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The Young Soldier #1
Space Jumpers
Before he was known as the man who toppled the Council, Don O'Hara was just a boy who dreamed he could be a Space Jumper. To achieve his dream, Don will have to oppose his father, the O'Hara legacy, and forces beyond his control. But at what cost? And what will he sacrifice to get there?
Space Jumpers provides readers an action packed and fast-paced telling of Don O'Hara's origin story and how he became a Space Jumper. In this young adult, science fiction novelette Don, unknowingly, takes his first steps toward eventual rebellion and revolution.
Space Jumpers provides readers an action packed and fast-paced telling of Don O'Hara's origin story and how he became a Space Jumper. In this young adult, science fiction novelette Don, unknowingly, takes his first steps toward eventual rebellion and revolution.
194 pages, ebook
Published March 14, 2017
About the author
M.K. Clark
9 books11 followersMK Clark is an author based out of Austin Texas. She grew up believing she would be an astronaut. She settled for the second-best option as an author with a penchant for YA Sci-Fi and Post-Apoc. While working on the next book in her Young Soldier Series, she fills the publishing void with short stories like Impact and The Beetle Problem. If she had free time, she’d spend it shooting zombies while snuggled on the couch with her hubby and fur-baby.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 26, 2017
Boys at Boot Camp
"Just know that when you wake up at night to escape your dreams, life is not as hopeless as it seems, nor as painful."
Don O'Hara wants to be a Space Jumper and goes to basic training to try and fulfill that dream. Which would be fine if he were not the son of General O'Hara and he was supposed to be heading to Commander's School. Instead, he swaps lives with another boy to achieve his ambition. Of course, basic training is just as tough as he had expected on the physical level, but he finds himself challenged emotionally as well as events overtake him. And he finds it is much harder to escape being General O'Hara's son than simply swapping identities.
This is the introduction to a longer series of books about Don O'Hara and seems to be setting up for a military sci-fi tale for teens. The writing style of the book is good, the main character is interesting and engaging and the other characters come over as well developed individuals. There is a sense of 'something going on behind the scenes that is not quite explained merely by the fact Don is his father's son, but there is no real explanation offered for this, just intriguing hints which are no doubt going to be explored further in future books.
There is a lot of good stuff to enjoy. There is some excellent father-son anxt, some good 'boys bonding' stuff and some life lessons learned. There are also elements of politics going on that seem to indicate something yet to be explored and also an alien race attacking humanity somewhere, for which all the troops are being trained. I also liked the way there was some exploration of the ambiguity around how people who are labeled terrorists by some are seen as freedom fighters by others. The youth of the trainees was just a bit disturbing, with 'boy' being used as the main descriptor of them rather than 'young man'.
"You do realise that women who volunteer for the military are genetically altered to be displeasing to the eye, dull and completely unapproachable?"
Bearing in mind the author is a woman, I was surprised by the lack of women in the book. I counted three females mentioned as individuals in total and only one in a role that implied any kind of authority. In the wider world women seem not to hold any roles of power or influence, the Suits - local security enforcement - are all male and anytime there is military action it is all male. The 'behind the scenes' glimpses are all with male characters in places of high power. I found that lack sad in a book aimed at teenage boys who could do with a more balanced gender-role view of life. The story also seemed to imply only boys even did military training, until right near the end of the book where there was a reference to the existence of a 'girl' version of the training camp. I am still wondering why on earth these young people would be put in single-sex training schools anyway. Made me think of 1950s single-sex school stories. Not even Hogwarts divided by gender!
'They each found a computer tablet on the desk accompanied by an electronic pen.'
The lack of any kind of decent communications technology - or indeed of much high tech at all, left me bemused. Despite the existence of space travel and colonies, the training and weapons and lack of communication when on exercises felt more like something from 20th Century with the odd tweak, not even 21st and certainly nothing more futuristic than that.
I felt the prologue was not only unnecessary but actually spoilt the start of the book as it pre-determined the course of the eventual story rather than allowing the reader to approach it with an open horizon and unknown possibilities. But the real low spot of the book for me was a chapter-long dream sequence of a training exercise, which was then followed by the real training exercise! The author would have done better to make the dream sequence a real event and had some gap with other things happening between that and the climactic training exercise which it ran into.
If you enjoy reading well-written stories about exclusively 'boys only' schools and boot camps, this is going to be something you will want to consider adding to your reading list.
"Just know that when you wake up at night to escape your dreams, life is not as hopeless as it seems, nor as painful."
Don O'Hara wants to be a Space Jumper and goes to basic training to try and fulfill that dream. Which would be fine if he were not the son of General O'Hara and he was supposed to be heading to Commander's School. Instead, he swaps lives with another boy to achieve his ambition. Of course, basic training is just as tough as he had expected on the physical level, but he finds himself challenged emotionally as well as events overtake him. And he finds it is much harder to escape being General O'Hara's son than simply swapping identities.
This is the introduction to a longer series of books about Don O'Hara and seems to be setting up for a military sci-fi tale for teens. The writing style of the book is good, the main character is interesting and engaging and the other characters come over as well developed individuals. There is a sense of 'something going on behind the scenes that is not quite explained merely by the fact Don is his father's son, but there is no real explanation offered for this, just intriguing hints which are no doubt going to be explored further in future books.
There is a lot of good stuff to enjoy. There is some excellent father-son anxt, some good 'boys bonding' stuff and some life lessons learned. There are also elements of politics going on that seem to indicate something yet to be explored and also an alien race attacking humanity somewhere, for which all the troops are being trained. I also liked the way there was some exploration of the ambiguity around how people who are labeled terrorists by some are seen as freedom fighters by others. The youth of the trainees was just a bit disturbing, with 'boy' being used as the main descriptor of them rather than 'young man'.
"You do realise that women who volunteer for the military are genetically altered to be displeasing to the eye, dull and completely unapproachable?"
Bearing in mind the author is a woman, I was surprised by the lack of women in the book. I counted three females mentioned as individuals in total and only one in a role that implied any kind of authority. In the wider world women seem not to hold any roles of power or influence, the Suits - local security enforcement - are all male and anytime there is military action it is all male. The 'behind the scenes' glimpses are all with male characters in places of high power. I found that lack sad in a book aimed at teenage boys who could do with a more balanced gender-role view of life. The story also seemed to imply only boys even did military training, until right near the end of the book where there was a reference to the existence of a 'girl' version of the training camp. I am still wondering why on earth these young people would be put in single-sex training schools anyway. Made me think of 1950s single-sex school stories. Not even Hogwarts divided by gender!
'They each found a computer tablet on the desk accompanied by an electronic pen.'
The lack of any kind of decent communications technology - or indeed of much high tech at all, left me bemused. Despite the existence of space travel and colonies, the training and weapons and lack of communication when on exercises felt more like something from 20th Century with the odd tweak, not even 21st and certainly nothing more futuristic than that.
I felt the prologue was not only unnecessary but actually spoilt the start of the book as it pre-determined the course of the eventual story rather than allowing the reader to approach it with an open horizon and unknown possibilities. But the real low spot of the book for me was a chapter-long dream sequence of a training exercise, which was then followed by the real training exercise! The author would have done better to make the dream sequence a real event and had some gap with other things happening between that and the climactic training exercise which it ran into.
If you enjoy reading well-written stories about exclusively 'boys only' schools and boot camps, this is going to be something you will want to consider adding to your reading list.
May 18, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from the author herself, whom I follow on Instagram. I loved this story. I will admit to having an automatic soft spot for Don O'Hara, the main character, because he shares his first name with my father, which is not a common name today. So right off the old bat, I liked Don. But it's more than that with this story - Don is a good guy, trying to become his own person, underneath the watchful eye of his father, a high-ranking military official.
The story moves at a quick pace, but not so quick as to rush it. The characters are all believable, and the end leaves you craving more of Don's journey. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this young man's story about longing for a destiny among the stars.
The story moves at a quick pace, but not so quick as to rush it. The characters are all believable, and the end leaves you craving more of Don's journey. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this young man's story about longing for a destiny among the stars.
May 4, 2017
Enjoyable romp!
The story follows Don, the son of a general, who swaps places with another boy to get out of going to command school. It isn't long before the swap is found out. But due to the fact that the space jumper training camp is on Earth, there was no quick way of swapping the two boys back. The story follows Don's training to become a space jumper, which was enjoyable to read. The dialogue was plentiful, and the story hooked me from the beginning.
3.5 * rounded up to 4.
I recommend it!
The story follows Don, the son of a general, who swaps places with another boy to get out of going to command school. It isn't long before the swap is found out. But due to the fact that the space jumper training camp is on Earth, there was no quick way of swapping the two boys back. The story follows Don's training to become a space jumper, which was enjoyable to read. The dialogue was plentiful, and the story hooked me from the beginning.
3.5 * rounded up to 4.
I recommend it!
December 22, 2021
An excellent read. It is not easy growing up with a father who is General. His farther had him primed for Command School, but Don wanted to be on his own. So what is the solution. You switch with someone else and go to earth for basic training. However; Don cannot leave his name behind so his father's name follows him. Will he survive the training is anyone's guess since onone pulls any punches. Well worth reading.
December 27, 2021
Received as a review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. A brilliant fast read that right off creates this twist of Don switching lives with a naive trainee that find himself heading off to Pre-Command with no idea of what this is about while Don heads off to Basic Training. The question is how long can this crazy ploy last until Don has to face the legacy he has that was set into motion by his father? Plenty of action and characters that truly memorable. Highly recommended.
March 6, 2022
This was my first experience with M. K. Clark's work, and I enjoyed it very much. The story was fast paced. The characters were complicated. Although the story was written for a younger age group, it was a story that any generation could appreciate. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. David Nagel's narration worked well for the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily posted this review.
June 17, 2021
I Liked this book quite well and enjoyed reading it from the very beginning to the very end.
I thought the story line was done very well and I enjoyed it very much and this is my honest opinion.
I thought the charcters were instrumental to the story line and this is my opinion.
I got this book for free, thru an Advanced Review Copy, ARC, and am leavinging an honest review,
I thought the story line was done very well and I enjoyed it very much and this is my honest opinion.
I thought the charcters were instrumental to the story line and this is my opinion.
I got this book for free, thru an Advanced Review Copy, ARC, and am leavinging an honest review,
March 21, 2017
A tale to remember
Space jumpers is an intriguing story of a teenager wanting to live his dream out from underneath his father's shadow. This book follows his adventures and personal growth as he tries to just that in a foreign earth basic training of sorts. Mk Clark's work is engaging and well detailed.
I usually do not read sci fi books but this book was one that I ended up reading in one sitting. You become fully immersed and invested in Don's life and that is why I will be awaiting the next book eagerly.
This book is perfect for those who enjoy action, sci fi, and military style books
Space jumpers is an intriguing story of a teenager wanting to live his dream out from underneath his father's shadow. This book follows his adventures and personal growth as he tries to just that in a foreign earth basic training of sorts. Mk Clark's work is engaging and well detailed.
I usually do not read sci fi books but this book was one that I ended up reading in one sitting. You become fully immersed and invested in Don's life and that is why I will be awaiting the next book eagerly.
This book is perfect for those who enjoy action, sci fi, and military style books
May 24, 2021
Pretty Good
Interesting slant Basic Training. Good characters, decent story line, some twists to the plot all making for a good read!if
Interesting slant Basic Training. Good characters, decent story line, some twists to the plot all making for a good read!if
dnf-not-for-me
May 22, 20221/10: Couldn't get past the first few chapters; not for me.
June 7, 2022
a man switched places with another man to get into the military service of his choice
April 3, 2017
This is a very well written book. There is a lot of detail, a lot of wonderful dialogue, but it never really bogs down and gets boring.
I highly recommend this book to everyone and am eagerly awaiting the next one.
I highly recommend this book to everyone and am eagerly awaiting the next one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews