American Library Association Eleanor Cameron Notable Middle Grade Book
Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy
Book 1 of The Adventures of the PSS 118
Percy Jackson meets Star Trek in the first book of a funny, fast-paced sci-fi trilogy about a middle school…spaceship.
By Joshua S. Levy · Carolrhoda Books / Lerner · Paperback, hardcover, and ebook
Honors
American Library Association Eleanor Cameron Notable Middle Grade Book
Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction
The trilogy
1. Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy (2019)
2. Eighth Grade vs. the Machines (2021)
3. Last Summer in Outer Space (2023)
About the book
The PSS 118 is just your typical school—except that it’s a rickety old spaceship orbiting Jupiter. Jack’s dad used to be the science teacher, until he got fired for tinkering with the ship. Now Jack just wants to get through the last day of school without anything else going wrong.
But when the school is mysteriously attacked, Jack discovers that his dad has built humanity’s first light speed engine—and given Jack control of it. To save the ship, Jack catapults it hundreds of light-years away…and right into the clutches of the first aliens humans have ever seen.
In Joshua S. Levy’s debut, middle grade, sci-fi novel, school hasn’t just gotten out: it’s gone clear across the galaxy. And now it’s up to Jack and his friends to get everyone home.
Praise for the series
“A perfect bridge for readers looking for a Percy Jackson–esque work of science fiction.”
— School Library Journal
“Reminiscent of writing by Chris Grabenstein, this middle-grade action-adventure space opera is just plain fun…a story that will appeal to boys and girls alike.”
— Booklist
“Levy writes humorous, fast-paced adventure that will take readers totally out of this world.”
— Liesl Shurtliff
New York Times bestselling author of the Time Castaways trilogy
“Fast, fun, and freaking hilarious.”
— Carlos Hernandez
author of Sal and Gabi Break the Universe and Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe
“An action-packed adventure that is at once out of this world and entirely relatable.”
— Jarrett Lerner
author of the EngiNerds series
“A total blast! Between hilarious space shenanigans and page-turning action, fun comes at you faster than a dodgeball!”
— Katie Slivensky
author of The Countdown Conspiracy and The Seismic Seven
“An unpredictable, laugh-out-loud-funny adventure wrapped in a mystery and set in a universe where middle school is even more complicated than it is on Earth.”
— Chris Tebbetts
coauthor of Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life and Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!
“A stellar adventure filled with humor, heart, and lots of intergalactic antics!”
— Monica Tesler
author of the Bounders series
“An exciting adventure full of humor and action that will make you wish you went to school in space.”
— Gareth Wronski
author of Holly Farb and the Princess of the Galaxy
The rest of the trilogy
Jack, Becka, and Ari’s adventures continue in books 2 and 3.
Book 2
Eighth Grade vs. the Machines
After the entire population of Earth’s solar system is whisked away by alien technology, Jack and his classmates and teachers aboard the PSS 118 are the only humans left. It’s up to them to find and rescue the rest of humanity—if they can avoid the aliens hunting them down, steer clear of a robot civil war, and figure out who among them might be a traitor.
Get the paperback: Bookshop · Barnes & Noble · Amazon · Curious Reader
Book 3
Last Summer in Outer Space
Jack’s eighth-grade year aboard the PSS 118 is coming to an end. And the students and faculty of the best public schoolship in the galaxy (if it does say so itself) are on the verge of completing their mission. If all goes well, they’ll soon foil the sinister alien plot that’s put all of humanity in danger.
But this is still middle school. So all does not go well. When the original plan backfires, it’s up to Jack, Ari, and Becka to take on the evil Minister one more time and make the galaxy safer for everyone.
Get the paperback: Bookshop · Barnes & Noble · Amazon · Curious Reader
NEW · AUGUST 2027
The Bar and Bat Mitzvah Years
Stories of Jewish American Coming of Age
Illustrated by Alexander Mostov · Sourcebooks eXplore
Loved the PSS 118? Josh’s next book is all true. Nearly four centuries of American Jewish history, told through thirteen coming-of-age stories—from 1654 New Amsterdam to Silicon Valley.
Cover reveal coming soon
Follow @joshuaslevy on Instagram to see it first.
Teaching the PSS 118
A free guide for classrooms, grades 4–7.
Free download
STEM & Writing Guide
This guide brings science and writing together. Its three sections—Our Galaxy, Our Solar System, and Our Home Planet—draw on the books for astronomy research questions and shorter and longer writing prompts, with discussion questions at the end. Students don’t need to have read the books to follow along, and there are no big spoilers.
Six pages · PDF · Published by Lerner and free for educational use
Visits and group reads
Josh visits schools and libraries, in person or by Zoom. Reading the PSS 118 books with a class or book club? He’d love to join you.