Rust Bucket

Thirteen-year-old Jackson Abernathy knows there are two things you need to survive in space: a solid ship and a good crew.

Okay, so he and his crew are a bunch of misfit orphans who scavenge wrecks around the asteroid belt to make ends meet. And sure, the ship’s making noises it’s not supposed to make, but every home has its quirks, right? All in all they’re doing just fine, thank you very much. That is, until their latest salvage operation goes explosively awry.

Desperate for money to repair their ship, Jackson begrudgingly agrees to make a delivery for the most wanted pirate in the entire solar system, otherwise known as his older brother. To no one’s surprise, the job quickly goes sideways, embroiling them in a conspiracy of extraterrestrial proportions.

Pursued by pirates, hunted by the solar navy, Jackson and his crew blast off to the darkest depths of the asteroid belt, searching for answers that will set them on a collision course with a galactic destiny far beyond any of their wildest imaginings.

Assuming, of course, their ship doesn’t fall apart before they get there.