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nannahnannah's review against another edition
1.0
Okay … The Planet Thieves has to be the most frightening book I’ve read all year. Is it a horror book? Nah. But it terrified me all the same. It feels like a very conservative novel meant to make 8-12yos want to join the military. It’s a military recruitment tool.
This review is pretty harsh and judgmental, sorry. Be prepared. It took me all week to write.
Thirteen-year-old Mason Stark, his best friend, Merrin, and his fellow cadets aboard the SS Egypt were just part of a routine voyage when they were attacked by their alien enemy, the Tremist. When all the other officers are killed or captured, Mason is appointed caption, and it’s up to him and the cadets to save their other officers and find out the mysteries behind the Tremist and what they’re after aboard the Egypt.
Oh, boy. There is so much. So. Much to deal with here. The prose and the writing is a mess, but so is the plot. It’s a small book and a quick read, but it tries to do so much without room to do so. The beginning half of the book deals with Mason’s struggle to find out why the Tremist targeted his ship, which feels a lot like Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, and then the second half plunges into some ludicrous plot taking a lot of inspiration from H.G. Well’s The Time Machine. The pacing seems way off for such a quick read. It’s over so fast, but the plot tries to be so vast--the effect comes off as strange, awkward, and leaves me with a taste of “that’s it?” in my mouth.
I mentioned weak writing but it was Really Weak. “Nori-Blue had rivers and lakes and edible plants that grew fruits more delicious than any on Earth” ; “Tom spit on the ground and bent over, like he was about to throw up. Merrin put her hands over her mouth. Mason wanted to do the same things they were doing, [...] but he didn’t.” There’s also compound words missing hyphens, other editing errors, etc. In the first half, for every page taking place in the present, there’s two more going into backstory, most of it unnecessary.
Then there’s everything I mentioned in the beginning: the book feels like a military recruitment tool aimed at middle-grade readers. First there’s the glorification of the military in general (these characters are so honored and proud to have their grandparents serve and etc.), then there’s the targeting of anyone who’s “different” from them. Especially those who look like … the “Enemy”, aka the Tremist, even if it happens to be your friends. Suddenly it’s “ARE YOU TREMIST? ARE YOU THE ENEMY?”, aka you’re us or you’re them kind of mindset. There’s also the “you have to be a MAN” type bullsh*t. In the text, it’s that Mason can’t cry and be a man at the same time; pain is for soldiers to know they’re strong. There’s also this frightening line: “Be prideful of the uniform, but not of your abilities”.
Not only that, but even though the book has some diverse characters (mentioned in the background, of course. The cover makes it seem like Mason is black but … lmao, no, he’s not), they’re just described as you would normally expect. At one point the book says where people come from on Earth isn’t important, because Earth has become so diverse and mixed. But then suddenly this Swedish kid comes by, and the book completely pauses to describe him: “Stellan was the tallest of them, and bone thin, with hollow cheeks, like he never got enough food at mealtime. His hair was so blond it was almost white. He was from a country called Sweden ([...]), and Mason wondered if all people from Sweden looked looked like him.” Then it goes into how Mason admires him for his unique strength or something, something the book hasn’t done for anyone else. It’s like … the book paused to describe and glorify the one kid who was what, Aryan?
Could I be reaching? Sure. But with all the elements? This book is scary. It’s also written by a white hardcore gamer (stereotyping here, but I’ve listened to my brother and his friends talk, and I’ve heard about what they talk about on 4chan, now 8chan. I can just see someone from there want to write a military propaganda novel for middle-grade readers …).
Anyway, yeah. This book scared me, and it wasn’t written well, even looking past that (past my own biases and stereotyping and fears). I think it’s definitely my least favorite read from this year -- and probably the last couple years, too.
This review is pretty harsh and judgmental, sorry. Be prepared. It took me all week to write.
Thirteen-year-old Mason Stark, his best friend, Merrin, and his fellow cadets aboard the SS Egypt were just part of a routine voyage when they were attacked by their alien enemy, the Tremist. When all the other officers are killed or captured, Mason is appointed caption, and it’s up to him and the cadets to save their other officers and find out the mysteries behind the Tremist and what they’re after aboard the Egypt.
Oh, boy. There is so much. So. Much to deal with here. The prose and the writing is a mess, but so is the plot. It’s a small book and a quick read, but it tries to do so much without room to do so. The beginning half of the book deals with Mason’s struggle to find out why the Tremist targeted his ship, which feels a lot like Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, and then the second half plunges into some ludicrous plot taking a lot of inspiration from H.G. Well’s The Time Machine. The pacing seems way off for such a quick read. It’s over so fast, but the plot tries to be so vast--the effect comes off as strange, awkward, and leaves me with a taste of “that’s it?” in my mouth.
I mentioned weak writing but it was Really Weak. “Nori-Blue had rivers and lakes and edible plants that grew fruits more delicious than any on Earth” ; “Tom spit on the ground and bent over, like he was about to throw up. Merrin put her hands over her mouth. Mason wanted to do the same things they were doing, [...] but he didn’t.” There’s also compound words missing hyphens, other editing errors, etc. In the first half, for every page taking place in the present, there’s two more going into backstory, most of it unnecessary.
Then there’s everything I mentioned in the beginning: the book feels like a military recruitment tool aimed at middle-grade readers. First there’s the glorification of the military in general (these characters are so honored and proud to have their grandparents serve and etc.), then there’s the targeting of anyone who’s “different” from them. Especially those who look like … the “Enemy”, aka the Tremist, even if it happens to be your friends. Suddenly it’s “ARE YOU TREMIST? ARE YOU THE ENEMY?”, aka you’re us or you’re them kind of mindset. There’s also the “you have to be a MAN” type bullsh*t. In the text, it’s that Mason can’t cry and be a man at the same time; pain is for soldiers to know they’re strong. There’s also this frightening line: “Be prideful of the uniform, but not of your abilities”.
Not only that, but even though the book has some diverse characters (mentioned in the background, of course. The cover makes it seem like Mason is black but … lmao, no, he’s not), they’re just described as you would normally expect. At one point the book says where people come from on Earth isn’t important, because Earth has become so diverse and mixed. But then suddenly this Swedish kid comes by, and the book completely pauses to describe him: “Stellan was the tallest of them, and bone thin, with hollow cheeks, like he never got enough food at mealtime. His hair was so blond it was almost white. He was from a country called Sweden ([...]), and Mason wondered if all people from Sweden looked looked like him.” Then it goes into how Mason admires him for his unique strength or something, something the book hasn’t done for anyone else. It’s like … the book paused to describe and glorify the one kid who was what, Aryan?
Could I be reaching? Sure. But with all the elements? This book is scary. It’s also written by a white hardcore gamer (stereotyping here, but I’ve listened to my brother and his friends talk, and I’ve heard about what they talk about on 4chan, now 8chan. I can just see someone from there want to write a military propaganda novel for middle-grade readers …).
Anyway, yeah. This book scared me, and it wasn’t written well, even looking past that (past my own biases and stereotyping and fears). I think it’s definitely my least favorite read from this year -- and probably the last couple years, too.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism and Antisemitism
jbrooxd's review against another edition
4.0
Great science fiction! Read this on my son's recommendation. Great characters, some good twists, and a burning question to drive you to book 2!
skelleycat's review against another edition
4.0
When I first heard about this book, I was excited because it sounded like Star Trek for YA/MG readers (and we all know how much I love Star Trek)! So when I finally got the chance to read The Planet Thieves, oh my gosh, I was ecstatic! I only got to read a small chunk in my first sitting, but I was already impressed. I’m pretty sure I was bouncing as I exclaimed with glee to my husband: “It’s like Star Trek! It’s so cool!” And the further I got into the book, the more I fell in love with it.
Here are some of the many reasons that The Planet Thieves rocked:
---(Ahem) It’s like Star Trek! They are traveling on a space ship and encounter alien beings and all kinds of mayhem ensues.
---It has illustrations in it! Yes, I was very happily surprised to see some sketches interspersed throughout the book. There’s only a handful, but I found them to be great for helping me visualize some of the creatures and technologies in the book.
---There is action and tension from beginning to end. I think it’s clear to me now that Dan Krokos is great at filling hist stories with intensity, and keeping me glued to the pages.
---The main character was believable and interesting. He had his idiot moments, but he also had some moments of wisdom and bravery that really spoke well for him.
---The enemies were both terrifying and awesomely cool! I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t elaborate, but they were great!---All of the science fiction / technology elements really got me excited. It all felt so… real! So believable, even if some of the technologies were pretty fantastic. Just like Star Trek, they had me wishing this universe was real (well, some parts of it).
---This did not read like a middle grade novel. Not that this isn’t accessible for young readers, because it totally is. What I’m trying to say is, don’t shy away from this just because it’s MG – it’s definitely enjoyable for adult readers!
Though I did find some parts to be extremely predictable, that did not dampen my enjoyment of the book. I was thoroughly intrigued from beginning to end, and I really wish there had been more of it. I am now eagerly anticipating the sequel. This book has basically turned me from a Dan Krokos reader into a Dan Krokos fan!
Here are some of the many reasons that The Planet Thieves rocked:
---(Ahem) It’s like Star Trek! They are traveling on a space ship and encounter alien beings and all kinds of mayhem ensues.
---It has illustrations in it! Yes, I was very happily surprised to see some sketches interspersed throughout the book. There’s only a handful, but I found them to be great for helping me visualize some of the creatures and technologies in the book.
---There is action and tension from beginning to end. I think it’s clear to me now that Dan Krokos is great at filling hist stories with intensity, and keeping me glued to the pages.
---The main character was believable and interesting. He had his idiot moments, but he also had some moments of wisdom and bravery that really spoke well for him.
---The enemies were both terrifying and awesomely cool! I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t elaborate, but they were great!---All of the science fiction / technology elements really got me excited. It all felt so… real! So believable, even if some of the technologies were pretty fantastic. Just like Star Trek, they had me wishing this universe was real (well, some parts of it).
---This did not read like a middle grade novel. Not that this isn’t accessible for young readers, because it totally is. What I’m trying to say is, don’t shy away from this just because it’s MG – it’s definitely enjoyable for adult readers!
Though I did find some parts to be extremely predictable, that did not dampen my enjoyment of the book. I was thoroughly intrigued from beginning to end, and I really wish there had been more of it. I am now eagerly anticipating the sequel. This book has basically turned me from a Dan Krokos reader into a Dan Krokos fan!
prncssbeara3's review against another edition
4.0
starts out a little slow but then it picks up and is quite adventurous. The origin story of Earth and humans is a pretty creative spin on things, and I like that the 2 races come together in the end to battle the evil that remains on the home planet. For a middle grade book it has some intense parts and some people die, but it wasn't terrible, nothing too gory or over the top.
reader_fictions's review
4.0
Though marketed as a middle grade novel, do not let the age of the protagonists scare you away if you're an older reader. Krokos' sophomore novel is well-written and does not speak down to the audience. I loved Krokos' debut, False Memory, and he's hit it out of the park once again. The Planet Thieves is funny, full of adventure, and packed with delightful characters.
Novels for children and teens are full of absent parents and authority figures. This construct allows for young people to feel empowered, the weight of the world on their shoulders. Only these kids can save the day and all that. Well, Krokos does use this basic plot structure. At the beginning of The Planet Thieves, the SS Egypt is attacked by humanity's enemy, the Tremist. All of the adults on the ship but one are captured or killed, leaving the cadets, thirteen and under to save the day.
Krokos does a great job making this believable. Though the cadets are young, they are by no means out of their element entirely. They've already been in training for years, and have the skill sets they need to perform the tasks they need to, though they may not be as good as the adults yet. Also, they don't come by anything too easily. They suffer injuries, frequently consider giving up and waiting for adults to handle everything, and are stressed rather than excited by the roles they find themselves in.
That said, the cadets really rise to the occasion. The one remaining adult on the Egypt is injured, so he names Mason captain, which ends up being a great choice. Mason isn't the most talented or brilliant of the trainees, but he's creative, something he'd ill-advisedly shown in his pranks. Rather than ever giving up, his mind is always churning for solutions, and most of his ideas turn out to be good ones, though some do go awry.
The characters are likable and exhibit complexities. For example, the friendships between these cadets are tentative, so they also have to work to trust one another implicitly while facing odds they never should have been left alone to face. The villains too are much more complex than in most books for younger readers. They're not left as monsters out to destroy for the fun of it, and I love when authors take the time to establish motivations and shades of grey in the actions of the antagonists.
Another aspect that makes this book a delight are all of the references. Science fiction nerds will likely pick out even more than I did, as I'm not nearly as well read as I would like to be. Most overt perhaps are references to Star Wars and Star Trek. However, though there are cute allusions, the overall story was fresh and original.
The ending leaves space open for more books in this world, and I, for one, would be excited to read more. I'd love to find out more about Mason and Merrin, especially. Dan Krokos' The Planet Thieves is a novel that lovers of science fiction will not want to miss, whatever their age!
Novels for children and teens are full of absent parents and authority figures. This construct allows for young people to feel empowered, the weight of the world on their shoulders. Only these kids can save the day and all that. Well, Krokos does use this basic plot structure. At the beginning of The Planet Thieves, the SS Egypt is attacked by humanity's enemy, the Tremist. All of the adults on the ship but one are captured or killed, leaving the cadets, thirteen and under to save the day.
Krokos does a great job making this believable. Though the cadets are young, they are by no means out of their element entirely. They've already been in training for years, and have the skill sets they need to perform the tasks they need to, though they may not be as good as the adults yet. Also, they don't come by anything too easily. They suffer injuries, frequently consider giving up and waiting for adults to handle everything, and are stressed rather than excited by the roles they find themselves in.
That said, the cadets really rise to the occasion. The one remaining adult on the Egypt is injured, so he names Mason captain, which ends up being a great choice. Mason isn't the most talented or brilliant of the trainees, but he's creative, something he'd ill-advisedly shown in his pranks. Rather than ever giving up, his mind is always churning for solutions, and most of his ideas turn out to be good ones, though some do go awry.
The characters are likable and exhibit complexities. For example, the friendships between these cadets are tentative, so they also have to work to trust one another implicitly while facing odds they never should have been left alone to face. The villains too are much more complex than in most books for younger readers. They're not left as monsters out to destroy for the fun of it, and I love when authors take the time to establish motivations and shades of grey in the actions of the antagonists.
Another aspect that makes this book a delight are all of the references. Science fiction nerds will likely pick out even more than I did, as I'm not nearly as well read as I would like to be. Most overt perhaps are references to Star Wars and Star Trek. However, though there are cute allusions, the overall story was fresh and original.
The ending leaves space open for more books in this world, and I, for one, would be excited to read more. I'd love to find out more about Mason and Merrin, especially. Dan Krokos' The Planet Thieves is a novel that lovers of science fiction will not want to miss, whatever their age!
lesserjoke's review
3.0
This is a solid middle-grade space opera, capably balancing the terrors of war with the inherently goofy concept of moving an entire planet to a different solar system. I like that the whole book is basically one long adrenaline rush of action, and that its 7-to-13-year-old ensign protagonists are written as both children and heroes. I have quibbles with some of the worldbuilding and plot developments, but this seems like a great book for younger readers, especially fans of Ender's Game.
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