172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad

172 Hours on the moon is an eerie, fast-past YA Sci-Fi thriller that definitely stands out among the rest of it's genre.

This book takes place when NASA creates a mission to the moon with a twist. A lottery gives the opportunity to three teens to visit the moon along with five of the world's leading astronauts. The novel follows the teens' journey from entering the competition to their adventure on the moon.

The character development in this novel is well executed and thoroughly detailed. Each character is individualised. They are well fleshed out and posses absolute clarity. The reader feels attached to them and is routing for their safety throughout the entire duration of the novel.

The writing style is very simplistic. I usually find that when a book is written in a writing style as simplistic as this novel, the reader often feels detached from the characters and plot. However, I felt that this did not occur in this novel and, in fact, aided and increased the readers connection to both the characters and plot as it emphasised greater moments in the plot and increased their impact.

The plot of this book was detailed and meticulously planned. The overall concept was both fascinating and captivating. The plot focused on the thriller aspect more than the sci-fi. However, there were also survival themes prominent throughout the novel.

Overall, I particularly enjoyed reading 172 Hours on the Moon and would recommend it to any YA reader, especially those looking for a thriller with prominent sci-fi themes.

Overall: 4.5/5 stars

Review by Jess