Flight Of The Outcast - Book Review

Flight Of The Outcast (The Academy: Year 1)
by Brad Strickland

What is it about:
Asteria Locke's Fight has just begun...

Asteria Locke has never left her father's farm on the remote planet of Theron. But in one terrible moment, a surprise attack by space raiders destroys everything she's ever known. Orphaned and alone, Asteria vows to avenge her father's death by joining the Royal Spacefleet Academy. . . even if she has to lie to get in.

Branded an outcast at the Academy from the start, Asteria must work twice as hard as the other students to prove herself. But in time, she suspects that the Aristocrats who torment her have more sinister motives than shaming a commoner. They'll stop at nothing to hide a secret from her father's past-a secret that could shift the balance of power throughout the entire universe.

What did I think of it:
As some of you may know, I have a weakness for stories set at boarding schools. So I was happy to give this book a try when I came across it.

And it's a fun read.

There's students competing, a resourceful heroine who stands her ground against bullies, spaceships, and even a strange alien artifact. Enough to make for a very entertaining story.

The greater secret of the past of Asteria's father gets a bit lost in all the student drama, but there are enough clues and events that hint at what happened to make you eager to know all of it.

So it's a shame that when I finished this book and tried to look up information about the next book, it looked like there's no next book (yet). This book being published in 2010, that means it looks grim for this series, but who knows.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining SF read for younger teens.