As you know, I teach 6th grade English. I have searched for science fiction stories that can be offered in the classroom for our science fiction unit. There are tons of short stories out there, but often they either contain language inappropriate for the classroom or tend to be too technical and have vocabulary to high for 11-12 year old students. BUT I have found a good one now!! Although, I was given an ebook copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review, I plan to buy a paper copy for my classroom library so my students can be exposed to high quality, fun science fiction short stories. Actually, I’ll be recommending this to our school librarian too. That is how excited I am about these stories!
Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide
Publisher: Dreaming Robot Press
Edited by Sean and Corie Weaver
Tin Can in the Sky
by Nancy Kress
Nia and her family are moving from the moon to an Earth Orbital space station. She is not happy to be leaving all her friends, so she smuggles a mouse named George in her bag even though no pets are allowed. This decision may have catastrophic consequences.
Special Effects
by Holly Schofield
It is Marg Hossain’s birthday and she wants to see what present her grandmother left her in the archives box. This would be Gram’s last gift since she died last week. Marg can’t go down to the archives until her dad, captain of the ship, takes her. He and pretty much everyone on the ship is working on a propulsion problem. She soon learns just how serious of a problem they are facing.
This is my favorite story. This story, in particular, has heart. It’s not just about spaceships and technical problems. It is about a smart girl who is grieving for her grandmother. Maybe it resonated with me because I recently lost my mother in law.
Girl Meets Robot
by L.H. Davis
Amber meets a robot dog, helps him avoid some trouble, and devises a plan to run away with him to become a space pirate. Plans don’t always go as expected though, do they?
That’s just the first 3 stories.
The Writing
This anthology is full of delightfully surprising and creative stories. The writing of each story is impeccable. Each one grabbed me quick as the Millennium Falcon on the Kessel Run.
The authors present such intriguing ideas, such as an a girl with Deja Vu-like abilities in the story called, “Three Minutes Ahead” by Anne M. Gibson. Her ability to see 3 minutes into the future is due to her version of the multiverse being 3 minutes out of sync with the others. When her dog goes missing, she must race against time to use these abilities to change the outcome.
These stories don’t typically focus on the interesting technology or theoretical possibilities, that is the set dressing.
Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide stories are about young people growing up and experiencing life and all its adventures.
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Who will like this book?
Science fiction lovers will like this. These stories are engaging and give a sense of accomplishment at the completion of each story. So kids that don’t have novel length stamina can enjoy these stories.
I can see many of my students devouring this book and relating to the characters and being fascinated by the adventures and the technology.
Amazon doesn’t yet have Volume 6 listed but here is the link to volume 5. Volume 6 is scheduled for release on December 10, 2019.
Need a Kindle to read the ebook on? Try this Kindle Paperwhite: 
Quill and Books 
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