This begins a series of Star Trek "prequels" which take place during Star Fleet Academy days. To an extent these books rewrite the written early history, having the main characters meet during school days rather than on the Enterprise during Kirk's captaincy. But they are fun, written for a younger reader, but fairly intelligent and decently written adventures which convincingly portay the heroes at a younger stage of life. This book centers around Spock, who accompanies his father Sarek aboard the Enterprise for a diplomatic mission, where Spock first meets Captain April and Christopher Pike, and Spock is first drawn into thinking about attending Starfleet Academy, over his father's objections. ( )