Zara Cole is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by a race of sentient alien ships, to explore the outer reaches of the universe, and begins to feel at home for the first time aboard Nadim, her assigned alien ship. - (Baker & Taylor)

Meet your new favorite kickass heroine in this daring YA series by New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre, a thrilling yet romantic futuristic adventure perfect for fans of Claudia Gray’s A Thousand Pieces of You.

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.

Zara Cole has been in and out of New Detroit’s rehab facilities for treatment of her antisocial behavior. There’s no adjusting Zara’s attitude, though. A painful past has made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in the Zone instead of moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead, Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned to along with fellow Honor Beatriz, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time, along with a devotion she’s never experienced before. Yet nothing—not her Honors training or her street smarts—could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.

Honor Among Thieves is the first book in a daring new series by bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre.

Booklist Reviews

Eighteen-year-old, dark-skinned, petty thief Zara Cole inadvertently steals from a major crime boss not known for forgiveness, but, luckily, fate steps in, and she is chosen to be an Honor in the interspecies exchange program between humans and Leviathans. These sentient creature-ships host humans for a year-long space tour with the option of extending indefinitely. Mystery shrouds this program, and as inquisitive Zara, co-Honor Beatriz (a Rio-born musician), and the Leviathan Nadim travel together, its dark side is revealed. Caine and Aguirre create a fresh and fascinating story of interspecies bonding, the power of music, and the effects of trauma on good creatures. A few culturally specific references seem forced, but the bond between the humans and alien is delicately built and inspiring. Nadim (the ship) and Zara share first-person narrative duties, and this is primarily Zara's story with a few intercut chapters from Nadim's perspective. Pair this with Philip Reeve's Railhead (2016), or for a real throwback, bring out Anne McCaffrey's Brain and Brawn Ship series. Grades 8-11. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 8 Up—In the year 2042, Earth was on the brink of a global crisis when the sentient spaceships known as the Leviathan appeared. In exchange for their help, 100 human Honors are chosen each year to travel with the Leviathan, with the option to continue on to the mysterious lifelong mission known as the Journey. One hundred years later, and to her surprise, loner Zara Cole is chosen to be one of these elite humans, pairing with one of the Leviathan, Nadim, along with her human crewmate, Beatriz. Together they discover that what they thought they knew about the universe is dangerously wrong. Science fiction fans will find comfort in the many familiar story beats here—hints of popular predecessors, such as The 5th Wave and Farscape abound. What could be construed as clichéd by making protagonist Zara a streetwise thief is thankfully saved by adding relatable layers to her character. As she opens up about her past, readers learn about her fear of confinement, resourcefulness, and bravery, among other traits. Her relationship with Nadim could be interpreted as a deep bond or read into as a possible alien romance. The diverse cast of supporting characters help to add depth. Beatriz is Portuguese, others come from all over the world, and it's hinted at that Zara is biracial. A revelatory ending will entice teens for the sequel. VERDICT While the story doesn't feel particularly distinctive, it's sure to find a broad fan base among sci-fi readers.—Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Akron-Summit County Public Library