Without A Star

The country is on the verge of the first mission to space. Unsatisfied being only an observer, Milo West seeks his own way to escape. With the help of his new friend, Halley, they build a rocket ship out of a rusted car in the woods. Their dream is to fly away and discover new worlds far from the worries and pressures of home. To their dismay, they realize adventures aren't as fun as they imagined. In another part of the world, an old explorer has been chasing a mysterious light in the sky. Traveling through strange lands and encountering various perils, his journey becomes intertwined with the young adventurers. Together, they brave wild landscapes full of erratic weather, deadly creatures, and hostile peoples, searching for answers and meaning in the ever surprising world. Without A Star is a coming of age adventure inspired by the Little Prince, Wizard of Oz, and Studio Ghibli movies. It takes place on an impossible planet that has multiple suns and moons and other celestial bodies orbiting around it. Due to the erratic nature of the world, very little about it is known. At the beginning of the novel, the area where Milo lives is just beginning its space program. As an outsider, he longs to explore and find somewhere new where he can belong.