82. Star Fighters Book 1: Alien Attack by Max Chase

Star Fighters Book 1: Alien Attack by Max Chase
Published March 2012 Allen & Unwin

From the publisher:
An exciting new sci-fi, action-adventure series from the creators of Beast Quest. It is the year 5012 and the galaxy is at war. Only the brightest and most promising eleven-year-olds are accepted into the Intergalactic Force Academy, and only the very best cadets become...STAR FIGHTERS!

This book is the first in a new series that I think will be hugely popular with boys age 8+.  The book is set on the future, where all different life forms (alien and human) are working together to protect the Milky Way from aliens from other galaxies. Peri is a first year student at the Intergalactic Force Academy and his main job is to blast ‘space trash’ from the atmosphere.  One day however a metal sphere size of the earths' moon with large spikes sprouting from the hull starts dragging them its orbit.  as war breaks out, Peri and half-Martian Diesel must work together (with the help of stowaway Selene) must work together to find a way home.

It reminded me a lot of Star Wars.  Creatures from different planets (aliens) all working together to  fight for the 'Empire'.  It may be a hard sell for the die hard Star Wars fans, as it is not actually Star Wars, but I think a bit of nudging in the direction of these books could open up a whole new series for the Star Wars obsessed.

The text is a good size, and there are illustrations throughout, so it's a good choice for reluctant readers, and it doesn't look babyish for the struggling older readers either.

Who will like this book: Boys age 8+
Read it if you like: Star Wars