Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book; opinions shared are mine.

Back in “the old days” when I was a kid, going to space camp was the single coolest thing someone could do.  In the 1980s, the thought of floating around with zero gravity, eating freeze-dried astronaut food, and working with computers…it was beyond amazing!  The Final Six made me look at this experience in an entirely different light.   Check out some of my favorite quotes!

This statement from Naomi’s mother just broke me.  In The Final Six, Earth is dying.  A select group of teens are chosen as candidates for a space mission in a desperate attempt to save humanity.  When Naomi was selected, her mother was devastated yet so relieved that her daughter had the chance to be saved.  As a mom, I completely understood this tremendous desire to know that your child will have a chance for survival.  My daughter, who was dangerously close to being born at 32 weeks gestation, is my miracle baby.  I would have done anything to save her!

Our protagonist, Leo, was the sole survivor from his family.  Understandably, his grief sometimes made him wish he would have died with them.  He was such a sensitive guy, and my heart reached out to him as he kept seeing signs that he should try to survive.

Likewise, Naomi kept needing reassurance about her situation. Can you blame her?  What I liked most about Naomi was her intelligence.  She was definitely a star on the team!

There’s always that one guy we love to hate.  In this case, it’s Beckett.   When my kids say, “I was just….” doing anything, I brace myself for an excuse.  You’ve gotta know that Beckett is a bit of a turd, but it wouldn’t be a story without him.

Without a doubt, say YES to The Final Six.  It’s a wild ride, and you don’t even need to pay for space camp!

GIVEAWAY Prize: 2 signed copies of THE FINAL SIX by Alexandra Monir

US Only Starts: 2/25   Ends: 3/14

The Final Six

by Alexandra Monir

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

When Leo, an Italian championship swimmer, and Naomi, a science genius from California, are two of the twenty-four teens drafted into the International Space Training Camp, their lives are forever altered. After erratic climate change has made Earth a dangerous place to live, the fate of the population rests on the shoulders of the final six who will be scouting a new planet. Intense training, global scrutiny, and cutthroat opponents are only a few of the hurdles the contestants must endure in this competition.

For Leo, the prospect of traveling to Europa—Jupiter’s moon—to help resettle humankind is just the sense of purpose he’s been yearning for since losing his entire family in the flooding of Rome. Naomi, after learning of a similar space mission that mysteriously failed, suspects the ISTC isn’t being up front with them about what’s at risk.

As the race to the final six advances, the tests get more challenging—even deadly. With pressure mounting, Naomi finds an unexpected friend in Leo, and the two grow closer with each mind-boggling experience they encounter. But it’s only when the finalists become fewer and their destinies grow nearer that the two can fathom the full weight of everything at stake: the world, the stars, and their lives.

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Iranian-American author and recording artist Alexandra Monir has published five novels for young adults, including her popular debut, Timeless. A Barnes & Noble bestseller and one of Amazon’s “Best Books of the Month,” Timeless and its sequel, Timekeeper, have been featured in numerous media outlets and been published in different countries around the world. She followed the duology with Suspicion and The Girl in the Picture, both standalone YA thrillers. Her upcoming science fiction novel, THE FINAL SIX (March 6, 2018) was acquired by HarperCollins and Sony Pictures on the same week, in two major pre-emptive deals.

Alexandra is also a singer/songwriter who often integrates music into her books’ pages. She wrote and recorded three original songs to accompany Timeless and Timekeeper, which were released as the album The Timeless EP and distributed by Jimmy Buffett’s record label, Mailboat Records. She also recorded a song that was released with the publication of Suspicion, and is composing a stage musical geared toward Broadway. Her musical roots are deep, as she is the granddaughter of the late Monir Vakili, the foremost Iranian opera singer.

Alexandra Monir is a frequent speaker at middle schools and high schools across the country and at major events including fan conventions, women’s leadership conferences, and book festivals. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and newborn son. To learn more about Alexandra, visit her online at www.alexandramonir.com.

Thanks to Fantastic Flying Book Club for including me in this tour.