Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
This is the third book in the trilogy that began with Airborn. Matt Kruse who aspires to captain a hydrium powered airship finds himself invited to train to become one of the first astralnauts. His aristocratic girlfriend, Kate, is invited aboard the first space mission as a scientific expert on high-altitude life. Matt and Kate must keep their relationship a secret in tight quarters as Kate’s parents would not approve the match. This becomes the least of their worries when the cable tethering the ship to its satellite is attacked by alien life.
The book begins with Matt’s daring high altitude foiling of a terrorist bombing and the action does not let up from there. Between terrorist threats against the space mission and inhospitable aliens, the danger never stops. Matt and Kate’s romance also comes under threat when she must agree to become engaged to another man in order to be allowed on the space mission by her parents.
This is a swashbuckling, high-action romance with wide appeal. Despite the knucklebiting danger, Oppel takes time for humor too. I loved the monkey taken on the space flight who learns he can propel himself with monkey farts in zero gravity. I listened to Airborn, the first of the series, as an audiobook and think it makes a great listen for family road trips. It is better to begin at the beginning and enjoy all three books, though this could stand alone. 390p., 2009.