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Space Chasers by Leland Melvin #1
Space Chasers by Leland Melvin
When a team of brilliant kids-turned-astronauts find themselves in serious trouble in outer space, they must work together to get back home.
Launch into action in T-Minus 3, 2, 1…
When Tia Valor takes a test on a whim for an exclusive NASA program for middle schoolers, she never thought she’d pass. After all, she never really fit in at school. In fact, she’s been skipping school most days to work at her brother’s auto shop instead. But Leland Melvin, a famed astronaut, sees potential in Tia, and before she knows it, she’s part of a team of other talented kids training to launch to an advanced space station orbiting the earth. But the perils of space are unpredictable and Tia finds herself with only half her crew and no adults around to help. Now she must rely on her instincts and the quick thinking of her fellow kid astronauts to save the space station and their lives!
Created by real-life astronaut Leland Melvin.
Launch into action in T-Minus 3, 2, 1…
When Tia Valor takes a test on a whim for an exclusive NASA program for middle schoolers, she never thought she’d pass. After all, she never really fit in at school. In fact, she’s been skipping school most days to work at her brother’s auto shop instead. But Leland Melvin, a famed astronaut, sees potential in Tia, and before she knows it, she’s part of a team of other talented kids training to launch to an advanced space station orbiting the earth. But the perils of space are unpredictable and Tia finds herself with only half her crew and no adults around to help. Now she must rely on her instincts and the quick thinking of her fellow kid astronauts to save the space station and their lives!
Created by real-life astronaut Leland Melvin.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
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93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 8, 2025
SUPER CUTE Graphic Novel about Teens in a Space program.
July 6, 2025
Fun and light but very hard to believe anyone would launch kids into space without the current planet collapsing.
August 7, 2024
Positives: I love that this included Leland the astronaut as a creator, included his dogs, and I think this will excite kids about missions to space.
Negatives: the plot had a lot of predictable beats, and the plot moved too fast between test taking, training, and the mission to space. Yes this is was an attempt at a realistic sci-fi of what if kids could go into space for a mission, but a lot of suspension of belief had to happen (like the jet pack dogs living alone on the space station and we’d train kids/preteens to go retrieve them), or that an aborted takeoff would only be delayed hours, due to weather after a malfunction. The writing felt a bit stilted, like adults writing for kids (which I recognize is exactly what this is, but it could have more fluency and less an adult talking to a child tone).
Still a cute graphic, worth adding to a kids graphic library collection.
Negatives: the plot had a lot of predictable beats, and the plot moved too fast between test taking, training, and the mission to space. Yes this is was an attempt at a realistic sci-fi of what if kids could go into space for a mission, but a lot of suspension of belief had to happen (like the jet pack dogs living alone on the space station and we’d train kids/preteens to go retrieve them), or that an aborted takeoff would only be delayed hours, due to weather after a malfunction. The writing felt a bit stilted, like adults writing for kids (which I recognize is exactly what this is, but it could have more fluency and less an adult talking to a child tone).
Still a cute graphic, worth adding to a kids graphic library collection.
February 22, 2025
NASA is opening a program to send young people to space. Four kids and one alternate are chosen for the program. There’s Bradley who is a football star and struggles between honoring his dad’s football dreams and secretly wanting to be a bit of an egghead. There’s Tia who frequently skips school to help out at her legal guardian brother’s auto repair shop. She’s a genius with cars, but struggles with her grades, and only took the NASA test to prove to some snobby girls in her class she could. There’s Steven who has cerebral palsy and wants to show everyone that his disability shouldn’t keep him out of the stars. There’s Andromeda, who is always peppy and energetic and wants to go to space to see if aliens love art too. And there’s Indira, who studies hard and helps keep her many little siblings in line for her parents who work hard. Adult astronaut Leland Melvin is their team leader and is getting them whipped into shape for their first mission, to get to the space station and boost it back to a better orbit. But they have to pass their training, get over their personal hang ups, become a solid team, and make it off the launch pad first.
This was an enjoyable middle grade kid space team training and first mission adventure. I like that the kids had a variety of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and even though they are all there to go to space, they have different interests and talents too. Plus it was great that Steven was in a wheelchair and looking forward to the freedoms being in space would give him. The mission to the space station doesn’t go smoothly, and they have to do some problem solving and crisis management. And the ending leaves this open for more adventures in the future. Hand this to kids who dream of going to space and graphic novel fans.
Notes on content [based on ARC]:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are some hazardous situations, but a damaged should is the worst injury, and the character recovers from that quickly.
Ethnic diversity: Leland and Steven are Black American (and Steven is in a wheelchair), Andromeda appears to be Asian American, Tia is Latina American, and Bradley is white American (and has a father who is dyslexic).
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Several of the kids are dealing with self-doubt and impostor-syndrome. There’s a lot of puking during the training montages (mostly implied, not shown).
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an enjoyable middle grade kid space team training and first mission adventure. I like that the kids had a variety of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and even though they are all there to go to space, they have different interests and talents too. Plus it was great that Steven was in a wheelchair and looking forward to the freedoms being in space would give him. The mission to the space station doesn’t go smoothly, and they have to do some problem solving and crisis management. And the ending leaves this open for more adventures in the future. Hand this to kids who dream of going to space and graphic novel fans.
Notes on content [based on ARC]:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are some hazardous situations, but a damaged should is the worst injury, and the character recovers from that quickly.
Ethnic diversity: Leland and Steven are Black American (and Steven is in a wheelchair), Andromeda appears to be Asian American, Tia is Latina American, and Bradley is white American (and has a father who is dyslexic).
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Several of the kids are dealing with self-doubt and impostor-syndrome. There’s a lot of puking during the training montages (mostly implied, not shown).
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2025
This is cute and sweet and hits all the right notes for a young adult book about the actual space program!
BUT.
...okay, two dogs *in helmets* were left BY THEMSELVES in space. Nevermind how they used the bathroom, how did they eat? It does NOT show the dogs ever taking their helmets off to let them eat or anything!
Plothole addressed, Rule of Cute applied. Proceed.
I like that this is written to encourage young readers to think twice about doubting themselves out of trying out for things like a SPACE PROGRAM!!! It does feel a little weird that , but that's something I don't see much in fiction (or nonfiction!), so I'll let it pass. If only more people thought that way (the being secretly supportive part)!
I also appreciate the emphasis on problem solving and recognising one another's strengths and weaknesses, even if it seems BEYOND farfetched that they let kids go *solo* into space after "only" a year-ish of training. I mean, I've seen Space Brothers, so I'm aware that certainly *Japan* isn't taking space travel lightly. Can't imagine America is any different, with the value of NASA regularly under fire as a waste of taxpayer money (and military spending isn't?).
But hey, that's why fiction exists—to explore farfetched ideas! Who knows, maybe NASA will get to do exactly this in the future! (Hopefully with fewer incidents, haha.)
Recommended for young readers interested in SPACE!!!
BUT.
...okay, two dogs *in helmets* were left BY THEMSELVES in space. Nevermind how they used the bathroom, how did they eat? It does NOT show the dogs ever taking their helmets off to let them eat or anything!
Plothole addressed, Rule of Cute applied. Proceed.
I like that this is written to encourage young readers to think twice about doubting themselves out of trying out for things like a SPACE PROGRAM!!! It does feel a little weird that , but that's something I don't see much in fiction (or nonfiction!), so I'll let it pass. If only more people thought that way (the being secretly supportive part)!
I also appreciate the emphasis on problem solving and recognising one another's strengths and weaknesses, even if it seems BEYOND farfetched that they let kids go *solo* into space after "only" a year-ish of training. I mean, I've seen Space Brothers, so I'm aware that certainly *Japan* isn't taking space travel lightly. Can't imagine America is any different, with the value of NASA regularly under fire as a waste of taxpayer money (and military spending isn't?).
But hey, that's why fiction exists—to explore farfetched ideas! Who knows, maybe NASA will get to do exactly this in the future! (Hopefully with fewer incidents, haha.)
Recommended for young readers interested in SPACE!!!
June 18, 2025
This book is an entertaining and inspiring book. The beginning of the book introduces the characters. Then the book launches into their mission…to become NASA interns and launch into space for their save their own space station.
It was so fun to read and became quite the page turner after the launch! I had to stay up to finish it and see what happened! I enjoyed reading it because the plot was engaging and fun and the illustrations were excellent! It was just as much fun to look at the pages as it was to read them. This book is great for kids, teens, young adults, and adults. It’s a great book and it was a fun change of pace from the novels and nonfiction books I typically read. Looking forward to book two in February!
It had some nice themes like inclusivity, diversity, believing in yourself, the value of hard work and teamwork, the potential in everyone, and taking calculated risks to support a common effort. I got a found family vibe and loved to see the characters come together as a team.
I recently met the author and astronaut, Leland Melvin, with my son. He was so warm and endearing. What a friendly person. He took the time to chat with us, sign our book, and take photos with us. Couldn’t have been nicer! I have read his other book, Chasing Space, which I also enjoyed. It was fun seeing his dogs, well known from his NASA portrait, in Space Chasers!
It was so fun to read and became quite the page turner after the launch! I had to stay up to finish it and see what happened! I enjoyed reading it because the plot was engaging and fun and the illustrations were excellent! It was just as much fun to look at the pages as it was to read them. This book is great for kids, teens, young adults, and adults. It’s a great book and it was a fun change of pace from the novels and nonfiction books I typically read. Looking forward to book two in February!
It had some nice themes like inclusivity, diversity, believing in yourself, the value of hard work and teamwork, the potential in everyone, and taking calculated risks to support a common effort. I got a found family vibe and loved to see the characters come together as a team.
I recently met the author and astronaut, Leland Melvin, with my son. He was so warm and endearing. What a friendly person. He took the time to chat with us, sign our book, and take photos with us. Couldn’t have been nicer! I have read his other book, Chasing Space, which I also enjoyed. It was fun seeing his dogs, well known from his NASA portrait, in Space Chasers!
February 10, 2025
In SPACE CHASERS, Tia is stunned when she’s selected to join an elite group of teens training for a NASA mission into space. She joins a group of highly able and talented middle schoolers for a rigorous training program, at times struggling to feel like she belongs. On the day of the mission, a mishap leads the kids to end up in space without any adults. They’ll need to band together and use all their skills from their training program and beyond to survive and make a safe return to Earth.
While readers will have to suspend belief to engage with some of the plot points, there’s more than enough action in this graphic novel, including a high stakes ending, to hook and keep readers. The countdown style banners throughout the text that display the time remaining until the big mission help build tension and reinforce the space theme. SPACE CHASERS is a fun STEM forward story full of positive messages about teamwork and inclusiveness that will be enjoyed by adventure-seeking readers and those with an interest in space and science.
While readers will have to suspend belief to engage with some of the plot points, there’s more than enough action in this graphic novel, including a high stakes ending, to hook and keep readers. The countdown style banners throughout the text that display the time remaining until the big mission help build tension and reinforce the space theme. SPACE CHASERS is a fun STEM forward story full of positive messages about teamwork and inclusiveness that will be enjoyed by adventure-seeking readers and those with an interest in space and science.
March 19, 2025
Written by astronaut Leland Melvin, this graphic novel explores the idea of a NASA teen space program! Four teens and an alternate are chosen to pioneer this program and their first mission is to go rescue Leland's two dogs who have been out in space by themselves (yes, suspend your disbelief for a few of the things that happen. It's still a fun and engaging graphic that students will enjoy). They speed through their training and launch day arrives. Something goes wrong and one team of kids is sent off with no adult but the dogs must be rescued.
There is lots to love here: diversity, problem solving, teamwork, authentic situational imposter syndrome, great artwork. Just, as I said before, suspend your disbelief about how quickly the timeline goes and that they would really allow dogs to live in space on their own and then send teens into space on their own to rescue them and a few other things. But the idea that you can achieve great things, work together, etc is fantastic. Door is left open for a sequel.
There is lots to love here: diversity, problem solving, teamwork, authentic situational imposter syndrome, great artwork. Just, as I said before, suspend your disbelief about how quickly the timeline goes and that they would really allow dogs to live in space on their own and then send teens into space on their own to rescue them and a few other things. But the idea that you can achieve great things, work together, etc is fantastic. Door is left open for a sequel.
April 28, 2025
A diverse group of kids get the chance to apply for a once-in-a-lifetime space camp which will end in an actual trip to space. Unbeknownst to them, their training--and the trip itself---will not go as expected.
A good natured, though pretty straight down the middle story of kids overcoming their fears/doubts to bring out the best in themselves and each other. There's undeniably some positive messaging. One of the primary characters is a girl who is skilled as a mechanic and finds her confidence. The kids make the best of a scary situation through teamwork. Unfortunately there's also some mixed messaging. The fact that the kid in a wheelchair (and also the only Black character) after being set up as a promising character to follow, ends up scrubbed from the mission--disappointing. There's also some weird grayness about whether Tia might have cheated off her brainy classmate, who happens to be Asian. etc. It's not a perfect mission and maybe not a perfect book, but it's a quick read and a bit of a vicarious thrill for those aspiring astronauts out there
A good natured, though pretty straight down the middle story of kids overcoming their fears/doubts to bring out the best in themselves and each other. There's undeniably some positive messaging. One of the primary characters is a girl who is skilled as a mechanic and finds her confidence. The kids make the best of a scary situation through teamwork. Unfortunately there's also some mixed messaging. The fact that the kid in a wheelchair (and also the only Black character) after being set up as a promising character to follow, ends up scrubbed from the mission--disappointing. There's also some weird grayness about whether Tia might have cheated off her brainy classmate, who happens to be Asian. etc. It's not a perfect mission and maybe not a perfect book, but it's a quick read and a bit of a vicarious thrill for those aspiring astronauts out there
August 20, 2025
Middle grade graphic novel that puts kids in space, co-written by a real astronaut. This felt like a modern take on the classic movie Space Camp, a childhood favorite of mine. Like in that movie, the kids in this book are training like real astronauts. Is is at all plausible that NASA would put actual children in space? Not really. Nor is it plausible that the beloved pets of an astronaut would be drafted for human-free time on a space station. Or any dogs, really. Somehow, that didn't bother me much, and I suspect it would bother the middle grade audience even less. The training is realistic, and the characters have distinct and believable personalities. The space part did drag for me a little bit. It felt like too much back and forth over the same ideas, sometimes with very similar conversations happening both in space and at mission control. But this still has a good chance of being to a modern kid exactly what Space Camp was to me.
August 7, 2025
I've read lots of 'kids make bad decisions in space' comics recently but this one has got to be the worst. The fact that they set it in the very near future and had the kids 'working' for NASA made it seem way less realistic than a far future comic about kids who live on a space station going rogue (hi, Sanity & Tallulah). And then the utterly contrived sequence of events leading up to the kids being alone in space... just no. I DNFed about halfway through.
November 19, 2024
A fun middle-grade space adventure that's sure to entertain young readers! Though suspension of belief will have to happen for several plot points (no, dogs can't live in space on their own and children would never be allowed to fly a spacecraft) the storyline is engaging and the illustrations are fabulous. I also appreciate the undercurrent of inclusivity throughout. The overall message that anyone can succeed in STEM no matter where they come from or what they look like is an important one for our students.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
February 18, 2025
Space Chasers follows Tia Valor as she gets the opportunity to be apart of a special STEAM program with NASA along with a group of other students. Tia doesn't feel like she deserves to be in the program as she feels that he stole the spot from another girl at her school named Indira. She has a rough time at first dealing with the demands of the program however she starts to settle in with the help of her support buddy, Steven.
The cast of characters does a great job representing different groups of children. You have Black, Latinx, and Asian, and Disability rep.
The cast of characters does a great job representing different groups of children. You have Black, Latinx, and Asian, and Disability rep.
November 6, 2025
3 stars (I liked it)
You definitely have the suspend your disbelief but once you do it's a fun ride. A bit too technical in some parts (although I did just finish listening to Atmosphere before reading this so I was kind of already in the astronaut mindset). I liked how it showed kids working really hard to reach their goals. None of them were just skating by.
You definitely have the suspend your disbelief but once you do it's a fun ride. A bit too technical in some parts (although I did just finish listening to Atmosphere before reading this so I was kind of already in the astronaut mindset). I liked how it showed kids working really hard to reach their goals. None of them were just skating by.
January 7, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! It made me want to go back to school and study to be an astronaut - and I’m 37 years old and get nauseous in the car!
My only complaint is that I desperately needed one more page. Just one last page showing the whole team FINALLY up in space and working on the Steam Engine together. That conclusion, after everything they all went through and that difficult trial, would have made me tear up and brought the book to a perfect close. But even without that I really loved this book!
My only complaint is that I desperately needed one more page. Just one last page showing the whole team FINALLY up in space and working on the Steam Engine together. That conclusion, after everything they all went through and that difficult trial, would have made me tear up and brought the book to a perfect close. But even without that I really loved this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2026
Utterly ridiculous in a way that made suspending disbelief a bit of an effort, but simultaneously wholesome and inspiring. This story made me want to go to space, never mind the wildness of sending 11-year-olds into space unsupervised. It gave off a whiff of "Miles from Tomorrowland."
But Leland Melvin requires a bit of suspended disbelief himself, from his football career to NASA, to his love of dogs. I appreciate the outsized sense of fun combined with some very real topics of imposter syndrome, making mistakes, and valuing diverse backgrounds and skills.
But Leland Melvin requires a bit of suspended disbelief himself, from his football career to NASA, to his love of dogs. I appreciate the outsized sense of fun combined with some very real topics of imposter syndrome, making mistakes, and valuing diverse backgrounds and skills.
July 11, 2025
This was a cute story of space, friendship, and learning to work together and believe in yourself. However, I found it a little hard to believe that adults would send a group of children to space by themselves, even if they were expecting to have an accompanying space craft as well. They seemed to have a short time to train as well, when most astronauts have had years of training. I just wan't able to wrap my head around it to enjoy the story more.
March 9, 2025
This is a great graphic novel, especially for fans of space and science. It was an inspiring story, and had great themes throughout on persistence, friendship, and learning new things. The illustrations are great, and I loved the diversity in characters.
I think it was a bit heavy on the space facts and lengthy technical conversations, but ultimately fans of space will enjoy it.
I think it was a bit heavy on the space facts and lengthy technical conversations, but ultimately fans of space will enjoy it.
May 29, 2025
Contrived, cliche, predictable. Art was good. I wasn’t the target audience for this for sure. Couldn’t suspend my disbelief for the main plot point (middle schoolers in space and on their own distinct spacecraft?). Maybe if it felt more scifi and less modern day it would’ve worked for me better. But this would probably be fun and exciting for the appropriate audience.
February 10, 2026
The concept was fun and I loved that the author is an astronaut. But, I had a hard time with the fact that one crew didn't have an adult with them at all and then there was a detail of the kids sweating in space and their sweat was sticking to their faces, which is inaccurate. It really bugged me. It seemed like some of the characters didn't get the character development and others got all of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2025
This was a really good book about persevering in times of trouble. Fun fact, until I saw the “Other books by this author” section, I didn’t even realize that Leland Melvin was a real astronaut. Neat. That’s why the astronaut training seemed so realistic.
July 25, 2025
This is a very fast-moving and action packed graphic novel for kids who are starting to reach into the middle grade demographic. Personally, it lacked the depth and emotional punch that I really enjoy in this medium, but I know lots of kids to recommend this to.
February 9, 2026
This was a science fiction graphic novel that was far-fetched and action-packed. I think kids will enjoy the fast pace, the adventures, the characters, and the story. The illustrations are excellent, and it will be a book to be remembered.
February 4, 2025
A fun and adventurous story that inspires people (especially kids) to use their talents to solve big problems.
February 12, 2025
Gifted this to my friend's 9 year old daughter who, the day it arrived, texted me, "thank you for the book i read it 2 times and loved it you are the best."
May 13, 2025
Fun and exciting graphic novel space adventure written by an actual astronaut. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
May 28, 2025
Space adventure penned by a real-life astronaut!
June 6, 2025
This was fun. Now, the running gag with all the vomit got old quickly for me, but the story’s stakes and tension were good. Fun for kids where they get to save the day
June 8, 2025
2.5. It's cute, but also, why tf are these 11-13 year olds doing all this?
June 30, 2025
Cute! The kids all have interesting stories and backgrounds, the science is fun and the tension of the final problem is effective.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews