This book takes the main character, a 20-year-old spaceship pilot, and her crew beyond known space looking for a habitable planet for her first and only client. The first planet they discover is occupied by religious zealots who capture the crew and who later are thwarted in their intent to enslave them. The crew escapes, re-fuels the ship, and continues its search for another habitable planet.

The suspense and adventure start with the discovery of the second habitable planet. As they approach the planet, they find a damaged colony settlement ship with 10,000 civilians housed in cryogenic chambers. The ship is severely damaged from an accident incurred in hyperspace, its crew is dead, and life support has failed. The only way to save the cryogenic population that is poised to revive in the damaged ship’s airless environment is to land the ship on the planet’s surface. Getting it ready for that landing and the setbacks faced create the suspense and love entanglements that enliven the story. After a harrowing descent, they successfully land the ship.

The book is written as a young adult science fiction story. It uses young characters who coexist as crew on a ship in harmony. They are given responsibility for finding an inhabitable planet for one colony and solving a life and death failure that could lead to the death of 10,000 citizens from another colony. Of course, all of these challenges are met and both colonies mutually claim the planet as their new home. It’s a feel-good story that everyone likes to read from time to time. ( )