Synopsis:
It is no secret that planet Earth is home to the notoriously greedy species known as humans. What remains a secret to these humans is the community of aliens who live hidden under invisible force fields across neighboring planets and moons. They eat eat fried butterflies for lunch, travel through interplanetary vortexes, and coexist with giant bees, solar dragons, and hairy one-hundred-legged spiders—peacefully for the most part.
Eighteen-year-old Truman Howard is not like his classmates. While they roll around in their parents’ riches and travel the globe, Truman takes care of himself, t working part time as a ski instructor and thrifting his clothes. He has no family, no friends, and a roommate who gives donkeys a bad rep.
But everything changes the day Truman meets a mysterious woman who invites him to an unforgettable place that will make him and anyone who reads his story feel like they belong. For it is there, among the stars, where Truman embarks on a remarkable voyage and finds new friends, fantastic creatures, and a dangerous destiny that’s been brewing for him for many, many moons!
Favorite Lines:
“The Sun, stubborn and strong-willed, broke through thinning clouds.”
“Hands make me, ears love me, but eyes never catch me.”
“But hey, think on the bright side. Some people can be completely heartless!”
My Opinion:
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
Mercury to the Moon is the magical first installment in J.Q. Gagliastro’s Truman’s Space Odyssey series. The story follows Truman Howard, an eccentric, kind-hearted teen raised in a prestigious boarding school in the Canadian Rockies. His life is abruptly turned upside down when a supernatural event triggers the discovery that he is not just a regular boy—he is an alien with the ability to manipulate water and emotions. Swept away from Earth and into the fantastical solar system of Aether, Truman joins other “will-gifted” teens on a dragon-backed space journey led by an eclectic team of interplanetary mentors. Blending contemporary boarding school drama with richly imaginative sci-fi fantasy, this novel is as whimsical as it is poignant.
Mercury to the Moon is an exhilarating cosmic coming-of-age story that thrives on rich world-building and emotional honesty. Truman is instantly likable—an outsider who’s endured both classism and cruelty, yet continues to treat others with patience and grace. Gagliastro brings a fresh voice to YA fantasy by pairing magical realism with real-world issues such as bullying, grief, identity, and socioeconomic disparity. The characters feel fully formed, from the acid-tongued but loyal Esmeralda to the charmingly flirtatious Vedrò, each carrying their own trauma, secrets, and strength.
The novel’s greatest achievement lies in its balance: poetic prose pairs seamlessly with interstellar action; laugh-out-loud moments are layered with deeply vulnerable revelations. Gagliastro’s descriptions sing with color and style—lavender sidewalks on Mercury, dragons with hieroglyphic scales, a boarding school dorm with aquarium beds—and the story never shies away from celebrating queer, neurodiverse, and international identities. Truman’s self-discovery is not just about powers—it’s about belonging, family, and courage.
Gagliastro also smartly structures the plot around a literal and metaphorical journey: Truman and his new cohort will travel planet to planet, learning both academic lessons and emotional truths. Readers will be delighted by the imaginative elements—like Cherry the Blossom Dragon, bleeding-heart alert systems, and invisible domes—but the heart of the story remains in the relationships formed between characters, particularly the reunion between Truman and his long-lost sister. The emotional payoff is tender, surprising, and earned.
If you’re looking for a genre-bending YA adventure that fuses high-concept space fantasy with grounded emotional arcs, Mercury to the Moon is a brilliant debut. It’s perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, The School for Good and Evil, or Heartstopper—and for anyone who has ever felt different and dreamed of a world where they finally belong.
Summary:
Overall, Mercury to the Moon is a lyrical, expansive, and deeply human fantasy adventure about identity, family, and the magic of finding your place in the universe. Gagliastro has created a richly layered world full of wonder, wit, and warmth—and this first installment leaves readers eager for Book Two. Happy reading!
Check out Mercury to the Moon here!