Space Runners #2: Dark Side of the Moon

Star Wars meets Ridley Pearson’s Kingdom Keepers in this high-stakes intergalactic adventure!

Dark Side of the Moon is the thrilling second installment in an action-packed series for tweens that’s perfect for fans of Eoin Colfer and Lisa McMann and that Soman Chainani called “a blockbuster mix of thrills and adrenaline.”

When he won a trip to the moon, Benny Love never thought that his vacation would involve battling aliens determined to destroy Earth. He and his friends in the Moon Platoon are able to fight off the first wave of attacks, but their genius leader Elijah West has now gone missing. And Earth is still in very real danger.

As Benny and the gang gear up for the aliens’ next attacks, they discover that Elijah’s research partner, who’s long been presumed dead, is actually alive and living on the dark side of the moon. He knows things about the aliens that can help the Moon Platoon defeat them—but can he be trusted?

They don’t have long to decide, because the aliens are on their way—and they’re coming for Benny and his friends first.

• Alien Invasion: The Alpha Maraudi are back for round two, and this time, their primary target is Benny and the Moon Platoon.
• Found Family: With their leader Elijah West gone, the members of the Moon Platoon must rely on each other like never before to survive.
• A Mysterious Ally: A scientist long thought dead is hiding on the dark side of the moon with secrets that could save them... or betray them all.
• Reluctant Hero: Benny Love just wanted to win a vacation, not lead the fight for Earth’s survival. Now, he has no choice.

PRAISE FOR THE SERIES: “Space Runners is Gravity meets The Fast and the Furious, only with kids running the show. Kraatz’s lunar world feels like a theme park waiting to happen. A blockbuster mix of thrills, adrenaline, and lead characters who are as clever as they are courageous.” - Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil

“I’d race to the moon and back to get a copy of this thrilling, funny, and ingenious book!” - C. Alexander London, author of The Wild Ones and the Dog Tags series

“Fun, fast-paced, and filled with excellent inventions, this is sure to please sci-fi buffs. Deeper questions of war and peace and how to lead will stay with readers far beyond the last page. Otherworldly adventure that satisfies.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Offers a passel of tasty elements: zippy space chases, a diverse cast of kids, complex humans, and intriguing aliens whose perspective isn’t so different from that of humans.  That’s a lot of enjoyment, and the sequel will likely be eagerly anticipated.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“An action-packed space romp that’s sure to please young science fiction readers. Engaging characters, fast-paced storytelling, and keen enjoyment of the genre produce an altogether entertaining read.” - School Library Journal

“Kraatz maintains a satisfying balance of action, intrigue, and wonder in this first book in the Space Runners series. Memorably entertaining characters play well against the tense premise and high stakes.” - Publishers Weekly

“This sequel continues to deliver wild future tech with kid appeal and nonstop action. The accessible writing and relatable characters will have readers turning pages to the end. Great fun.” - School Library Journal

PRAISE FOR THE SERIES: “Space Runners is Gravity meets The Fast and the Furious, only with kids running the show. Kraatz’s lunar world, hopping with imagination, feels like a theme park waiting to happen. This will engage even the most reluctant reader--a blockbuster mix of thrills, adrenaline, and lead characters who are as clever as they are courageous.” - Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil