Dark Side of the Moon
(Space Runners #2)

Gr 4-6--Benny Love and his friends may have just won their battle against alien invaders, but the war is far from over. The next volume in this action-packed science fiction adventure picks up where the previous book left off. The residents of the Lunar Taj may have won the day, but they've lost their charismatic leader, Elijah West, and no one agrees on what to do next or who's in charge. They need help, and the best help Benny can think of may come from outside of the moon base; on the dark side of the moon. But their potential ally has his own agenda, one that Benny can't trust--especially since Earth forces are involved. Leadership has gotten complicated and no choice comes without consequences. This sequel continues to deliver wild future tech with kid appeal and nonstop action. Some readers may wish for a break in the unrelenting pace to flesh out personalities and backstories in more detail, but the accessible writing and relatable characters will have them turning pages to the end. VERDICT Great fun. Readers will want to pick up the first book, Space Runners: The Moon Platoon, prior to reading this installment. This series will appeal to fans of David Liss's Randoms and Max Brallier's The Last Kids On Earth.--Stephanie Whelan, New York Public Library