Joshua Bloom is an average high school teenager and a shining track star who has been abducted by aliens. The alien abductors of Josh Bloom need him to save their planet and species. Hoping to have him serve as an intermediary between their world and Earth’s government, the aliens are desperate to leave their planet and relocate to Earth. On an adventurous journey across galaxies, Josh explores bizarre worlds and is pushed into a political quest to save Earth from impending doom. His travels on a spaceship help him discover a dinosaur world, a planet of water, and even a star on the brink of a nova. Josh’s intergalactic adventure takes him to a highly divergent matriarchal world where women rule and men are submissive to their ideas and actions. But can he save his own world or become a tool for its destruction?

The Abduction of Joshua Bloom by Michael Thal explores themes of feminism, traditional power dynamics, and different forms of masculinity in the background of an exciting young-adult fiction. Josh is a sensitive character who learns about the struggles women on Earth must face after his female abductors take him to their planet. Thal builds a rich and fascinating world that serves as a hopeful insight into the future of mankind. An action-packed fantasy fiction, this book will keep you hooked from the very first page and have you racing through the pages as you follow the young protagonist through focused scenes and well-imagined worlds.

The Abduction of Joshua Bloom is a fast-paced science fiction story that exceeded my expectations. Young readers are bound to develop a greater understanding of the current social climate and ponder how we could improve the conventional gender dynamics of the world. Perfect for high school students and young adults, this book has light romance, action, and a strong plot that will keep them engaged throughout. This author combines the superior art of storytelling with deft plotting and sophisticated characters to create a wonderful reading experience for fans of adventure.