Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue by Hugh Howey

-Wendy

When Molly gets kicked out of the Naval Academy, she loses more than just another home, she loses the only two things that truly matter:  flying in space and her training partner, Cole.  A dull future seems to await, until a marvelous discovery changes everything.  Her father's old starship, missing for a decade, turns up halfway across the galaxy.  It's retrieval launches Molly and Cole on the adventure of a lifetime, one that will have lasting consequences for themselves and billions of others.  What starts off as a simple quest to reconnect with her past, ends up forging a new future.  And the forgotten family she hoped to uncover becomes one she never foresaw:  a band of alien misfits and runaways- the crew of the starship Parsona.

I adore Hugh Howey's books and this is one series that I hadn't had the chance to read.  I was ecstatic to get my hands on the first volume in this young adult series.  It's a bit sy-fy, dystopian, mystery and romance all rolled into one great adventure.  Molly's mom dies when she is young and she can't really remember her.  She remembers her father and growing up in his ship, The Parsona.  When he goes on a mission and never returns, an old family friend takers her under his wing and enrolls her into the Naval Academy.

It's all simulators and girls aren't supposed to fly, so Molly usually is the  navigator.  When a trial run goes awry, Molly is kicked out of the program and although she is heartbroken, she keeps her chin up and enrolls in a 'normal' school.  She's bored but creating her own path when her guardian arrives unexpectedly with the news that her father's ship has been found.  Molly is the heir to that ship so she insists she be the one to bring it home, and she wants her friend Cole to assist.

Their travels and adventures take them into all sorts of trouble and they find friendship in the least expected places.  Through thick and thin though, Molly's hope and faith shine through.  She does a bit of growing up and she is determined that even though she is a young woman, she will fly her own ship.  Cole is a teen heartthrob.  His humor and patience with Molly is endearing.  He's also a great fighter and thinks on his feet.  It will be interesting to see where their relationship goes.  There are many secondary characters that really bring this story to life, adding just the right key elements.  there are different races, not just human, as well as different planets.  Howey has a knack for creating believable worlds that just seem to flow together with his creative storytelling.  A great adventure that I am excited to resume in the next installment!