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zbrarian's review against another edition
5.0
What a wild ride into space! You know it’s going to be a wild one when the protagonist of the story introduces himself by saying “I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.” Full of heart, laughter and adrenaline pumping action, this book literally moves at the speed of light. Fin has wanted to travel to space all his short life. And when he wins a spot on a trip to the ISS, because of his prototype SAFER, the action begins and doesn’t stop until the very last splashdown. Not only does this have some heart pounding, you cannot put this book down scenes, it also has a lot of heart and understanding. Not just understanding the risks that astronauts take every time they lift off, but the kids understanding that it’s ok to say what you need to, in order to be able to accept and move on. I would LOVE to see another book about Fin, Mae, David and Kal and their space adventures.
z_brarian's review against another edition
5.0
What a wild ride into space! You know it’s going to be a wild one when the protagonist of the story introduces himself by saying “I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.” Full of heart, laughter and adrenaline pumping action, this book literally moves at the speed of light. Fin has wanted to travel to space all his short life. And when he wins a spot on a trip to the ISS, because of his prototype SAFER, the action begins and doesn’t stop until the very last splashdown. Not only does this have some heart pounding, you cannot put this book down scenes, it also has a lot of heart and understanding. Not just understanding the risks that astronauts take every time they lift off, but the kids understanding that it’s ok to say what you need to, in order to be able to accept and move on. I would LOVE to see another book about Fin, Mae, David and Kal and their space adventures.
hugbandit7's review
5.0
This was an action-packed, informative, and entertaining novel. This is perfect for anyone that loves space or the thought of being an astronaut.
While some of this is based on fact, it brings to life what could happen on a trip into space. It isn't like Star Trek or any other sort of sci-fi show, but it outlines the dangers and pitfalls, along with the wonderment of all things beyond our atmosphere.
A small number of teenagers are chosen, via a contest, to go into space and around the moon. They train for all possibilities, and it isn't guaranteed that they will end up in space; it all depends on how well they do learning the ropes. All four of the teens are gifted in their own right and bring a lot to the table. We see this as they encounter many obstacles on their journey. However, these events help bring them closer and team up to help everyone survive. I came to respect each of these teens. While they might have had the typical teen angst, they were also bright and had their own issues they were dealing with at the time.
This is not a superficial story; it delves deep into the fears, hopes, and desires of all of the teens, especially Fin since he is the main character. I found myself on pins and needles, wondering how events would turn out for them. I can't even imagine being as brave as these characters are in the book. Heck, I can't even imagine going into space.
I do think that this book is geared toward those slightly older than middle grade only because of the technical terms and equipment that are mentioned throughout the book. I used my great-niece as a guide, she is an advanced reader, but even she would have to ask about different words in the book. This isn't a bad thing, and it would open up dialogue between children and their parents. However, this is still a fascinating book that anyone will enjoy.
We give it 5 paws up.
While some of this is based on fact, it brings to life what could happen on a trip into space. It isn't like Star Trek or any other sort of sci-fi show, but it outlines the dangers and pitfalls, along with the wonderment of all things beyond our atmosphere.
A small number of teenagers are chosen, via a contest, to go into space and around the moon. They train for all possibilities, and it isn't guaranteed that they will end up in space; it all depends on how well they do learning the ropes. All four of the teens are gifted in their own right and bring a lot to the table. We see this as they encounter many obstacles on their journey. However, these events help bring them closer and team up to help everyone survive. I came to respect each of these teens. While they might have had the typical teen angst, they were also bright and had their own issues they were dealing with at the time.
This is not a superficial story; it delves deep into the fears, hopes, and desires of all of the teens, especially Fin since he is the main character. I found myself on pins and needles, wondering how events would turn out for them. I can't even imagine being as brave as these characters are in the book. Heck, I can't even imagine going into space.
I do think that this book is geared toward those slightly older than middle grade only because of the technical terms and equipment that are mentioned throughout the book. I used my great-niece as a guide, she is an advanced reader, but even she would have to ask about different words in the book. This isn't a bad thing, and it would open up dialogue between children and their parents. However, this is still a fascinating book that anyone will enjoy.
We give it 5 paws up.
refe's review
5.0
One Giant Leap is a thrilling love letter to the past, present, and future of international space exploration, launching readers on a harrowing adventure beyond the Kármán Line fueled by Ben Gartner’s signature fast-paced storytelling and meticulously researched details. A worthy middle school homage to The Right Stuff and For All Mankind.
qanitaabg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
55_sallymander's review
4.0
4 stars, Vomit Comet
ONE GIANT LEAP
by Ben Gartner
A typical middle-grade read, an interesting science fiction space story, complete with all of those ooey gooey gross things that children of that age talk about.
I received a complimentary copy of #OneGiantLeap from #CrescentVistaPress #IBPA I was under no obligation to post a review.
#childrensbooks #sciencefiction
ONE GIANT LEAP
by Ben Gartner
A typical middle-grade read, an interesting science fiction space story, complete with all of those ooey gooey gross things that children of that age talk about.
I received a complimentary copy of #OneGiantLeap from #CrescentVistaPress #IBPA I was under no obligation to post a review.
#childrensbooks #sciencefiction
lorialdenholuta's review
5.0
“I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.” is how Finley “Fin” Scott introduces himself in the first line of Ben Gartner’s One Giant Leap. After that startling statement, “Fin” Scott’s situation gets even worse. Ironically, it looks like his story will end, just as it’s getting started. But then, Fin decides to speak directly to the reader, while he waits to die in space, and the story of how he got into this predicament begins to unfold.
Fin, along with three other kids, has won a trip to the International Space Station and a jaunt to the Gateway outpost orbiting the moon. They’d each sent an application to the StellarKid Project, along with their proposals for new equipment or technology that might be helpful for space travel. Fin’s invention is a device called SAFER, and you’ll learn more about that as his story unfolds.
In fact, you’ll learn a lot about the details of traveling to and working in space, along with plenty of interesting trivia spanning the entire history of space travel. And you won’t mind it a bit! This is not a dry, dusty, academic textbook. Fin’s adventures are vibrant, breathtaking, and occasionally heartbreaking. Most of all though, they seem real. You’ll feel as if you’re traveling along with him as he shares with us everything he sees, touches, and experiences. But beyond that, we learn how this experience makes him feel. He shares his emotional responses to extraordinary situations. And that’s important, because you see, Fin’s not just going to space – he’s also running away from big problems back home. His mom’s in the hospital recovering from a horrific accident. As the story progresses, Fin reveals more and more details about what happened to her. Fin isn’t dealing with the situation well, and sees this space trip as a chance to get away from unbearable family issues. But the story isn’t just about Fin. Each of the other three kid astronauts have their own reasons for wanting to win this trip.
Will Fin die in space? Will his mom be okay? Will he ever run out of terrible space-pun jokes? How will this adventure change the kids? How will the kids change space travel? As the story plays out, we learn the answers to these questions. Not all at once, but in a natural progression as the characters experience growth and change, so far away from home.
I found the story to be plausible, entertaining, and well-paced. It’s absolutely stuffed to the rafters with interesting details about space travel. Character development is realistic – readers can easily bond with the kids and admire the adults. The book is unputdownable. I judge books by what I call my ‘what happens next’ factor. Fin and his traveling pals are constantly leaping from one intense situation to another, in a way that makes it impossible for the reader to predict the outcome. I give One Giant Leap a What-Happens-Next score of twenty… on a scale of ten!
My thanks to author Ben Gartner, Crescent Vista Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital review copy of this book.
Review originally posted at SciFi.Radio ( https://scifi.radio/2023/01/23/book-review-ben-gartners-one-giant-leap/ )
Fin, along with three other kids, has won a trip to the International Space Station and a jaunt to the Gateway outpost orbiting the moon. They’d each sent an application to the StellarKid Project, along with their proposals for new equipment or technology that might be helpful for space travel. Fin’s invention is a device called SAFER, and you’ll learn more about that as his story unfolds.
In fact, you’ll learn a lot about the details of traveling to and working in space, along with plenty of interesting trivia spanning the entire history of space travel. And you won’t mind it a bit! This is not a dry, dusty, academic textbook. Fin’s adventures are vibrant, breathtaking, and occasionally heartbreaking. Most of all though, they seem real. You’ll feel as if you’re traveling along with him as he shares with us everything he sees, touches, and experiences. But beyond that, we learn how this experience makes him feel. He shares his emotional responses to extraordinary situations. And that’s important, because you see, Fin’s not just going to space – he’s also running away from big problems back home. His mom’s in the hospital recovering from a horrific accident. As the story progresses, Fin reveals more and more details about what happened to her. Fin isn’t dealing with the situation well, and sees this space trip as a chance to get away from unbearable family issues. But the story isn’t just about Fin. Each of the other three kid astronauts have their own reasons for wanting to win this trip.
Will Fin die in space? Will his mom be okay? Will he ever run out of terrible space-pun jokes? How will this adventure change the kids? How will the kids change space travel? As the story plays out, we learn the answers to these questions. Not all at once, but in a natural progression as the characters experience growth and change, so far away from home.
I found the story to be plausible, entertaining, and well-paced. It’s absolutely stuffed to the rafters with interesting details about space travel. Character development is realistic – readers can easily bond with the kids and admire the adults. The book is unputdownable. I judge books by what I call my ‘what happens next’ factor. Fin and his traveling pals are constantly leaping from one intense situation to another, in a way that makes it impossible for the reader to predict the outcome. I give One Giant Leap a What-Happens-Next score of twenty… on a scale of ten!
My thanks to author Ben Gartner, Crescent Vista Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital review copy of this book.
Review originally posted at SciFi.Radio ( https://scifi.radio/2023/01/23/book-review-ben-gartners-one-giant-leap/ )
xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was such a good book! I felt like the author had actually been to space it was so realistically detailed! When things go wrong in space, it can be absolutely terrifying! And watching Finn and the crew deal with all that mess had me terrified!
But also? NASA should really consider making this book a reality. Because there will be so many kids who will wish to be in space. I want to visit space too! The child in me who wanted to be the first astronaut the set foot on Pluto woke up again while I read this story.
To the favorites pile with you!
But also? NASA should really consider making this book a reality. Because there will be so many kids who will wish to be in space. I want to visit space too! The child in me who wanted to be the first astronaut the set foot on Pluto woke up again while I read this story.
To the favorites pile with you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
pawprintsinthesink's review
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
4.75
What if your biggest dream came true, right in the worst part of your life?
Twelve year old Fin loves all things space. With his mom in the hospital after a severe accident, his whole life is different. Then Fin gets life-changing mail: his invention he entered into competition to be one of the first kids in space has won.
He’s going to space.
But from the start, everything is going wrong. Fin and the other three kid winners have to put their smarts to the test to save themselves, their guardians, and the astronauts on the ISS.
Ben Gartner’s latest middle grade novel, One Giant Leap, is action-packed from start to finish. The fast pace and high stakes plot is balanced with Fin’s emotional journey. Both the character journeys and the physical journey through space are engaging and combine to create a book kids and parents alike will love reading.
One Giant Leap is a fun blend of science and imagination. We love seeing well-developed characters grow and be challenged, and there is plenty of that here. Watching these smart kids use their skills in high stakes situations is just so rewarding. These kids know their stuff, and their unique areas of expertise make them capable of not only saving themselves, but helping others.
This novel would make for an excellent companion read for parents and kids. Kid readers are going to love seeing these smart characters take control to try and save the day, while parents are going to brought back to their own childhood love of space (or at least I was!). If you’ve seen and loved the old movie Space Camp, you’re going to love One Giant Leap.
Once again, Ben Gartner beautifully balances great characters in an intriguing, well-developed setting. Kids and their grownups alike will be delighted by this action-filled novel.
Thank you to author Ben Gartner for providing an e-arc such that I could share my honest opinion.
One Giant Leap will be available Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
karen_the_baroness's review
5.0
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
One Giant Leap by Ben Gartner blasts us off into space on a remarkable journey.
Can the four winners of the StellarKid project save the day?
Even though we are following only one of the four winners, the four kids still take center stage in this journey. Finley Scott is the main character, but we are also, through Fin, following David Kalkutten, Mae Jorgenson, and Kalpana Agarwal. Each is there because they thought up something so ingenious that the man spearheading this expedition thought they were more qualified than anyone else. That and also NASA deemed that each of their ideas was more usable than anyone else.
Fin is the character who cracks the jokes and is a fun guy who pushes people into doing things they don't want to do. David is the person who goes into jumps in without thinking it through and wants to do it right then and there. Mae is the one who tries to think things through while also giving in to any dares that are thrown her way. Kal is the one who overthinks things and is too afraid to voice what she feels until she needs to.
We find these four young teens going into various situations without help from an adult but making it out alive. I loved every minute of reading this book, and I have to say Fin's jokes were pretty good. Well, some of them. :) The others were just awful but also funny, given the situation he was faced with to crack a joke.
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to One Giant Leap by Ben Gartner and recommending it to everyone that loves space. Or even if you don't love space, it's still an excellent action-packed book that makes you want to keep reading to see what happens to Fin and his friends, their parents, and the actual astronauts. The great thing about Mr. Gartner is that he always supplies at the end of each book a way to keep everyone engaged. This is an excellent book for any kid who loves space or even dreams about going there one day. I liked the way that this book ended. I'm not sure it needs a sequel, as the reader can imagine what happens next for the four unlikely friends.
Don't forget to check out my interview with Ben Gartner as well.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of One Giant Leap by Ben Gartner.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
One Giant Leap by Ben Gartner blasts us off into space on a remarkable journey.
Can the four winners of the StellarKid project save the day?
Even though we are following only one of the four winners, the four kids still take center stage in this journey. Finley Scott is the main character, but we are also, through Fin, following David Kalkutten, Mae Jorgenson, and Kalpana Agarwal. Each is there because they thought up something so ingenious that the man spearheading this expedition thought they were more qualified than anyone else. That and also NASA deemed that each of their ideas was more usable than anyone else.
Fin is the character who cracks the jokes and is a fun guy who pushes people into doing things they don't want to do. David is the person who goes into jumps in without thinking it through and wants to do it right then and there. Mae is the one who tries to think things through while also giving in to any dares that are thrown her way. Kal is the one who overthinks things and is too afraid to voice what she feels until she needs to.
We find these four young teens going into various situations without help from an adult but making it out alive. I loved every minute of reading this book, and I have to say Fin's jokes were pretty good. Well, some of them. :) The others were just awful but also funny, given the situation he was faced with to crack a joke.
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to One Giant Leap by Ben Gartner and recommending it to everyone that loves space. Or even if you don't love space, it's still an excellent action-packed book that makes you want to keep reading to see what happens to Fin and his friends, their parents, and the actual astronauts. The great thing about Mr. Gartner is that he always supplies at the end of each book a way to keep everyone engaged. This is an excellent book for any kid who loves space or even dreams about going there one day. I liked the way that this book ended. I'm not sure it needs a sequel, as the reader can imagine what happens next for the four unlikely friends.
Don't forget to check out my interview with Ben Gartner as well.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of One Giant Leap by Ben Gartner.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove