Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret (Book 1): The Nebula Secret

By Trudi Trueit

Adventure, danger, and a thrilling global mission await 12-year-old Cruz Coronado as he joins an elite school for explorers.

Cruz leaves his tranquil home in Hawaii to join 23 talented kids from around the globe to train at the Explorer Academy with the world's leading scientists to become the next generation of great explorers. But for Cruz, there's more at stake. No sooner has he arrived at the Academy than he discovers that his family has a mysterious past with the organization that could jeopardize his future. In the midst of codebreaking and cool classes, new friends and augmented reality expeditions, Cruz must tackle the biggest question of all: Who is out to get him, and why?

Readers can get in on the excitement with puzzles and codes embedded throughout.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781426331619

Trudi Trueit

Trudi Trueit knew she’d found her life’s passion after writing (and directing) her first play in fourth grade. Since then, she’s been a newspaper journalist, television news reporter and anchor, media specialist, freelance writer, and is now a children’s book author. She has published more than forty fiction and nonfiction titles for young readers and lives near Seattle, Washington.

Reviews for Explorer Academy

[al9g · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Disclaimer: I am not the target demographic for this book. This book is written for teens and youth, but a couple of my Scouts were talking about it so I decided to check it out. While the plot is somewhat predictable in places, there are also a few twists to surprise. The characters, while not as complex as what I am used to, were well done and Trueit's writing style is very readable. This was a fun read and I will likely read the sequel.

[jennynau10 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is Nat Geo's first fictional middle-grade book. It wasn't a hit here- but it was full of beautiful illustrations and plenty of science.

[eurekas_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I appreciate that the author makes real science and real places exciting. The diversity in the characters is also a plus. Also, the illustrations and the lay-out of this book is one of the best I have ever seen. In the back of the book is a appendix called All the Truth Behind the Fiction. This is exceptional, again I have never seen it in any other fiction book for children.