Shanghaied to the Moon by Michael Daley

A fun novel about a thirteen year old who wants to be a rocket pilot. Feels similar to Heinlein's novels for young adults in style. However, this one has a little more going on than those did. It turns out to be a little more grim than I expected, with the protagonist dealing with his mother's death in the course of his adventure (she was also a pilot, and died in a shuttle crash).