Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed book one so much, I was eager to dive into book two. Michael has achieved his dream of being a kid astronaut - but everything isn't all roses and sunshine. He's thrust into the middle of a mystery, with dangerous consequences on the line if he can't solve it before time runs out. There were plenty of twists to keep you guessing, and the solution isn't obvious from the start. Make sure you read book one first, but once you do, you won't want to wait to read this one! ~ Liliyana Shadowlyn (Reviewer), NetGalley

With a balanced mix of fact and fiction, this read offers tons of space excitement while weaving in mystery and tension, too. Michael's training has come to an end, and the day of the launch has arrived. He's nervous and excited but thrown for a loop, when they reach the space station and 'orders' change. Three Chinese astronauts are on-board, and the US government doesn't want them to know about an experimental drug, which could change the world. But strange things start happening, and it becomes clear that there's more than simple politics on the line. Not only that, but Michael's own long-hoped-for experiment may not be able to be completed, either. This is the second book in the trilogy, and while I didn't read the first one, it was no problem to dive right in and follow the adventure. So, this can be read as a stand-alone. That said, it also is advertised as a young adult read, which it isn't. While Michael is fifteen, the story flows like a very solid middle grade read and holds that maturity level on the character's end, but, perhaps, on the upper side thanks to some terms, theories, and technical aspects. Expect quite a bit of excitement, tension, and a trip through fact based situations when diving into this read. The author has done research and does bring across all sorts of technical details, while steering Michael through quite the adventure. Space fans will enjoy the jargon as well as detailed moments such as launch, docking, and more. It builds a solid background for the fictive plot and offers a bit of learning possibilities, too. Only a couple things didn't hit reality quite right, but it's fiction after all. I enjoyed the mix and found it well done. The mystery end is well-laid and played. It adds quite a bit of drama and tension, and is hard to guess what is truly going on. The stakes are high, which keeps those pages turning until the very end. There are also some deeper themes and food for thought, which act as entrance doors for political, ethical, and other discussions. This makes this great for classrooms and homeschoolers, who are willing to take a more original twist into areas such as international relations, money vs. global benefit (ethics), and such. It's a quick read with a lot of goodness inside. ~ Tonja Drecker - Bookworm for Kids, https://www.bookwormforkids.com/2023/03/todays-read-mays-moon-fortis-mission-by.html

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I loved the premise of this story. I haven't read the first book yet, but I bet it's a great lead-in to this book. I think kids are going to be entertained and inspired to pursue science by this story. You can't really go wrong with a kid being the first kid astronaut to go to the moon! And so much drama once out there! Michael has quite an adventure with mysteries to solve. 4-8th graders are going to enjoy this series. ~ catherine hankins (Reviewer), NetGalley

By Charlie B - age 9 “Michael fell back in his chair and closed his eyes. The boy they named Mickey Moon in school, because that’s all he talked about, had just passed the first part of the Children’s Moon Programme, at the Florida Space Centre” Michael May is desperate to be one of the first kids to go to the moon. There are 10 kids from all over the world, but only 3 of them will get to go to space. Michael has to do 3 scary and challenging tasks better than the 9 other contestants. He has to swim in a huge pool and be crazily spun around in a life-sized spaceship. But there is one other massive test that Michael and all the others have to face – there is one girl who thinks it is ok to cheat her way through! The interesting thing about this book is that it is a story but it also includes lots of space facts. I learnt all about ‘neutral buoyancy’! There are just so many space facts in this book! One of my favourite parts is when Michael and his friend find themselves trapped in a wardrobe in someone else’s bedroom! The way the author describes their panic really made me laugh! I found this book exciting in parts, funny in others and nerve-wracking at times. It was very good because it would include lots of different emotions all in one chapter. This is only the first of 3 May’s Moon books and I am very excited about reading the next 2! I would say it would suit children from the ages of 9-12 years mostly but older people could read it too. It is such a good book because of all the twists and turns! I also really liked the way the author wrote it because it is easy to understand and read. The author explains all the space facts so that younger readers can understand them. I give this book 5 stars!!! ~ George B, Amazon UK

This is the second May’s Moon book, but it can be read as a standalone book. I quite enjoyed this book, especially the factual content entwined throughout this space adventure. With teenage protagonists, I feel that it will appeal to young people who are interested in space travel. ~ Angela Kent (Librarian), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. May's Moon: Fortis Mission by S.Y. Palmer is the second book in a series that had me hooked right from the start.....This book has some twists and turns you may not expect, the usual feelings that come along with being a teenager, and interesting facts about space travel again - it makes you want to visit the International Space Station yourself! ~ Isabelle Wagner (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. ...I really enjoyed Michael's journey through the trials of CMP (Children's Moon Mission) to try for the spot of being the first child in space. This book was fun, interesting, and kept you wanting to figure out what would happen next! I read this really quickly because I wanted to find out who would make it to the final selection process for CMP. This book had so many interesting facts about space and space travel as well, which is something I really enjoyed. I like being able to learn something from a book and will happily share this book with the children in my life. If you know a child that is interested in anything space-related, then this book is definitely for them! It is such a fun way to put a story to your dreams. ~ Isabelle Wagner (Reviewer) , NetGalley

I was given a book mark at whsmiths asking me to review your books: put it this way. WOW! What a great storyline and the amount of suspense was incredible. I got given book two May's Moon: Fortis Mission and that was even better than number one. CANNOT wait for book three.#totalissgeek #spacerocks ~ Seth B - Age 11

Review #1: Review by Gail Kamer Reviewed By: Gail Kamer Review Rating: 4 Stars Reviewed By Gail Kamer for Readers’ Favorite In S. Y. Palmer’s May’s Moon: Fortis Mission, teens are traveling to the moon! Michael May is a fifteen-year-old astronaut aboard a ship headed to the International Space Station. How cool is that? And to top it off, he’s going to be on the mission gathering artifacts from the moon. This is his dream come true. However, things are a bit bumpy with important scientific experiments being sabotaged, equipment being tampered with, and maybe the entire mission becoming a failure. What’s behind all this? It has to be one of the other members aboard the ISS, right? But who? You’ll have to read the book to find out, won’t you! S. Y. Palmer’s May’s Moon: Fortis Mission is chock full of excitement, suspense, and wonder, and provides a great connection to scientific information. Many of us have gone outside and watched the ISS travel through the skies. This story gives that extra connection by providing the reader with believable day to day life segments of what it’s like to be on board. I found this both a fun and educational read. As a matter of fact, as a retired teacher, I recommend it in the classroom setting. There are many opportunities for teaching, drawing conclusions and making predictions, especially for the “who done it” portion. It’s also another great resource for teachers to use during their units on space. A great opportunity to expand on classroom knowledge with May’s Moon. The various internet connections to the ISS make this book an invaluable teaching resource. ~ Gail Kamer, Reader's Favorite (https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/fortis-mission)

May’s Moon: Fortis Mission I was extremely excited to hear when May’s Moon Fortis Mission was out as a sequel to May’s Moon, continuing Michael’s amazing journey to become the first child in space. The book starts as Michael is strapped in, ready to start the mission which was being built up to in the first book. Once Michael arrives in space, all goes well until the appearance of an old rival; which adds a lot of suspense! I really enjoyed the description of what it is like to be weightless in space, and I realised how exciting but scary it would all be at the same time! A lot like the first, the second instalment of Michael May’s journey to the moon is a real page-turner and keeps you hooked until the very end. By Cassia T age 12 ~ Cassia T age 12

May’s Moon: Fortis Mission A Space Adventure for All Ages Have you ever wondered what life is like on the International Space Station (ISS)? Or how it feels to walk on the moon? Part adventure, part mystery, May’s Moon: Fortis Mission, book two of Michael May’s teen space adventure series, lets readers experience what it is like to be an astronaut—albeit a young one. Two years have passed since Michael May attended the Children’s Space Program and was chosen for a mission. Along with his best friend, Buddy, he’s joined a team of international astronauts, trained hard and is now traveling to the ISS. Palmer’s story is full of surprises and exciting scenes, keeping you engaged to the end—a space adventure for all ages. Annette Oppenlander, Author ~ Annette Oppenlander, author of A Different Truth

This is the kind of book I know I would have loved to have discovered when I was teenager. The space parts are realistic, and readers will find themselves rooting for Michael May, the young astronaut hero of the story. There's plenty of mystery and drama, with unexpected twists and turns thrown in...the novel moves along at a fast pace and keeps you guessing until the end! ~ Martyn Beardsley, author of The Ghosts of Blackbottle Rock