While on a field trip to NASA's Gwen Research Center, 5 marching band members get transported to a parallel dimension.. Dev Khatri is an Indian American saxophonist and a physicist’s son. Lewis Wynner is an olive-skinned, prankster drummer. Tessa Hawthorne-Scott is a black, fashion-conscious daughter of a mayor and is masquerading as her clarinet-playing identical twin sister, Zoey. Isaiah Yoon is an anxious, gray-eyed, Asian who plays the trumpet. Maeve Green is a dramatic white oboist. Soon they find themselves on Station Liminus, a waypoint between different worlds. There, they learn that the Earth is destined for destruction in 30 days. To save Earth, the 5 kids must convince the Multiverse Allie Council not to destroy their home. They'll have to deal with hostile aliens, intergalactic transport malfunctioning, and unfamiliar customs. Will they succeed? The plot is well-developed and action-packed. The characters are realistic and memorable. Character dynamics are easy to believe and the world-building is well done. Fans of science fiction, adventure, and action will want to pick this one up.

Lots to love in this middle grades sci-fi novel. It is well written & unique. I will be recommending it to kids ages 10+

This was such a funny, lovely, middle grade story!! The cover is adorable and the story made me smile so many times!!

This is a really cool book; the settings of the NASA on earth and the multidimensional meeting point are such great Sci-Fi settings. There’s a great balance between the classic Sci-Fi elements and having a fresh voice and story. Seeing the different dimensions life forms was also so interesting particularly seeing how some where more similar and some where drastically different. The characters were well written and I enjoyed seeing how the main characters used their marching band background to help them work together. The marching band bonds also brought some interesting back story and conflict to the book. It is a really fun and compelling story with a great cliff hanger ending that left me wanting more.

For readers who loved The Countdown Conspiracy, this is a no-brainer. It is fast-paced, funny, and clearly requires a sequel. I love a good Sci-Fi adventure. Oh, and bonus points for the diverse cast.

Solid character development, fun adventures, and a nicely cohesive universe. Unfortunately, the plot dragged in places and the whole thing ended without resolution. Still, I will likely read the sequel, if/when it gets written.

Reviewed via ebook provided through NetGalley

First sentence: Dev Khatri's rules for surviving middle school were pretty simple: Don't speak up. Don't act out. Don't get your butt kicked.

Premise/plot: Mission Multiverse is a middle grade science fiction novel. There are a handful of young heroes and heroines--classmates, band mates--who, for better or worse--find themselves separated from their classmates during a tour of NASA on a school field trip. They stumble into a frightening, out-of-this-world experience and they might just be the key to saving earth (or Dimension 14 as its called).

Dev, Lewis, Tessa, Maeve, and Isaiah--these are our main (human) characters.

My thoughts: Mission Multiverse is a premise-driven middle grade novel. The premise being multiverses, parallel universes, multi-dimensions, aliens, etc. For those readers that enjoy science fiction and action, this one offers plenty. It feels very much like a first in the series book as opposed to a stand alone novel. If this is all we ever get, then there is no resolution. (Surely it's the start of a new series.)

Earth is in great danger--just thirty days away from THE END. Can these five representatives save Earth? Can they uncover the plots and schemes of the VILLAIN who's out to destroy Earth?

There is some world-building. We're not given a clear date--but I'm assuming that if Earth is THIS Earth, it's far in the future. If it's an alternate universe Earth--one of the author's imagination--then the dating doesn't truly matter. But things work differently on this Earth--for better or worse.

This does have a problem-novel feel to it as well. I think one of the agendas is climate change and the environment