A diverse, inclusive Star Trekkie space adventure for today's teens!

Tina and her best friend, Rachael, are living a relatively normal life of teen angst, perhaps a bit heavy on the angst. Rachael, a talented and extremely introverted artist, has dropped out of school in self-preservation. Tina is slogging along without her and, between bouts of protesting injustice, awaiting the day when the beacon inside her summons the mother ship to retrieve her and activate the memories of the brilliant alien commander from which she was cloned. We all have our stuff. Once the beacon is activated, it's nonstop high-stakes adventure for Tina, Rachael, a handful of genius Earth kids, and the alien crew they join in an intergalactic battle against a sadistic monster and the genocidal rebellion he leads.

Using alien cultures to normalize diversity is nothing new, but it feels fresh and smart here — from the universal translator including pronouns in all introductions to the accommodation for and embrace of bio diversity among the alien crew. If the pro-diversity, anti-colonization message isn't exactly subtle, it's well done and welcomed. As is the twist/interlacing of the chosen one/chosen family tropes.

Overall, I'm a big fan of this fun, inventive space adventure, but not a fan of the abrupt, first-person present-tense writing. Your mileage may vary there (especially if you're a teen or more used to this style). Also, I'm seeing a lot of love for the cover, but it doesn't really work for me. The glowy purple aesthetic is, of course, awesome. But it can't overcome the weird Barbie vibe this gives me. Don't let that deter you — there's not a bit of Barbie in here (though there is a bit of glowy purple).

Content notes: transphobia/persecution (in backstory; overall story is trans-affirming), violence, gun violence, genocide, death, torture, imprisonment, bigotry,

My thanks to #NetGalley and Tor Teen for a digital ARC.