Starship Malaysia by Keith Costelloe is an exceptional young adult novel that offers a riveting combination of adventure, sports, travel, love, and friendship. The protagonist, Scott Mitchell, is a teenager who struggles with anger issues after his parent’s separation. His life takes a dramatic turn after his father’s sudden death and his subsequent relocation to Malaysia, where he faces the challenge of adjusting to a new culture. He soon forms a team with a group of volleyball players who become more like brothers to him. Scott wishes to be a reporter and takes daily reports on his pressman to communicate with his best friend, Waz, in Palo Alto. Join Scott and his friends as they tackle human trafficking in their own way, despite their age.  

The novel offers a realistic portrayal of teenage life as Scott and his friends navigate the challenges of growing up, making new friends, and dealing with school. However, the novel also tackles more serious themes such as human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and child abuse. Through the boys’ heroic acts to combat these issues, readers are enlightened on the atrocities women face in countries with fewer rights and the dangers of trafficking. The author’s writing style is engaging, and the characters are well-developed, making them relatable and fun to read about. Scott, in particular, is an intelligent and daring person. I loved his sense of loyalty and courage in the face of difficult situations times. I commend the author for using this book as a medium for enlightening readers about human trafficking, which is a global menace that needs to be tackled.

Starship Malaysia is an informative and entertaining young adult novel. Sometimes I couldn’t help but laugh at the boys’ banter, and other times I was hooked on the suspense, thinking of what would happen to them next. I recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and YA novels.

Pages: 255 | ASIN : B0BTJ8H5JC