Recommended Ages 8+ Years
From the right side of Nelson's Star Fighter there was an eruption of cannon fire. A Tourian War vessel had him in its sights. A dozen rounds hit the fuel tanks on Nelson's left wing and smoke started to come from the engine. Joe Devlin has started his first year at the Space Academy and nothing has gone his way. His father's heroics in the Tri-Sun War are legendary and Joe has plans to follow in his father's footsteps to be a Star Fighter. While his father is deployed to the war, can Joe measure up to the task at hand? With the town in smoke, Joe better find out if he can fix what he messed up before his father discovers his secret. Reading Level - Ages 8+
Author Biography:
Author James R. Thomas takes young readers into the world of space travel, teaches them the importance of conservation, and tackles the topic of helping children cope when a parent is deployed in the military. Many of his stories were inspired by his military service and the challenges his own family faced with his deployments. The author also brings his love of science fiction to life and teaches children to be socially conscious about our planet.
In his books, James addresses a variety of life issues for young readers. His goal is to help children build an awareness of the world around them and to empower them to reach for the stars. Through his character, Joe Devlin, children can explore space travel of the future in the intergalactic world of the Space Academy series. This series was inspired by the author's deployment to Afghanistan, during which he had promised to write a story for his son, whom the character, Joe Devlin, was based upon.
James's conservation series teaches children the importance of keeping our planet healthy and safe while showing them that every single person, including the reader, can make an impact on the planet, good or bad. In addition, James has published two stand-alone books. One covers the importance of telling the truth and the other teaches children about allergies. To round out his versatility as an author, James tapped into his own life experiences and crafted a series to help younger children cope with the deployment of a loved one.
James also has expanded internationally, with his books now published in French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. To round out his versatility as an author, James tapped into his own life experiences as a United States Naval Commander, Naval Pilot, and prior Marine and crafted a series to help younger children cope with the deployment of a loved one.
James is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering, and he holds an advanced degree in business administration. He is married with a son and a daughter and resides in Chesapeake, Virginia. When he is not writing, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing guitar, and flying.
