In the tradition of Michael Vey and The Unwanteds, twelve-year-old Jasper and his friends are forced to go up against an alien society in this first book in a brand-new adventure series! Bounders have always known they were different, but they never suspected they were the key to saving Earth. Thirteen years ago, Earth Force—a space-military agency—discovered a connection between brain structure and space travel. Now they’ve brought together a team of cadets, called Bounders, to be trained as elite astronauts able to pilot ships that can travel across the galaxy in an instant. Jasper Adams can’t wait to join the first class of Bounders, but when he arrives at the space station, nothing is as it seems. Security is sky-high, and Jasper and his new friends soon realize that Earth Force has been keeping secrets—one of the biggest being a powerful, highly-classified technology that allows the Bounders to teleport through space without a ship. Only Bounders can use this tech, which leads Jasper to a sinister truth—humanity is facing a threat greater than any they’ve ever known, and Bounders are the ones standing between their planet and destruction. Will Jasper and his friends rebel against Earth Force for hiding the truth, or fulfill their duty and fight for their planet? The fate of Earth may rest on their choice. ""Bounders "is a joyful space adventure full of humor, friendships and action. This is a great sci-fi adventure for boys and girls alike. I had so much fun reading it!"--S.J. Kincaid, author of the INSIGNIA series "A richly detailed, highly imaginative world and a cast of clever, creative kids.Readers will be eager to bound into the next book."--Shannon Messenger, author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series Fans of "Ender s Game" will feel right at home in this fast-paced debut I read it in a day, unable to put it down, and look forward to more from this promising new author! --Wesley King, author of The Incredible Space Raiders from Space! and OCDaniel" Monica Tesler lives south of Boston with her husband and two boys. She earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan. She writes on the commuter boat, in coffee shops, and at her kitchen table. She tries to meditate every day but often ends up fantasizing about space, time travel, or strange lands, both real and imagined. Earth Force Rising 1 I KNOW IT’S RUDE TO STARE. How many times has Mom told me that? A million? But I’ve never seen an alien before. Not up close, at least. Sure, we’ve all seen the Global Geographic specials that air on the webs in a constant loop, 24-7. Anyone who hasn’t seen pics and vids of the Tunnelers must have been hiding out in a dingy hover garage for the last twenty years. But there he is. Sitting across from me on the air rail car. Me, Jasper Adams, riding the rails with an alien—a real live Tunneler—on my way home from school. It must be a sign. I mean, what are the odds I’d have a close encounter with an alien the day before I ship out to the space station? The alien’s lips pucker in a perfect circle and then whip back. A snarl bubbles out of his throat. Errr. Arrr. Kleek. Kleek. Arrr. Kit. Ahhh. I’m staring at his mouth, when a mechanical voice makes me jump. “Can I help you?” I spin around in my seat, looking for its source. Kleek. Arrr. Kit. Arrr. “Yes, you. The boy who keeps staring like you’ve never seen an alien before. Can I help you?” Busted. I didn’t notice the translator box hanging around the alien’s neck. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have stared.” “It’s not a problem,” he says through the box. “I’m sure I would stare, too, if I encountered an Earthling on our home planet.” That must mean it’s okay to look. The alien is small. It’s not like I’m one of the short kids, but I’m not that big for twelve, either. And I’m a lot taller than the alien. He has a long, rodentlike snout, bristly brown hair sprouting from every patch of skin, and is wearing dark glasses that curve around on the sides. The light probably bugs him, since Tunnelers live underground. He’s wearing the standard officer’s uniform—gray jumpsuit with slanted orange lettering: EF for Earth Force. Soon I’ll be suiting up in my own Earth Force uniform. I leave for the space station in the morning. Maybe the alien will be on my flight. “Do you work at the space station?” I ask. “I do,” he says. “A group of us came down to help at the aeroport. The first batch of Bounders is shipping out to the new EarthBound Space Academy tomorrow. While I’m here, I thought I’d do some sightseeing. It’s my first trip to the planet.” He’s here to help out for the Academy? Maybe I should tell him I’m a Bounder. I’ve never told anyone in my life. I mean, my parents know. And Addy knows, of course. She’s a Bounder, too. And all the doctors and scientists who I visit every year for testing know. But I’ve never told anyone. I’m not supposed to tell anyone. Mom has seared that into my brain. She won’t care if I tell