The Planet Mappers

"The Planet Mappers" by E. Everett Evans is a science fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story centers around a young boy named Jon Carver, who embarks on a perilous journey with his family through deep space on a mission of exploration. Shortly into their voyage, a meteoroid strikes their ship, leading to a serious accident that injures Jon's father, thrusting the family into a challenging situation they must navigate together. At the start of the narrative, Jon experiences panic when a strike against the hull of their spacecraft causes a rapid loss of air. The family rallies to assist his injured father, who is knocked unconscious and has suffered a broken leg as well. As the boys, Jon and his older brother Jak, take on new responsibilities, they are faced with the reality of their father's incapacitation and must step up to ensure their mother's safety while managing the ship. The opening sets the stage for themes of bravery, resourcefulness, and the challenges of growing up in the harsh and unpredictable environment of space exploration.