to his new home, Max encounters old and new friends, and finds his way into a plethora dangerous and exciting situations in between the homework and groundings that make up his daily life.
Max was an adorable scallywag of a character who enjoys physics so much more than I ever could. (And I am currently almost finished with an engineering degree). His relationships with his siblings and friends were adorable and believable, and I was rooting for him for the very beginning. What a lovable trouble-maker!
I loved every single one of his friends (new and old). All the side characters were individuals with distinct personalities, creating an interesting (and fun!) friendship dynamic. Max and Kelli, his older sister, had such a wonderful, endearing sibling relationship. As to Max's parents, I won't say they are negligible, because Max has a way of attracting trouble, but let me just say that my parents would never let me out of their sight if even a tenth of what happened to Max were to happen to me. They were present and parenting, so in that case they were believable. While the kids had most of the adventures alone, there was enough parental/authority figure interception that I was able to suspend my disbelief in what they were allowed to get away with.
Side note: I'm not quite sure any of those middle school kids should've known what flirting was (since I definitely didn't have a clue at that age), but the budding relationships in this book were really cute.
Europa as a setting was beautifully described and so interesting. I liked learning about the different characteristics of Earth versus the space station stopover versus the newly built colony on Europa. I did have a hard time imagining the terrain of Europa, but I think that is mostly because I kept seeing an Arctic landscape rather than a new planetary terrain and that was totally my fault.
The plot was pretty darn good. While I did guess the "big bad," or at least part of it, I was left questioning and rethinking who was actually evil until the be reveal at the end. There were anxiety-inducing scenes where I was legitimately afraid for the characters, as well as good mysteries and a secret passage of a sort (my favorite!). I especially enjoyed how the adults (specifically Max's dad) had a history on Europa, which worked into the overall mystery. I think it was well done.
If you enjoy middle grade, adventures, and friendship, I would highly recommend reading this book. It is a great introduction to science fiction.
If you get nothing else of this review, understand this: This book was absolutely amazing! I was genuinely afraid for the characters' lives, rooting for their friendships and super-secret spy adventures to go well, and basically having the time of my life.
In this novel, our spunky protagonist Max and his family move to the newly built colony on Europa (one of Jupiter's moons) where his penchant for trouble-making gets him and his friends embroiled in much bigger schemes than he is used to. While acclimating to his new home, Max encounters old and new friends, and finds his way into a plethora dangerous and exciting situations in between the homework and groundings that make up his daily life.
Max was an adorable scallywag of a character who enjoys physics so much more than I ever could. (And I am currently almost finished with an engineering degree). His relationships with his siblings and friends were adorable and believable, and I was rooting for him for the very beginning. What a lovable trouble-maker!
I loved every single one of his friends (new and old). All the side characters were individuals with distinct personalities, creating an interesting (and fun!) friendship dynamic. Max and Kelli, his older sister, had such a wonderful, endearing sibling relationship. As to Max's parents, I won't say they are negligible, because Max has a way of attracting trouble, but let me just say that my parents would never let me out of their sight if even a tenth of what happened to Max were to happen to me. They were present and parenting, so in that case they were believable. While the kids had most of the adventures alone, there was enough parental/authority figure interception that I was able to suspend my disbelief in what they were allowed to get away with.
Side note: I'm not quite sure any of those middle school kids should've known what flirting was (since I definitely didn't have a clue at that age), but the budding relationships in this book were really cute.
Europa as a setting was beautifully described and so interesting. I liked learning about the different characteristics of Earth versus the space station stopover versus the newly built colony on Europa. I did have a hard time imagining the terrain of Europa, but I think that is mostly because I kept seeing an Arctic landscape rather than a new planetary terrain and that was totally my fault.
The plot was pretty darn good. While I did guess the "big bad," or at least part of it, I was left questioning and rethinking who was actually evil until the be reveal at the end. There were anxiety-inducing scenes where I was legitimately afraid for the characters, as well as good mysteries and a secret passage of a sort (my favorite!). I especially enjoyed how the adults (specifically Max's dad) had a history on Europa, which worked into the overall mystery. I think it was well done.
If you enjoy middle grade, adventures, and friendship, I would highly recommend reading this book. It is a great introduction to science fiction.
January 16, 2020
A mystery in space? Sign me up!
The climax is an Iditarod race across the frozen surface of Jupiter's moon?
Even better!
From page one, I knew this was going to be a fun, action packed book.
It starts off with two kids trying to launch an antique jetpack that they rebuilt.
In Jonathan's (one of said kids) words: "The fuel lines might leak, the combustion chamber might explode, the nozzles might shear--"
Any number of things could go wrong, and Max (the kid strapped to the jetpack) could very likely die.
But that doesn't put Max off one bit. He has a talent (problem?) for getting into life-threatening situations. And while the jetpack adventure comes just shy of proving fatal, don't worry, because it's very probably the least life-threatening situation he'll find himself in for the rest of the book.
Getting stuck in a sabotaged shuttle, getting sealed in an underground tunnel, getting stranded in the wilderness with low oxygen levels, getting caught in a crazy car chase, getting caught by enemy spies, nearly blowing himself up in a drilling rig, jumping off a precipice--these are all in a day's work for Max Parker: super secret spy.
OK, he's not a super secret spy, he's 13, and he's probably grounded for life at this point. But he wants to be a super secret spy.
And honestly, for a frequently grounded 13-year-old, he does pretty dang well.
Max is a fun character. And his supporting cast is fun, too--from his seriously awesome older sister to his diverse group of friends and the villainous members of the Xenium League.
I especially like Max's friend Cameron, who gets pulled into the spy adventure reluctantly and isn't fond of taking risks. (He's a rock-solid friend, though.)
And what's any young teen mystery in space without a little awkward romance? YES. Bring it on.
Oh yeah, it's a mystery. That part is fun, too. It kept me guessing as to who was on the good guys list and who was on the bad guys list.
Did I mention it's in space? While the book starts on Earth and has a brief sojourn there in the middle, most of the action takes place in the new Europa colony on Jupiter's moon. Europa City is an awe-inspiring place that speaks to the space-happy child in me. Also....
Zero gravity is awesome.
So basically, picture trying to solve a mystery as a 13-year-old with the fate of humanity at stake and your friends and family in danger. Then picture doing it in low gravity, on a frozen moon. That's this book. You like?
I do. I had a lot of fun solving this mystery in space.
Well, credit where credit's due. I didn't really solve it.
That was Max Parker: super secret space spy.
The climax is an Iditarod race across the frozen surface of Jupiter's moon?
Even better!
From page one, I knew this was going to be a fun, action packed book.
It starts off with two kids trying to launch an antique jetpack that they rebuilt.
In Jonathan's (one of said kids) words: "The fuel lines might leak, the combustion chamber might explode, the nozzles might shear--"
Any number of things could go wrong, and Max (the kid strapped to the jetpack) could very likely die.
But that doesn't put Max off one bit. He has a talent (problem?) for getting into life-threatening situations. And while the jetpack adventure comes just shy of proving fatal, don't worry, because it's very probably the least life-threatening situation he'll find himself in for the rest of the book.
Getting stuck in a sabotaged shuttle, getting sealed in an underground tunnel, getting stranded in the wilderness with low oxygen levels, getting caught in a crazy car chase, getting caught by enemy spies, nearly blowing himself up in a drilling rig, jumping off a precipice--these are all in a day's work for Max Parker: super secret spy.
OK, he's not a super secret spy, he's 13, and he's probably grounded for life at this point. But he wants to be a super secret spy.
And honestly, for a frequently grounded 13-year-old, he does pretty dang well.
Max is a fun character. And his supporting cast is fun, too--from his seriously awesome older sister to his diverse group of friends and the villainous members of the Xenium League.
I especially like Max's friend Cameron, who gets pulled into the spy adventure reluctantly and isn't fond of taking risks. (He's a rock-solid friend, though.)
And what's any young teen mystery in space without a little awkward romance? YES. Bring it on.
Oh yeah, it's a mystery. That part is fun, too. It kept me guessing as to who was on the good guys list and who was on the bad guys list.
Did I mention it's in space? While the book starts on Earth and has a brief sojourn there in the middle, most of the action takes place in the new Europa colony on Jupiter's moon. Europa City is an awe-inspiring place that speaks to the space-happy child in me. Also....
Zero gravity is awesome.
So basically, picture trying to solve a mystery as a 13-year-old with the fate of humanity at stake and your friends and family in danger. Then picture doing it in low gravity, on a frozen moon. That's this book. You like?
I do. I had a lot of fun solving this mystery in space.
Well, credit where credit's due. I didn't really solve it.
That was Max Parker: super secret space spy.
February 7, 2020
Frozen Secrets
Author: Myles Christensen
Publisher: Moon Zoom Press
ISBN: B07Z4YVL6M
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Secrets...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Europa Academy 1
He has trouble following the rules on Earth, but Jupiter’s moon could kill his curiosity for good…
Thirteen-year-old Max Parker is a grounded Earthling with the soul of a space explorer. So when he learns his family is relocating to Jupiter’s moon, Europa, he readily agrees to stay out of trouble. But his promise is soon forgotten, and his snooping lands him on a shuttle doomed for a fiery disintegration.
Convinced someone sabotaged the craft to cover up the theft he witnessed, Max digs into the incident. What else could they be hiding? Dodging a series of deadly accidents, he follows the clues to an abandoned outpost and discovers a secret that could blow the lid off a moon-wide conspiracy. Can he solve the mystery before his interplanetary escapade gets him killed?
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Max loved everything about space, but he had never been there. After his father returned from the Europa base accident he didn’t even like to talk about what happened there. Max and his best friend Jonathan seemed to always get into mischief including the day they decided to try out the jet-pack they had assembled form parts they found. Little did they know that would lead them to meeting a space pilot who worked on Europa. Everything changed when Max and Jonathan’s family were picked live Europa. You think that would be exciting enough, but no Max’s curiosity gets him in the middle of a secret placing him and his friends in danger they never imagined.
This is a wonderful middle school sci-fi adventure that takes the reader into futuristic situations with intricate descriptions that bring the story alive for the reader. I enjoyed the how the interpersonal conflicts were the same in space as they world be on Earth. Max’s curiosity lands him in hot water where he has to take charge to protect everyone around him and in space mistakes can be deadly. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Author: Myles Christensen
Publisher: Moon Zoom Press
ISBN: B07Z4YVL6M
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Secrets...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Europa Academy 1
He has trouble following the rules on Earth, but Jupiter’s moon could kill his curiosity for good…
Thirteen-year-old Max Parker is a grounded Earthling with the soul of a space explorer. So when he learns his family is relocating to Jupiter’s moon, Europa, he readily agrees to stay out of trouble. But his promise is soon forgotten, and his snooping lands him on a shuttle doomed for a fiery disintegration.
Convinced someone sabotaged the craft to cover up the theft he witnessed, Max digs into the incident. What else could they be hiding? Dodging a series of deadly accidents, he follows the clues to an abandoned outpost and discovers a secret that could blow the lid off a moon-wide conspiracy. Can he solve the mystery before his interplanetary escapade gets him killed?
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Max loved everything about space, but he had never been there. After his father returned from the Europa base accident he didn’t even like to talk about what happened there. Max and his best friend Jonathan seemed to always get into mischief including the day they decided to try out the jet-pack they had assembled form parts they found. Little did they know that would lead them to meeting a space pilot who worked on Europa. Everything changed when Max and Jonathan’s family were picked live Europa. You think that would be exciting enough, but no Max’s curiosity gets him in the middle of a secret placing him and his friends in danger they never imagined.
This is a wonderful middle school sci-fi adventure that takes the reader into futuristic situations with intricate descriptions that bring the story alive for the reader. I enjoyed the how the interpersonal conflicts were the same in space as they world be on Earth. Max’s curiosity lands him in hot water where he has to take charge to protect everyone around him and in space mistakes can be deadly. I look forward to the next book in the series.
January 25, 2020
I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read an excerpt and check out an interview with the author on my blog.
Middle grade sci-fi/fantasy is very much my jam, so when I got the opportunity to read Frozen Secrets, I jumped on it. Gotta say, I wasn’t disappointed. There are great friendships, fantastic adventures, big troubles, and amazing worlds—basically, everything I know and love about mg. Looking forward to the sequel!
The book takes place on Europa, Jupiter’s moon. I suspect the author’s never been there, but it very much felt like he had. The ice and the colors of light hitting the ice took my breath away. I felt the cold and didn’t breathe the air (because there is none). In short, this real place is made up from what a few probes have managed to find, but it felt completely real.
There was a lot of science in here. How could there not be with the setting? I applauded Christensen’s ability to include difficult scientific concepts at a level that kids (and adults who aren’t scientifically minded…hi) can understand. Honestly, I think eighth-graders would understand the science better than me, but I digress. The science here was fascinating and added to the story. The tech Christensen created was also so neat. I really want a high-tech dog racing sled. The bowl-shaped city on Europa utilized scientific theory to function. I’ll be honest. I didn’t get it all, but it was too neat for me to care about not grasping the finer scientific nuances.
The tension was strong, and I felt the characters’ emotions from beginning to end. Max (our protagonist) is a real kid with real issues in addition to the evil organization wanting him dead bit. The only thing that tripped me up was the amount of characters. I felt like a few pairs could have been combined to make the group more manageable to read about. Other than that, though, I breezed through this and, as I said, am excited for more Europa adventures.
Read an excerpt and check out an interview with the author on my blog.
Middle grade sci-fi/fantasy is very much my jam, so when I got the opportunity to read Frozen Secrets, I jumped on it. Gotta say, I wasn’t disappointed. There are great friendships, fantastic adventures, big troubles, and amazing worlds—basically, everything I know and love about mg. Looking forward to the sequel!
The book takes place on Europa, Jupiter’s moon. I suspect the author’s never been there, but it very much felt like he had. The ice and the colors of light hitting the ice took my breath away. I felt the cold and didn’t breathe the air (because there is none). In short, this real place is made up from what a few probes have managed to find, but it felt completely real.
There was a lot of science in here. How could there not be with the setting? I applauded Christensen’s ability to include difficult scientific concepts at a level that kids (and adults who aren’t scientifically minded…hi) can understand. Honestly, I think eighth-graders would understand the science better than me, but I digress. The science here was fascinating and added to the story. The tech Christensen created was also so neat. I really want a high-tech dog racing sled. The bowl-shaped city on Europa utilized scientific theory to function. I’ll be honest. I didn’t get it all, but it was too neat for me to care about not grasping the finer scientific nuances.
The tension was strong, and I felt the characters’ emotions from beginning to end. Max (our protagonist) is a real kid with real issues in addition to the evil organization wanting him dead bit. The only thing that tripped me up was the amount of characters. I felt like a few pairs could have been combined to make the group more manageable to read about. Other than that, though, I breezed through this and, as I said, am excited for more Europa adventures.
December 26, 2019
The concept fascinated me since I learned in Astronomy about how Europa has a large potential for life and mineral resources. Just a few weeks ago NASA discovered the presence of water vapor. I enjoyed the author's invention of new hydrogen isotopes, elements, and molecules, like Catarium, Xenite, and Xenium. I was actually shocked to realize that the science mentioned wasn't real! It was clever how they were modeled after Xenon tri-Oxide since that isotope plays a large role in nuclear fusion. I loved the messages regarding the dangers of nuclear energy and the overall tone felt more realistic than science fiction. The amount of research, dedication, and effort put into making it as scientifically accurate as possible is extraordinary.
The imagery was superb and the cover is awesome! There was a clear plotline with a constant increase in intensity. I love how there were multiple climaxes throughout the book and the story kept evolving in new directions. I liked the irony of the name Max Parker as they are relatively average and common names while his character is anything but! I enjoyed the mystery of which characters were allies versus enemies, and I was surprised by the end. Speaking of the end, the book was wrapped up perfectly, resolving the main conflict but also leaving room for another tale. I particularly liked the touch of romance that has plenty of room to expand upon in the coming books.
You can see this review and more at https://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com...
The imagery was superb and the cover is awesome! There was a clear plotline with a constant increase in intensity. I love how there were multiple climaxes throughout the book and the story kept evolving in new directions. I liked the irony of the name Max Parker as they are relatively average and common names while his character is anything but! I enjoyed the mystery of which characters were allies versus enemies, and I was surprised by the end. Speaking of the end, the book was wrapped up perfectly, resolving the main conflict but also leaving room for another tale. I particularly liked the touch of romance that has plenty of room to expand upon in the coming books.
You can see this review and more at https://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com...
Read
June 19, 2020I received an early release print copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I don't read a lot of Middle Grade, and the age of the protagonist puts this book right on the brink between MG and YA, but the book's length/size and some of the content (some mild violence/peril, pretty sophisticated science fiction elements) makes it lean more toward YA. It's self-categorized as "Teen Science Fiction", but tagged as both MG and YA on NetGalley. So this is just a note that if there are specific features typical to Middle Grade, I'm not likely to pick up on them just because of unfamiliarity with the age category expectations.
What I liked: Sometimes a good clean read is a palate cleanser. This is the kind of book I would not have any qualms about recommending to friends with pre-teen kids or younger brothers. There's no adult language or other adult themes, just some peril and mild violence. If I were to give this book a movie rating, it would be a mild PG, maybe even G. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the orbital station, the shuttle, and the Europa colony base.
What I didn't like: I found Max and Jonathan to be somewhat annoying characters, but I realize that I'm not this book's target audience, and teen or pre-teen boys might be able to relate better to them. There were also a lot of coincidental plot events, but again, judging this as a Middle Grade makes me go a little gentle on it.
If I'm rating it from a Middle Grade perspective, then a solid 4 stars. If I'm grouping it with Young Adult, then 3 stars.
Disclaimer: I don't read a lot of Middle Grade, and the age of the protagonist puts this book right on the brink between MG and YA, but the book's length/size and some of the content (some mild violence/peril, pretty sophisticated science fiction elements) makes it lean more toward YA. It's self-categorized as "Teen Science Fiction", but tagged as both MG and YA on NetGalley. So this is just a note that if there are specific features typical to Middle Grade, I'm not likely to pick up on them just because of unfamiliarity with the age category expectations.
What I liked: Sometimes a good clean read is a palate cleanser. This is the kind of book I would not have any qualms about recommending to friends with pre-teen kids or younger brothers. There's no adult language or other adult themes, just some peril and mild violence. If I were to give this book a movie rating, it would be a mild PG, maybe even G. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the orbital station, the shuttle, and the Europa colony base.
What I didn't like: I found Max and Jonathan to be somewhat annoying characters, but I realize that I'm not this book's target audience, and teen or pre-teen boys might be able to relate better to them. There were also a lot of coincidental plot events, but again, judging this as a Middle Grade makes me go a little gentle on it.
If I'm rating it from a Middle Grade perspective, then a solid 4 stars. If I'm grouping it with Young Adult, then 3 stars.
December 31, 2019
Thanks to my wife being a middle school teacher, I've been reading more middle grade fiction lately. From what I've seen via book fair catalogs and out on the shelves of stores, I get the impression that sci-fi like Frozen Secrets is a comparative a rarity. Secret agencies and exploring Europa--I had to check this out.
The short of it is I really enjoyed Mr. Christenson's debut novel. There was tension, high stakes danger, and the secret org villains weren't cookie-cutter bad guys. The characterization was excellent. A diverse cast in terms of nationality, age, and gender that read very naturally and believably. Among the most impressive things Mr. Christenson was able to accomplish was telling a story through the eyes of middle schoolers that felt like real middle school kids. There's soft romance and teen drama you'd expect from middle grade story. Again, Frozen Secrets seems to have found a way to toe the line on getting it's high stakes dangers and interpersonal drama to exist naturally beside each other without raising the question of how one was upstaging the other at any given moment.
There are some predictable moments, but also a few surprises. Overall, this was a great read and I'd recommend it for any middle schooler (or anyone who reads middle grade books) and especially sci-fi and adventure fans. It's book 1 in the Europa Academy series so I'm looking forward to where the story goes next.
The short of it is I really enjoyed Mr. Christenson's debut novel. There was tension, high stakes danger, and the secret org villains weren't cookie-cutter bad guys. The characterization was excellent. A diverse cast in terms of nationality, age, and gender that read very naturally and believably. Among the most impressive things Mr. Christenson was able to accomplish was telling a story through the eyes of middle schoolers that felt like real middle school kids. There's soft romance and teen drama you'd expect from middle grade story. Again, Frozen Secrets seems to have found a way to toe the line on getting it's high stakes dangers and interpersonal drama to exist naturally beside each other without raising the question of how one was upstaging the other at any given moment.
There are some predictable moments, but also a few surprises. Overall, this was a great read and I'd recommend it for any middle schooler (or anyone who reads middle grade books) and especially sci-fi and adventure fans. It's book 1 in the Europa Academy series so I'm looking forward to where the story goes next.
November 22, 2019
4-4.5 stars, but I'll bump it up because I want to support this author. This was a very enjoyable science fiction adventure/mystery that I think most middle school students would enjoy. The main character was likeable (as well as incorrigible and exasperating), but quite endearing, and there was just enough depths to him that made him a kid that was both interesting and one that learned as the novel went along. I liked the supporting cast of characters as well, and even learned to appreciate Christian as Max learned to do. My heart beat faster in several of their close calls (especially on Max and his sister's first visit to the old station) and I was absolutely cheering in the chase with Mei Li and Max on the sled. She was totally kick ass. The science behind the mysterious compound was kind of interesting as well as the idea of Catalan for all to have unlimited energy. I laughed as Max called Xenon Zeenan, but then again, I'm a chemistry teacher. I definitely recommend this for fans of Sci-Fi/Adventure books and those who enjoy or don't mind middle school characters. This is listed as Europa Academy #1, so I sure hope there will be more books in this series!
Thanks to #MylesChristensen for a very enjoyable book, and to #NetGalley and #BookSirens for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to #MylesChristensen for a very enjoyable book, and to #NetGalley and #BookSirens for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It wasn't the best book ever, but it was fine. To kids who love space and mystery it will be good. Characters were a little flat, but I guess kids won't notice that. All in all, an average book with good starting point.
It wasn't the best book ever, but it was fine. To kids who love space and mystery it will be good. Characters were a little flat, but I guess kids won't notice that. All in all, an average book with good starting point.
October 22, 2019
This is an action-packed space adventure that might just be the ticket for those who like their reads to be fast-paced with plenty of secret spy activity.
Max Parker is the 13-year-old son of an astronaut; and although he loves everything space and adventure, he has never left Earth. That is until his family is chosen to live on Europa, a moon of the planet Jupiter. From the first, it's clear to Max that everything on Europa is not quite as it should be. Suspicious teachers, an abandoned base, threats to his safety and much more lead Max, always an adventurer and a magnet for trouble, to enlist his friends to help him investigate what's really going on. Fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventures soon follow.
The character of Max reminds me of many other 13-year-old boys I've known, and I love the progress he makes in his own personal development throughout this book. The supporting characters are also well-drawn and add to the story in a meaningful way. We even get to see siblings that get along and look out for each other which, for a parent, is extremely refreshing.
My only difficulties with this book are with the descriptions of the futuristic space travel and the colony on Europa. Maybe it's because I'm a bit older than the target audience for this story and my imagination isn't up to the task, but I would have liked to have things explained in a little more detail. Some of the setting and even some of the plot didn't quite make sense to me. I think some more description of the mechanics of the particular technology in this book would have been helpful.
Bottom line: If you like middle grade adventure stories, space, books about friendships, or books about secret spies and covert missions; you should check out this book. Despite what it lacks in the way of plausibility at times, it's a solid, fun read.
Note: I received this book as an advance review copy from Net Galley. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Max Parker is the 13-year-old son of an astronaut; and although he loves everything space and adventure, he has never left Earth. That is until his family is chosen to live on Europa, a moon of the planet Jupiter. From the first, it's clear to Max that everything on Europa is not quite as it should be. Suspicious teachers, an abandoned base, threats to his safety and much more lead Max, always an adventurer and a magnet for trouble, to enlist his friends to help him investigate what's really going on. Fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventures soon follow.
The character of Max reminds me of many other 13-year-old boys I've known, and I love the progress he makes in his own personal development throughout this book. The supporting characters are also well-drawn and add to the story in a meaningful way. We even get to see siblings that get along and look out for each other which, for a parent, is extremely refreshing.
My only difficulties with this book are with the descriptions of the futuristic space travel and the colony on Europa. Maybe it's because I'm a bit older than the target audience for this story and my imagination isn't up to the task, but I would have liked to have things explained in a little more detail. Some of the setting and even some of the plot didn't quite make sense to me. I think some more description of the mechanics of the particular technology in this book would have been helpful.
Bottom line: If you like middle grade adventure stories, space, books about friendships, or books about secret spies and covert missions; you should check out this book. Despite what it lacks in the way of plausibility at times, it's a solid, fun read.
Note: I received this book as an advance review copy from Net Galley. All opinions expressed here are my own.
December 19, 2019
I was excited to get a copy of this one and dive in, since it's been awhile since I've read a good middle grade scifi novel.
Thirteen-year-old Max is excited to get to leave Earth and live on one of Jupiter's moons. There, he meets some new friends, but thanks to his curious spirit, gets stuck on a shuttle on its way to be destroyed. He's convinced this isn't an accident but a plot to cover up a theft. Can he discover the truth?
This is one of those lovely scifis which leaves Earth behind and allows kids to hit the exploration of space with all of the fun space stations, other planets and space ships brings. The scene is refreshing and exciting. And with these very curious and ready heroes, it promised to be a lot of fun. There's imagination, excitement, secrets, mystery, danger and spunky personalities too. Even the writing itself sits and draws into the world. In other words, there are a lot of good things in this one. Still, it didn't grab me the way I'd hoped.
While the space aspect and mystery were fun...as well as the characters...there were more than a couple of slow spots. I caught myself laying this one done every few chapters. When I'd pick it up, there'd be an interesting scene and then I found myself drifting again. So, despite all of the good points, I can only give this one 2.5 to 3-stars, and hope that it grabs other readers more than me.
I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley and wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
Thirteen-year-old Max is excited to get to leave Earth and live on one of Jupiter's moons. There, he meets some new friends, but thanks to his curious spirit, gets stuck on a shuttle on its way to be destroyed. He's convinced this isn't an accident but a plot to cover up a theft. Can he discover the truth?
This is one of those lovely scifis which leaves Earth behind and allows kids to hit the exploration of space with all of the fun space stations, other planets and space ships brings. The scene is refreshing and exciting. And with these very curious and ready heroes, it promised to be a lot of fun. There's imagination, excitement, secrets, mystery, danger and spunky personalities too. Even the writing itself sits and draws into the world. In other words, there are a lot of good things in this one. Still, it didn't grab me the way I'd hoped.
While the space aspect and mystery were fun...as well as the characters...there were more than a couple of slow spots. I caught myself laying this one done every few chapters. When I'd pick it up, there'd be an interesting scene and then I found myself drifting again. So, despite all of the good points, I can only give this one 2.5 to 3-stars, and hope that it grabs other readers more than me.
I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley and wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
November 12, 2025
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. It will be published January 25, 2020.
Max is the son of an astronaut, his father's last mission was 13 year ago on Jupiter's moon Europa, there was an explosion an three people died. Max and his best friend Jonathan, also an astronaut's son, are caught using a jetpack they rebuilt and make friends with a space shuttle driver Jake. Then it is decided that Max's family will be one of families to settle in the new Europa City, but there is more to Europa City than meets the eye.
I enjoyed this book, it was a fun and action-packed adventure. I think my son would enjoy it. I can see that it is being set up for a series, and I liked the concept. The writing was good. I wouldn't say it was my favorite book, but it was a solid story. The characters were likable and relatable. The action never seemed to stop, I like that there were no slow parts to the book, Christensen managed to move the story line along while keeping the kids moving, literally.
#FrozenSecrets #NetGalley
For additional reviews please see my blog at ‪www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot...€¬
Max is the son of an astronaut, his father's last mission was 13 year ago on Jupiter's moon Europa, there was an explosion an three people died. Max and his best friend Jonathan, also an astronaut's son, are caught using a jetpack they rebuilt and make friends with a space shuttle driver Jake. Then it is decided that Max's family will be one of families to settle in the new Europa City, but there is more to Europa City than meets the eye.
I enjoyed this book, it was a fun and action-packed adventure. I think my son would enjoy it. I can see that it is being set up for a series, and I liked the concept. The writing was good. I wouldn't say it was my favorite book, but it was a solid story. The characters were likable and relatable. The action never seemed to stop, I like that there were no slow parts to the book, Christensen managed to move the story line along while keeping the kids moving, literally.
#FrozenSecrets #NetGalley
For additional reviews please see my blog at ‪www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot...€¬
December 16, 2019
Frozen Secrets by Myles Christensen
Europa Academy Book One
I felt that this book was a modern day Hardy Boys mystery. Max and his group of friends definitely find trouble and mystery in all their adventures in Europa a settlement on a moon. The author is very detailed in his description and explanations of the world this settlement inhabits. Children’s imagination will be inspired with the descriptions. The added budding romance will give the reader insight into feelings of the young as they investigating the feelings of being a little more than friends. The young people will see that in the world that Max and his friends are inhabiting evil and greed are still apart of humanity. You are never too young to join the fight for what is right.
Thanks to the author who provided a copy of his book in exchange for my honest review.
Europa Academy Book One
I felt that this book was a modern day Hardy Boys mystery. Max and his group of friends definitely find trouble and mystery in all their adventures in Europa a settlement on a moon. The author is very detailed in his description and explanations of the world this settlement inhabits. Children’s imagination will be inspired with the descriptions. The added budding romance will give the reader insight into feelings of the young as they investigating the feelings of being a little more than friends. The young people will see that in the world that Max and his friends are inhabiting evil and greed are still apart of humanity. You are never too young to join the fight for what is right.
Thanks to the author who provided a copy of his book in exchange for my honest review.
October 20, 2019
Earc from netgalley.
It was an okay book, there was plenty of action for those who like futuristic space novels.
It was an okay book, there was plenty of action for those who like futuristic space novels.
November 11, 2019
This was a great book I will recommend it to anyone that likkes sci-fi, Ioved the characters, it had a surpriseingly endining
I recieved an arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I recieved an arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews