Key Selling Points

• A nonbinary teen faces their fear of space when they have to rescue the crew of a spaceship.
• The story explores themes of friendship, facing fears and doing the right thing.
• Though the main character’s gender identity is incidental to the storyline, this is an #OwnVoices story from an author with lived experience, featuring a nonbinary protagonist who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks.
• This is Tash McAdam’s fourth hi-lo title. Their Orca Soundings book Blood Sport received a starred review from School Library Journal and was a Junior Library Guild selection.
• Enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers.

Tash McAdam is a Welsh Canadian author of several books for young people, including Blood Sport in the Orca Soundings line and The Psionics series (Nine Star Press). Tash identifies as trans and queer and uses the neutral pronoun they. They teach high school English and computer science and have a couple of black belts in karate. They live in Vancouver.

Tash McAdam's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Commended, Core Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction - Hal Clement Notable Young Adult Books List

“An ode to friendship, this action-packed book is great for reluctant readers and those who are curious about science fiction. Airlock is a great #OwnVoices addition to collections. Recommended”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

★“Immersive from the get-go, this novel is a quick-paced gem. The story is action-packed, with a plot that is always moving forward but still offers plenty of room for heart-fluttering moments between the protagonists...Engrossing and thrilling—this reluctant reader title should not be missed.”

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“First-person narrator Brick is well fleshed out and the action is consistently brisk...With a relatable and compelling sci-fi/dystopian narrative, this should be an easy pitch for middle or high school reluctant readers.”

School Library Journal