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Barbary, a young orphan, smuggles her pet cat Mick aboard the space transport Outrigger even though she knows that on the research station Einstein, the ship's destination, pets are not allowed

As orphaned Barbary travels to her new home on a space station, her own problems are dwarfed by the first sighting of an alien spacecraft. The VIPs rushing out to study and possibly greet the approaching ship create enough commotion for Barbary to smuggle her pet cat Mickey on boardagainst the rules. Although this situation threatens to become cloying, McIntyre avoids potential traps as Barbary and her sister deal with being responsible for Mickey. At its best, the combination of excitement about space, living on a frontier, and the down-to-earth mechanical details of zero-G toilets recalls Robert Heinlein's excellent stories for this age group. In her first book for young readers, McIntyre displays the talent that won her acclaim for her adult SF. (10-up) Copyright 1986 Cahners Business Information.

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Gr 4-6 In this science-fiction adventure, Barbary, a 12-year-old orphan, journeys to the manned orbiting colony Einstein to live with a friend of her mother's and his daughter Heather. The other passengers on the space transport are heading to Einstein to investigate a recently sighted alien ship. When Barbary's cat, whom she stowed aboard the transport, climbs into an exploratory space probe sent from the colony to study the alien ship, Heather and Barbary attempt a rescue and meet the aliens themselves. Almost like a first episode in a to-be-continued television show, the novel consists of a great deal of exposition leading up to the last few pages in which the young girls encounter the aliens. While a number of characters are introduced, there is little space given to their development, even of Barbary herself. Instead McIntyre concentrates on plot details, particularly those involving the hiding of Barbary's cat. The most interesting descriptions are of performing ordinary functions of life in space. Despite its limitations, the novel may be a simple introduction to science fiction for younger readers. Yvonne A. Frey, Peoria Public Library, Ill. Copyright 1986 Cahners Business Information.