Elon Musk and the Quest for a Fantastic Future: Young Readers' Edition

Gr 8 Up—This biography of Musk, one of the most important figures in modern technological advancement, aims to communicate the excitement and promise of the work that he and his companies—Space X, Tesla, and Solar City—are doing in the fields of aerospace, automotive transportation, and alternative energy. The book is organized around Musk's self-proclaimed quest to "guard man's fate in the universe" by "turning humans into space colonizers" and the varied paths that he has taken to achieve this end. The bulk of the narrative is focused on Musk's work with Space X and Tesla since the 2000s, with few details on his early life in South Africa. Vance creates a "you are there" feeling as he describes the early test launches of Space X rockets and the development of the revolutionary electric cars produced by Tesla. Musk and his friends and associates cooperated with the creation of the New York Times best-selling adult \ version of this biography, and that deep access to information shines through in this edition for young readers as well. The volume's more than 250 pages are crammed with details of the inner workings of Musk's companies, and the discussions on buyouts, venture capitalism, and initial public offerings may overwhelm those drawn to the title out of a more personal interest in Musk. Still, Vance maintains a lively pace and explains the groundbreaking technology in a way that is accessible and exciting.