The Incredible Origins of the Onyx Sun-Christopher Mahoney

The Incredible Origins of the Onyx Sun
Christopher Mahoney
Pariah Publishing, Mar 11 2009, $19.99
ISBN: 0979520258

Zack Goodspeed is the “normal’ American boy. He is a normal ten year old living with Mr. and Mrs. Normal Parents in a normal suburb. Everything about Zack is simply normal. That is except for his grandfather Fyodor, who, is simply is not normal.

Zack’s normal life began to change two years ago due to his abnormal grandfather and an airplane wing in the garbage can, but it is this summer that he turns abnormal. Fyodor’s big moment was back in the fourth grade at a school science fair when his entry, a small rock, turned out to be the greatest energy source ever created, the Onyx Sun.

Zack discovers his grandfather’s discovery and uses it to fuel a rocket ship. He flies to the moon, drives giant robots like his parents drive cars, and befriends Max the girl. However, his delightful adventures into abnormality need to be placed on hold as Dr. Machval plans to harness the power of the Onyx Sun to destroy the earth; only Zack and his new friends stand in the way of the planet’s extinction, but earth’s champion failed just before his moon flight to stand up to neighborhood bullies who took his baseball from him.

This is an excellent middle school science fiction thriller starring an intriguing tweener hero who only has to save the world. The story line is action-packed and filled with twists including friendly encouragement at the end to change the text on line. Zack is terrific role model as he and his grandfather encourage students to be all they can be, not to fear math or science as each can be a fun puzzling adventure, and its great to be eccentrically “not normal”. Young adults will enjoy flying in space to the moon, riding giant robots and saving the earth alongside of Zack and his friends.