Secret of the Ninth Planet

Published in 1959, 'Secret of the Ninth Planet' by Donald Wollheim is a science fiction novel that follows high school student Burl Denning as he discovers an alien race's plan to siphon solar energy from the sun, potentially leading to its catastrophic nova. With the help of the crew aboard the experimental spaceship Magellan, Burl must race against time to thwart the aliens' project and save Earth. The novel is notable for its early exploration of themes related to space travel and extraterrestrial life.