Space Runners #1: The Moon Platoon audiobook

4.5 stars

The story: When Benny Love wins an all-expenses-paid trip to Elijah West's Lunar Taj Resort, he's just thrilled to know he'll be able to get his family out of the deserted Drylands once and for all. He never expected to find friends that could be as close as family...or aliens. Or drag racers on the moon. And he never expected to be the one leading a desperate charge to save everyone on earth.June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG: Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBt content G; adult themes (xenocidal aliens, being orphaned) PG; overall rating PG.Book trailer: https://youtu.be/3pgN4_N18d4Liz's comments: Thumbs up! Futuristic technology, alien invasions and epic space battles aside, the real theme here is that family and friends are the most important thing. (Even though an epic space battle never hurt anything, either.)

Benny is going to the Moon. One of many twelve-year-olds chosen by the eccentric and rich genius Elijah Wright.He makes friends, enjoys wonders, helps search -- and learns, with some other kids, that something's been hidden from them.Unraveling that involves things from the buiding's AI being based on a real woman, unknown elements, one girl making strategic decisions, a holographic spider, Benny's knowledge of what to do in a sand storm, and more.

i really enjoyed this book, smashed it over two nights as i just kept reading on. love the group of friends especially Benny. It really felt like i was taken on a ride myself, the only down side is i didnt realise it was a trilogy the second is now on pre order delivery 8th of March, so excited to get my hands on the next installment. But the down side is i have bit of a wait till the third one is out to get to the conclusion. i can definitely see me happily re reading this set of books in the not so distant future. if you like childrens fantasy/adventure stories i highy reccomend you reading the "the space runners".

We loved this series. There's a fourth book out, that we haven't read yet, but it's on the TBR pile...The first book reads like watching my son play Forza but with hot rods on the moon!Right off the shuttle, the main character Benny and the motley cast of teen winners of Elija West's Scholarship for Courage, Ambition and Brains are saving each other -- and eventually Earth. Benny drives a 4-wheeler souped up for moon conditions to rescue Jazz, whose space runner vehicle crashes, and the Taj space resort is bombarded by alien asteroids.The scholarship winners work together as a team led by a reluctant Benny to fend off an attack by the Alpha Maraudi (a play on the word marauder, perhaps?), who want to take over Earth and resettle it for their own people.Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.strikingly.com/

I really liked this book. It is a middle grade novel, so the action is non stop, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am not a science person or a fan of sci-fi in general, but Kraatz does not beat you over the head with the science elements, and I appreciated that as someone who is not into things like that. I found the characters funny and relatable. I did not like the adult main character of Elijah, but he redeems himself at the end. What did Elijah think was going to happen when he brought a hundred kids to the moon? Shenanigans were going to ensue. Overall, I think this is a great middle grade read.

A great start to an action packed sci fi adventure. Sure to appeal to reluctant readers. It really kicks off the last part of the book, but the beginning is important to build background, get to know the characters and the setting. My only complaint is there needs to be more explanation about why Elijah built this station on the moon and kitted it out with virtual reality games for the kids he invited. Did he simply want to entertain them or was there another reason? Why put them in teams? If he didn't want to defend the Earth, what was his end game? Maybe these questions will be answered in the next in the series.

2085 - Earth is changed. Everyone lives in the cities...until they can't afford it anymore. Benny and his family were forced out when they were unable to maintain the cost of living. He loves his family very much. He is a strong character with a great background. I enjoyed reading about him and his adventures when he was selected to go to the moon base for a week-long educational trip. There were small flaws with the characters, and perhaps minor oddities with the storyline- but I didn't really care. I enjoyed this book and will gladly put it in my library because it will get read.

Great book! Characterization, imagination, description, plot, creativity all spot on and total 5 star rating. I can't wait to read the second book. My only critique (that dropped it to a 4 star) is the dialogue: all too often characters would not finish sentences. There were so many dashes and ellipses from characters being cut off, or in some way not finishing. This is an okay technique to use occasionally, as that's real life, but it was so overdone to the point of borderline irritating. Other than that, loved the book!

Space Runners: The Mood Platoon is a fun middle school read. Benny Love finds himself on a space shuttle to the Moon after winning a contest. He and a hundred other young scholars are going to learn about life in space and hone their technology and piloting skills under the leadership of the legendary Elijah West. But when suspicious asteroids begin hitting the protective dome of the Lunar Taj, Benny and his friends feel like they have to investigate, and soon find themselves on a mission to save Earth.

This book was a good book, it was very interesting. It talks about a 12 year old named Benny Love, who lives in a poor family. He wins a scholarship to go to the Moon, hand-picked by the genius inventor Elijah West to visit the Lunar Taj, a resort on the Moon. He is very excited for the trip, and wants to go on a Space Runner, a vehicle created by Elijah West himself. However, something goes wrong.

This book was a lot of fun. I was a bit skeptical of it at first. It sounded like one of those old science fiction kids books from the 80's, which I don't like. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Character development is excellent. I really felt like I knew the characters and understood their individual roles and personalities.I look forward to reading book #2.

Lonestar 2019.I used this book this week as an example of why you shouldn't judge a book by its cover...or by its title. I really was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, but it turned out to be a fun science fiction romp. While some of it was predictable, there was enough that was original to make it interesting. I look forward to reading the next one!

Nice sci/if adventure story. Centers around Benny Love who has won an opportunity to be a part of a space camp on the moon. Considering his family is barely making ends meet- this could be the break they need, but things are not as they should be on the moon. Benny has to figure out what's going on along with the help of a few friends before it's too late.

Absolutely loved this book! I needed a change of pace, and the moon platoon was just what I was looking for. I fell in love with the main character, as well as most of the other characters. At the end of the story, the first thing I wanted to do was pick up the second book of the series.

I reluctantly read this to be up to speed on our school choice for battle of the books and was pleasantly surprised. Did it have great character development or depth? No. However, this is for kids and I think they will love the action packed adventure of saving the earth from aliens.