One Giant Leap

⭐️ Editor’s Pick, BookLife by Publishers Weekly
⭐️ Gold Medal, Mom’s Choice Awards

I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.

Blast off with the four winners of the StellarKid Project on a trip to the International Space Station and then to the Gateway outpost orbiting the Moon! It’s a dream come true until space junk collides with the ISS, turning their epic trip into a nightmare of survival. Alone aboard the Aether starship, the kids have to work as a team to save the adults before the ISS is destroyed. Suit up, cadet, and launch into adventure with One Giant Leap!

Publication date 2/21/23.

ISBNs:
paperback 9781734155280
hardback 9781734155297
ebook 9781734155266

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“One Giant Leap provides a vivid first-person account of space travel in all its terrifying glory precisely because it comes from someone who hasn’t yet learned how to filter his unabashed wonderment.This exciting science fiction adventure is geared to readers looking to push their boundaries.”
–BookLife by Publishers Weekly. Read the full review here.

*****

“Relatable characters ground a story that’s suspenseful, funny, and heartwarming.”
–Kirkus Reviews. Read the full review here.

*****

“One Giant Leap is an exciting science fiction title for young readers; it honors the history and future of space travel during its hero’s fantastic adventure.”
–Foreword Reviews. Read the full review here.

*****

*****

*****

“An excellent, STEM-focused narrative that will inspire middle grade readers with moments of true emotion and self-realization that anchor the story in the complicated realities of adolescence.”
-Mary Lanni, reviewer for School Library Journal. Full review here.

*****

“Smart, fast-paced, and an absolute must for anyone who dreams of space. STEM fans, take note! This thrillride is for you!”
-Katie Slivensky, author of The Countdown Conspiracy

*****

“One Giant Leap is a thrilling love letter to the past, present, and future of international space exploration, launching readers on a harrowing adventure beyond the Kármán Line fueled by Gartner’s signature fast-paced storytelling and meticulously researched details. A worthy middle school homage to The Right Stuff and For All Mankind.”
-Refe Tuma, author of Frances and the Monster

*****

“A pulse-pounding rocket ride! Fin Scott is totally stoked to win a ride to be one of the first kids in space, but when stray space junk cripples the International Space Station, it’s up to him and the other kids on the mission to save the adults trapped there before it’s incinerated in the Earth’s atmosphere. With Gartner’s trademark cinematic writing that makes you feel like you’re right there in the middle of the action, mixed with humor and heart, kids will love this adventure! And just try reading that first chapter without being caught in the story’s gravitational pull!”
-Sam Subity, author of The Last Shadow Warrior

*****

“Another great book from Ben. This book is a heart-pounding, zero-G adventure, with kids who save the day, and a few mysteries thrown in for good measure. It’s like Gravity meets Space Case. I couldn’t stop reading!”
-Adam Perry, author of Ghosts Come Rising

*****

“Full of heart, relatable humor, and suspenseful challenges, One Giant Leap dares readers to find what it takes to believe in your dreams, and the work to make them real–even when things don’t go right.”
-Chris Baron, author of The Gray

*****

“Ben Gartner is the master of middle-grade voice, and he has truly stepped up his game with ONE GIANT LEAP. I was instantly hooked, and grinning at the one-liners and smart observations of Fin Scott and the kids on this fast-paced space adventure. It’s the perfect blend of action, visual storytelling, and mystery that’s sure to appeal to reluctant readers. Get lost in space with ONE GIANT LEAP—you don’t want to miss this book!”
-Fleur Bradley, award-winning author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel and Daybreak on Raven Island

*****

“Once again, Ben Gartner beautifully balances great characters in an intriguing, well-developed setting. Kids and their grownups alike will be delighted by this action-filled novel.”
-Christine Derr, reviewer for Paw Prints in the Sink. Read full review here.

*****

“A break-neck survival story that starts off with a bang and doesn’t let up. Space enthusiasts and newcomers alike will appreciate the attention to detail in this meticulously researched adventure story. The book’s diverse host of loveable characters will pull you in, and the charismatic Fin will have you rooting for him from page one. In turns fascinating, hilarious, and terrifying you won’t be able to put this one down.Do yourself a favor and buy this book!”
-Kerelyn Smith, author of Mulrox and the Malcognitos

*****

“One Giant Leap is your next great sci-fi read! It has everything I love about middle-grade: an authentic narrative voice, a cinematic tone that reels you in right from the opening moment, and a perfect mix of action, mystery, and humor. Teachers will love the strong STEM connections. Yep, it’s an out-of-this-world adventure (had to throw that in for our main character, Finley)!”
-Lee Edward Födi, author of Spell Sweeper

*****

“A powerful, rollicking adventure that will have young readers gripping their seats to the very end.”
–Readers’ Favorite

*****

“Perfect for readers with their head in the stars, this STEM-rich space adventure grounds itself in real science, honest emotions, and the familiar challenges kids face.”
-Shawn Peters, author of The Unforgettable Logan Foster series

*****

“I was astounded by ONE GIANT LEAP: an earnest, emotionally intelligent introduction to the gifted Fin; through a training period that reads every bit as realistically as great works like The Right Stuff; to the harrowing mission that grapples with dizzyingly rendered life and death decisions.”
-Jason Henderson, author of the Young Captain Nemo series

*****

“From the first page of One Giant Leap, Ben Gartner smashes the gas pedal to the floor and doesn’t let up. Do spaceships have gas pedals? They do not. I can state facts like that one with confidence having read this meticulously researched book. Featuring four brave (and sometimes nauseated) kids, ultra-cool science, and a barrage of space-dad jokes, One Giant Leap is one gravity-defying thrill ride.”
-Betsy Uhrig, author of The Polter-Ghost Problem

*****

“One Giant Leap is a thrilling ride that only gets more precarious with each twist and turn of the plot. Fact and fiction mesh seamlessly to create a plausible and riveting story. There’s heart too. Highly recommended!”
-Mahtab Narsimhan, author of the Eerie Tales from the East series

*****

Gold Medal Winner from the Mom’s Choice Awards Honoring Excellence.

*****

Nominated for the LibraryReads List by librarians.

*****

“I absolutely loved this book! It helped me learn more about space in general and took me on an exciting adventure. When the kids faced their different trials and challenges and tried to solve problems, I felt like I was right there with them. This truly was a masterful book!”
-Emmie Enchanted, book blogger for Fantastic Books & Where to Find Them

*****

“I found the story to be plausible, entertaining, and well-paced. It’s absolutely stuffed to the rafters with interesting details about space travel. Character development is realistic – readers can easily bond with the kids and admire the adults. The book is unputdownable. I judge books by what I call my ‘what happens next’ factor. Fin and his traveling pals are constantly leaping from one intense situation to another, in a way that makes it impossible for the reader to predict the outcome. I give One Giant Leap a What-Happens-Next score of twenty… on a scale of ten!”
-SciFi Radio. Full review here.

*****