The Star of Moon Village - by Jennifer Ann Richter

Book Synopsis

Even in outer space there are frenemies.

Priscilla Cobb has spent her whole life dreaming of space. The underground scientific labs on the Moon are the stuff of legend. So when an international student research voyage to the Moon is announced, Priscilla trains day in and day out.

But as Priscilla discovers, research will not be the priority of the trip. In fact, the whole trip starts to feel like a vacation for the ultrarich and famous. And when a surprise secret guest is revealed (someone Priscilla hoped to never cross paths with again), she decides enough is enough. It's time for science to fight back.

Combining classic middle school growing pains with a near-future space setting, The Star of Moon Village is a smart and empathetic read perfect for fans of Stacy McAnulty's The Miscalculations of Lightning, Jennifer L. Holm's The Lion of Mars, and Jasmine Warga's A Rover's Story.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Review Quotes

Strong worldbuilding and a STEM focus allow readers to imagine a world beyond their own.
--Kirkus Reviews

Richter (Bird Nerd) offers an optimistic tale of lunar adventure that reflects contemporary society's attitudes surrounding space tourism and the influential power of fame. Rich with scientifically faithful lunar details and speculation, it's a story about strength and pursuing one's dreams that's sure to spark reader curiosity.
--Publishers Weekly

The mix of science, imagination, and heart makes this story accessible and uplifting, encouraging curiosity about space and confidence in one's own potential.
--School Library Journal

About the Author

Jennifer Ann Richter is a poet, novelist, short story writer, birder, and stargazer. Jennifer's works for children have appeared in Fun for Kidz, Shine Brightly, Balloons Lit. Journal, Cricket, and Spaceports & Spidersilk. Her YA story "Partings" won honorable mention in the 2020 Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition. Her debut middle grade novel Bird Nerd was published by Holiday House. She lives in Delaware.