Orphan Planet

Thank you to Rex Burke for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!

Jordan Booth never expected to be woken up early. After things fell apart for him on Earth, he looked forward to sleeping seventeen years and starting off fresh on a new planet. Yet near the journey's end, he finds himself on the deck of Odyssey Earth, fully awake and in charge of a group of teenagers. Teenagers that were never in the original plans, and who have no idea what it’s like to be planet side. Jordan will have his hands full as he tries to mentor the teens and learn how to navigate teenage angst and attitude.

In Orphan Planet Jordan finds himself up against know it all kids with a penchant for older movies and music. What starts off as a sarcastic overview of events leading to a seventeen-year space odyssey, quickly evolves into a heartwarming tale of found family. Jordan will face quite a mix of personalities and bravado as he tries to establish a relationship with the teens. Yet when the group of teenagers and Jordan face off against a life or death situation, they’ll only make it through alive if they work together.

The teens' reactions to Jordan are filled with witty remarks and comebacks. While this speaks of their age and view on adults, it also adds a needed layer of tension breaking humor. With the viewpoint focusing on Jordan, it’s quite the read to see inside his mind how he tries to figure out ways to get through to the teens. Jordan starts as a reluctant guardian and will go through quite a bit of character development by the end of the story. Readers who may not be entirely on his side at first will be won over by the end.

Orphan Planet is a great read for readers who enjoy sarcastic sci-fi stories and themes of found family and adventure. This is also a good starting point for anyone looking to explore the sci-fi genre.