Tin Star, Book 1 Book Poster Image

Tin Star, Book 1

age 12+
(i)

 

Nuanced, exciting sci-fi tale of survival on space station.
Buy
Write a review

What parents need to know

Educational value

Although set on a space station occupied by various aliens. Tin Star strives for realism. Faster-than-light travel is acknowledged and allowed for the sake of the plot. The alien species are distinct but within the realm of plausibility.

Positive messages

Tin Star emphasizes that honesty and empathy are important for survival, and that the urge for instant vengeance can be destructive.

Positive role models

At the start of Tin Star, 16-year-old Tula Bane dreams only of getting off the space station where she's stranded and then exacting vengeance on the Imperium official who's wronged her. She survives through her bravery and resourcefulness, but by the end of the book, she's able to see her predicament from a different, perhaps healthier, perspective.

Violence

Scenes in Tin Star contain violence but aren't overly graphic. The novel opens with Tula Bane being beaten and left for dead, and as the story goes on, some of her friends and family are killed "off stage." Tula and another human face off in a duel, but the results aren't fatal. Tula is stabbed at one point, and two other characters are shot to death.

Sex

Tin Star doesn't have much sexual content. Tula's attracted to a human teen named Reza; their romance seems to involve mostly hugging and kissing. She also shares a passionate kiss with a female character, who's trying to manipulate her. 

Language
Not applicable
Consumerism

There's no consumerism-related content in Tin Star.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

To escape the space station, two of Tula's friends take an alien poison whose effects mimic death.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Cecil Castellucci's Tin Star is an exciting, well-written coming-of-age science fiction novel set on a space station that's home to a wide mix of aliens. It features a compelling, complex female protagonist, as well as an intriguing supporting cast. There's some violence, including beatings and fatal shootings, but the scenes aren't graphic. There's no strong language, and drug use is confined to knockout poison used in an escape attempt. Minimal sexual content consists mostly of hugging and kissing (including a passionate embrace shared by two young women).

What's the story?

Left for dead by a charismatic colonial leader, 16-year-old Tula Bane swears she'll find a way to get off the remote space station and exact vengeance. First, however, she has to find a way to survive as the only human among a confusing mix of aliens. Thanks to the local constable and a shady trader, she's able to build a rough-and-tumble life for herself. But the arrival of three other humans threatens to upset all of Tula's plans.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

TIN STAR is a solid, exciting science fiction story with an interesting cast of characters and an intriguing female protagonist, Tula Bane. Although there's plenty of action, the nuanced plot also pays attention to the politics of Tula's plight. Some readers might be reminded of the classic film Casablanca in the way author Cecil Castellucci spins out intrigue in a closed-off environment. Although the novel resolves satisfyingly, there's room for further exploration of this milieu and of Tula's quest for justice.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can discuss why people choose to emigrate. What situations might force families to move to another country?

  • What makes outer-space adventures so popular? What's intriguing about living on a space station? How does this space story compare with others you've read or seen in movies? 

  • How can you develop trust with someone whose background is very different from your own?

Book details

Author:Cecil Castellucci
Genre:Science Fiction
Topics:Adventures, Friendship, Great girl role models, Misfits and underdogs, Space and aliens
Book type:Fiction
Publisher:Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:February 25, 2014
Number of pages:240
Publisher's recommended age(s):12 - 17
Available on:Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle

This review of Tin Star, Book 1 was written by

Michael Berry
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are conducted by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

About these links

Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes when you use our links to make a purchase. Thank you for your support.

Read more

About Our Rating System

The age displayed for each title is the minimum one for which it's developmentally appropriate. We recently updated all of our reviews to show only this age, rather than the multi-color "slider." Get more information about our ratings.

Great handpicked alternatives

  • A Confusion of Princes
    Exciting space adventure morphs into clever coming-of-ager.
    age 13+
  • Ender's Game
    Boy genius trains to crush alien invasion in sci-fi classic.
    age 12+
  • A Wrinkle in Time
    Classic sci-fi story still inspires and gets kids thinking.
    age 9+

For kids who love science fiction

Science Fiction Books
Science Fiction TV
See all recommended book lists

Browse more books

Top advice and articles

What parents and kids say

See all user reviews

Share your thoughts with other parents and kids Write a user review

A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

See all user reviews

Poll

Did our review help you make an informed decision about this product?