Book Review: Space Academy, Hannah Hopkins
YA Science Fiction: Space Academy, Hannah Hopkins
Being an American, my familiarity with British education systems is quite limited. I assume that Hogwarts has some basis in fact. I’ve no idea what basis beyond the presence of young British students. Something, though. I’m pretty sure the sorting hat is not common in boarding schools. Beyond that I’m clueless.
Space Academy does have some parallels in the beginning to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Philosopher’s Stone depending on your country). The kids who are worthy are put onto a train, err, spaceship and sent to their school. There, an intimidating female teacher greets them and leads the first years through the grounds to the dining hall, where after listening to the headmaster’s speech the students enjoy their first meal together.
Despite the parallels this is very much its own story. Space Academy focuses on Will, a first-year from the top floor of the Mayflower. Will’s mother Elsie boarded the Mayflower at the last moment when Will was an infant. The Mayflower is a gigantic spaceship taking some of the last of humanity to Novum.
The Mayflower reflects many of the social divisions that marked the last days on Earth. The captain and senior officers of the ship live on the top floor along with the wealthiest citizens from Earth. The size and decor of the floors deteriorates as one descends. Servants and menial laborers live on the seventh floor.
In many ways the floors represent a caste system. The first several years of Space Academy did not admit any students from the seventh floor. Will’s class is the first one to include a student from the seventh floor and his presence is quite controversial among fellow students and adults. This class prejudice and the response to it by Will and his friends informs the entire story, coming up even at the end of the book.
Will grew up with just his mother. He never knew his father and his mother refused to talk about him. Much to his shock, he finds a picture of his father while he is at the academy. His search for answers to the questions about his past lead to revelations about the last days of Earth and may offer clues to dangers the Mayflower will face. The relationship between Will and his friends also is a huge part of the story and offers hope that the disparities of life on the Mayflower could be transcended.
This book is aimed at a middle-grade audience, with the story intended to appeal to tweens and young adults. The language is quite easy to follow, and the plot is involved enough to hold interest but not so complex that it would frustrate younger readers. Students who like science fiction would enjoy reading this story.
All in all it is an enjoyable and easy read that should appeal to younger readers but kept the attention of this (much older) reviewer. Space Academy feels like the start of a series and it is good for readers to get in at the beginning.
Our thanks to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours and the author and publisher of this book for our copy, provided in exchange for our review. For more perspectives on Space Academy check out the other bloggers on this tour. The opinions here are those of Scintilla.Info.
Book Review: Space Academy, Hannah Hopkins