Will you be watching out for the International Space Station as it arcs across our skies this week? Will you be snuggling up in front of your favourite space movies, following brave astronauts in the middle of dramatic situations or will you be settling down with a good book about aliens, rockets and fictional new planets?
In this very special week of space, I’d like to share with you the first chapter of my children’s space trilogy, May’s Moon, a book for 7-12 year olds, in which Michael May dreams of becoming the first child astronaut.
Michael May is wearing a space suit, standing on the edge of the world’s largest pool, about to find out what it’s like to be weightless.
Beating thousands of others, the geeky boy they call ‘Micky Moon’ at home, is one of ten children from around the world accepted onto the ‘Children’s Moon Program’ in Florida. If he can survive the g-force of a space shuttle launch, overcome his secret fear of water and pass the other battery of tests, he could win a place on the next mission to the moon!
When he discovers sabotage in the group, thirteen-year-old Michael has to decide how desperate he is to win! Some of the others seem willing to do almost anything. Is he? He’s nothing special here and only the final three will go on to a two-year astronaut-training programme, to decide who gets to go to the moon.
Listen to me read the first chapter of May’s Moon to find out if he has what it takes and to learn about real astronaut training.
