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The Disasters Hardcover – December 18, 2018

by M. K. England (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 371 ratings
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The Breakfast Club meets Guardians of the Galaxy in this YA sci-fi adventure by debut author M. K. England.

Hotshot pilot Nax Hall has a history of making poor life choices. So it’s not exactly a surprise when he’s kicked out of the elite Ellis Station Academy in less than twenty-four hours. But Nax’s one-way trip back to Earth is cut short when a terrorist group attacks the Academy.

Nax and three other washouts escape—barely—but they’re also the sole witnesses to the biggest crime in the history of space colonization. And the perfect scapegoats.

On the run, Nax and his fellow failures plan to pull off a dangerous heist to spread the truth. Because they may not be “Academy material,” and they may not even get along, but they’re the only ones left to step up and fight.

Full of high-stakes action, subversive humor, and underdogs becoming heroes, this YA sci-fi adventure is perfect for fans of Illuminae, Heart of Iron, or the cult classic TV show Firefly and is also a page-turning thrill ride that anyone—not just space nerds—can enjoy.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HarperTeen
  4. Publication date
    December 18, 2018
  5. Grade level
    9 - 12
  6. Reading age
    14 - 17 years
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.17 x 8.25 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    0062657674
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0062657671
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-This laugh-out-loud sci-fi, action-adventure will leave readers wanting more. Teens meet Nax as he's walking through Ellis Station, ready to leave after being washed out in under 24 hours. He meets up with a few other candidates who were also denied, and they board the shuttle that will take them back to Earth. As they all contemplate the end of their dreams, extremists enter the space station and start shooting. It's up to them to escape, come up with a plan to defeat the shooters, and try to stay alive with the skills that got them kicked out of the Academy. England's debut teen novel pulls readers into a sci-fi world well established in just a few pages. The author also captures the disenfranchised teen voice exceptionally well. The pages, filled equally with action and dialogue, will keep readers engaged for the entire book-and hoping for a next. ­VERDICT Purchase where James Howe's The Misfits is popular.-Cathleen Ash, Manor High School Library, TXα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

“This laugh-out-loud sci-fi action-adventure will leave readers wanting more.” — School Library Journal

“If humankind requires saving, then this is the crew to do it.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Much to recommend: nonstop cinematic action, strong feminist messages, and great diversity of characters.” — ALA Booklist

“An action-packed, entertaining blend of space hijinks, humor, and romance.” — Kirkus Reviews

“An explosion of edge-of-your-seat twists and high-stakes danger that leaves you glued to the page and rooting for these lovable misfits. I wanted a snarky romp across the galaxy, and M.K. England delivered with the force of a supernova.” — Ashley Poston, author of Geekerella and Heart of Iron

“A clever, cosmic thrill ride packed with nonstop action and starring a motley crew that won me over from page one. Just too much fun!” — Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

“Wildly entertaining and crackling with chemistry. Nax and his crew will crash land in your heart and leave you filled with laughter and hope.” — Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Escaping from Houdini

“A BLAST from start to finish! Absurd levels of fun, fantastic pacing, and lovable authentic characters bring this rollicking adventure to life. Looking for a book you can’t put down? Pick up The Disasters. Mission accomplished.” — Katherine Locke, author of The Girl with the Red Balloon (2018 Sydney Taylor Honor Book)

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperTeen (December 18, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062657674
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062657671
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 17 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.17 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 371 ratings

About the author

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M. K. England

M. K. England

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M. K. England grew up on the Space Coast of Florida watching shuttle launches from the backyard. These days, they call rural Virginia home, where there are many excellent sheep but a tragic lack of rockets. In between marathon writing sessions, MK can be found rolling critical hits at the gaming table, digging in the garden with a tiny human helper, or feeding their video game addiction. They probably love Star Wars more than you do.

MK is the author of eight novels for adults, teens, and kids, with more on the way. Discover more at their website, mkengland dot com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
371 global ratings
Fast-paced, Space Sci-fi that will entertain the masses!
4 Stars
Fast-paced, Space Sci-fi that will entertain the masses!
Such a fun space adventure with hotshot pilot, a diverse cast, and high stakes. Plus a mystery to solve that not only the characters lives depend on but the millions of people as well. This is a fast and fun read, and i highly recommend it even for the casual sci-fi reader! The audio is perfect and the book is physically gorgeous (my photo does not do it justice)!
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Top reviews from the United States

Rocinante
5.0 out of 5 stars That was so fun!
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2021
Verified Purchase
A ragtag band of falsely accused fugitive teenage space school rejects try to prove their innocence, uncover an evil plot, and try to save the galaxy.

The Disasters is an incredibly fun book! Told from the perspective of aspiring hotshot pilot and disaster bisexual Nasir “Nax” Hall from rural North Carolina, this fast-paced book is full of irreverent humor, almost nonstop action, cool
spaceships, LGBTQ+ representation, POC representation (I don’t think any of the 5 main characters are white), an ensemble cast with a nice gender mix (3 girls and 2 boys including one trans character), and there are no lulls or boring parts. It reminded me of Firefly or The Expanse, but for teens. The main characters are all teenagers but I think this book would totally be enjoyable for any adult that loves action-packed sci-fi (that would be me). There’s an eensy bit of a romance element but it doesn’t take over the story, the book is focused mostly on the plot. One thing I really enjoyed was that the main characters are really trying to do the right thing and not hurt anyone or cause collateral damage as much as possible. All the weapons they use are non-lethal.

I listened to the audiobook and was very impressed with the narrator. It’s the same narrator—James Fouhey—that narrates The Darkness Outside Us which is another fantastic YA sci-fi book I recently listened to and loved. I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye out for more books narrated by him.
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Jonathan E Wasik
4.0 out of 5 stars A solid YA Sci-Fi Worth a Read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2022
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The Disasters delivers on its promises from the very get go, and never lets up. It's a solid entry in the YA Sci-Fi domain, and hits all of the marks you might come to expect, and more. It's an adventure story that focuses on the characters, their interactions (and attractions,) and their struggles as they're thrown into a situation that no one that young should ever have to go through.

There are several unique things about this book that really sold it for me and made it a far more enjoyable read than the 'standard fare.' One is that the protagonist, Nax, suffers severe anxiety and perhaps even an early form of PTSD. In fact, this may be the character's single biggest struggle, as it hampers or even debilitates him now and again, and only by pushing past or overcoming it can he stand a chance at leading his crew to victory.

Another enjoyable aspect is representation, both of LGBTQ+ and of 'non-typical' religion. It portrays colonization life as a true blending of culture and religion - it isn't just one, it's many cultures and religions, living their lives without killing each other. Definitely a more hopeful look at the future akin to Star Trek, and a nice break from the now-typical dystopian YA Sci-Fi fare.

I also thought the antagonists were an interesting look at what we could see in our future - in true Sci-Fi style, they could be seen to represent some of the extremist or ultranational fringe groups today.

Perhaps my only real critique was that the climax was not resolved in an entirely satisfactory way. It wasn't anticlimactic per-se, but it wasn't the big bang I'd have expected from this novel. How it was resolved also crossed the realm from 'believable sci-fi' to 'unrealistic use of something that is a known science in real life' and that had a negative impact on the suspension of disbelief.

All in all, the story, the characters, and the writing are solid. My biggest wish now is that we get to see another book with these intriguing characters!
One person found this helpful
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Cadet Space Roxx
5.0 out of 5 stars Bought it for the space adventure, but got soooo much more
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
Originally stumbled across this book as a facebook recommended event for the author's book signing in my hometown(sadly couldn't make it). A huge fan of all things space, the cover caught my eye. Figured if I didn't get into the book it would at least look nice on my bookshelf, but I got hooked immediately.

The story was exciting and the writing exhilarating; I found my heart racing with the characters' as they tucked and rolled through hallways and soared through space. (If you really want an in-depth experience, I highly recommend reading during a flight; with some turbulence, definitely not for the faint of heart.)

When I originally looked into the book I basically read "exciting space adventure!" and immediately pre ordered it; that's all I needed to give it a shot. I definitely did not expect such diverse characters with creative/unique backgrounds; it was a pleasant surprise and like a nice breath of fresh air.

I was personally never bored while reading this and there were no slow points for me. There were times I just had to read 3-4 chapters in a sitting because it was too good to put down. But also calming, weighted moments to breathe and chapters ending on subtle cliffhangers where I could allow myself to close the book and finally go to bed.

I think anyone, at any age, who loves space or just adventure would enjoy reading this book. And England's amazingly descriptive writing style allowed me to see the character's reactions, feel their emotions and, most amazingly to me, experience a world I've never seen or imagined before.

I usually finish a book like this wishing I could actually see what the characters and the worlds they're exploring look like (the reason I usually prefer games and movies), but as I closed the book, I felt as though I had experienced it all myself right along side them.

Looking forward to more work from M.K. England in the future.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Laura Machado
4.0 out of 5 stars Ação do começo ao fim!
Reviewed in Brazil on June 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
Não posso dizer que não tinha altas expectativas para esse livro, já que fiquei interessada nele depois de ver a autora Mackenzi Lee, uma das minhas favoritas, recomendando até com uma frase sua na capa. Esperava que fosse diversificado, queer, divertido, cheio de ação no espaço e uma boa mistura de momentos tensos e comentários engraçados. E tem absolutamente tudo isso, ainda mais um ship lindo que merecia mais espaço. Se é isso que você está esperando, pode ler sem medo. Tenho minhas críticas, mas nenhuma consegue me fazer olhar para o livro com menos carinho.

Antes de mais nada, tenho que falar que a diversidade do livro é seu ponto alto. Não tem nenhum personagem branco e simples aqui - e, é claro, não faz a menor falta. Pelo contrário, M. K. England provou que não existe motivo para todos os outros autores do mundo não terem também "elencos" diversificados. Tudo bem que depende também da ambientação do livro, mas eu não esperava menos de um que se passa no futuro. De todos, Nax, o protagonista narrador, é meu favorito, mas confesso que a escolha não é muito fácil. Todos são incríveis!

Além disso, a criação do universo dela (literalmente, né) foi maravilhosa! Super consegui imaginar os outros planetas, muitas vezes me senti em uma nave espacial, e isso é bem esquisito e necessário em um livro como esse!

A última coisa que eu vou enaltecer é o ritmo do enredo, cheio de ação do começo ao fim, que nem te deixa respirar direito. Poderia também enaltecer meu ship incrível, mas acho que a autora deixou a desejar aqui, já que ele teve pouquíssimo espaço.

E é aí que está o verdadeiro problema do livro, o que me fez diminuir minha nota. Amo livros de ação, é sempre legal quando você lê cada página mega curioso e animado para o que vai acontecer. Mas a autora correu em lugares que não precisava. O livro tem menos de 400 páginas, mas devia ter mais. Ela devia ter passado pelo menos um pouco mais de tempo fortalecendo as conexões interpessoais. Uma ou duas cenas entre Nax e cada personagem não foi o suficiente. E meu ship definitivamente precisava de mais tempo e espaço no livro.

Também acho que ela cortou a história rápido demais. Precisava de mais umas trinta páginas, no mínimo, para estabelecer o final. Não sei por que autores acham que, depois do grande problema resolvido, só precisam de uma cena rápida e pronto. Parece que a história não está fechada, nem um pouco, aliás. Claro que eu aceitaria um livro sequência, mas ainda queria que esse tivesse sido fechado com mais calma e com mais detalhes. Foi um pouco corrido demais.

Outra coisa que me fez tirar nota foi a narrativa nas horas mais emotivas. A escrita da autora não deixou a desejar nas outras partes, mas ela não pareceu muito confortável na hora de descrever momentos mais íntimos e cheios de sentimentos. Isso aconteceu só umas três vezes rápidas no livro, então não chegou a atrapalhar mesmo, mas acho que poderia ter sido melhor.

Minha última crítica é minúscula, tá? O livro chama The Disasters e tenho que admitir que os personagens são incríveis demais para encaixar nessa definição. Esperava mais desastres mesmo, pessoas mais inadequadas, que errassem mais, mas só o Nax se encaixa de verdade nessa definição (não que isso signifique que ele não é incrível).

Agora esqueça-se das minhas críticas, porque a única coisa que importa é que esse livro é super divertido e merece ser lido! Você não vai se arrepender! E essa tripulação espacial definitivamente merecia pelo menos uma duologia!
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Kevin Craig
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2018
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I loved this book! From the heart-stopping chapter cliffhangers to the brother relationship between Nax and Malik to the sweet relationship between Nax and Rion to the awesomeness of the heroines... Case, Zee and Asra! The Swift Kick team is Kick Ass! I forgot how exciting and fulfilling this genre could be. Great read!
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Ella
5.0 out of 5 stars Heist excellence
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 3, 2020
Verified Purchase
Misfit squads in space being hunted by literally everyone is one of the tropes that makes me instantly want to read a book, though I have mostly learned this from Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman books previously I can be sure of it now (See also: The Lunar Chronicles and Once & Future). I loved the characters in this and the group dynamics going on aboard The Swift Kick and I like the way it was kind of open ended - leaving the possibility of a sequel in the future.
The Disasters was pitched as The Breakfast Club meets Guardians of the Galaxy and honestly this was another point in its favour when I considered buying it. Now, having finished reading I can totally see the likeness.
Plus there were heists in this book, heists.
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Entre Les Livres
5.0 out of 5 stars One-shot SF rempli d'action, humour et diversité avec des persos hors du commun
Reviewed in France on January 4, 2019
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Nax Hall est un raté. La dernière preuve en date : il vient de se faire rejeter de l'Académie; où il était censé réaliser son rêve de devenir pilote et enfin rendre ses parents fiers. Il est résigné à retourner élever des chèvres sur Terre, lorsque la station de l'Académie qu'il s'apprête à quitter est prise d'assaut par des agresseurs non identifiés. Avec les trois autres rejetés, Nax vole un vaisseau et se donne pour mission d'empêcher ces envahisseurs de mener à bien leur plan. Nax, Rion, Case et Zee tiennent-ils enfin l'occasion de faire leurs preuves ?

[Livre lu en VO]

Ce livre m'a conquise dès la lecture de la quatrième de couverture : une sorte de Gardiens de la Galaxie ado avec des personnages LGBT ? Je dis oui ! Et mon flair ne m'a pas failli puisque The Disasters s'est bel et bien révélé être un coup de cœur.

D'abord, il faut savoir que The Disasters est un one-shot : cela veut dire qu'en 350 pages, l'auteure a fait rentrer ce qu'un autre aurait pu faire en une trilogie entière. Par conséquent, ce sont donc 350 pages remplies d'action, avec un scénario qui démarre sur les chapeaux de roues et ne laisse aucun répit, ni aux personnages ni aux lecteurs. Autre conséquence un peu moins positif, c'est qu'évidemment l'intrigue ne peut pas être très développée ou complexe façon Game of Thrones. Elle est simple et pas des plus originales, mais reste très bonne et bien intégrée à l'action.

La force du roman se trouve également dans ses personnages, et plus particulièrement son narrateur à la première personne, Nax Hall. Gros coup de cœur pour ce jeune homme qui a, comme tout le reste du petit groupe de désastres sur pattes, vraiment beaucoup d'humour et de personnalité. Grâce à son point de vue, la lecture est à la fois fluide, amusante et mémorable. Nax, Rion, Case, Zee et Asra sont tous les cinq pleins de force, de charisme et d'humour, chacun à leur façon, tout en restant réalistes. On peut donc facilement s'identifier à eux et s'y attacher, malgré la brièveté de l'histoire.

A noter que The Disasters possède également l'une des meilleures représentations LGBT et de couleur que j'ai jamais vue ; il comporte en effet des personnages métis, arabes, noirs, latinos, musulmans, gays, bisexuels et transgenres. Tout ce beau monde se mélange et s'intègre à l'action sans problème, preuve que mettre ne serait-ce qu'un peu de diversité dans son roman n'est pas si difficile.

En conclusion, The Disasters est un livre à lire absolument pour tout bon fan de science-fiction young adult. Il s'agit d'un one-shot rempli d'aventure, d'action, d'humour et de diversité, accompagné de personnages hors du commun qui restent dans les cœurs et les mémoires des lecteurs bien après qu'ils aient refermés le livre. Je le conseille chaudement aux fans d'Illuminae !
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Elijah
4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun read
Reviewed in Germany on December 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
3.5 Star read

The book was certainly fun. Action packed and diverse.
I really liked the protagonist, who's clearly walking the line between "I am God!" And "I am worthless trash" constantly which ... Relatable man.
I really liked the characters as well as the story though sometimes things fell into place for them a little easily.
I'd love to see more of them in the future nevertheless. Would recommend ^^
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