Life can be complicated even while on school break, especially when one is nearly a hundred light-years from Earth. After a challenging freshman year at the prestigious Cytherean Academy on Venus, Zack Jackson is excited to embark on the Junior Ranger trip to his friend's home world, the alien jungle world of Valtra. As he explores high-tech arcologies, ancient ruins, and makes friends with species from across the galaxy, Zack encounters clothes-eating insects, oppressive bureaucrats, and natives with bad PR. Yet, despite his excitement, he feels helpless as the lives of his friends unravel before him when they receive bad news from home. Dire tidings can't disrupt the Junior Ranger trip, though, and while he and his friends explore abandoned ruins, an unexpected discovery brings an old adversary into Zack's life once more, and he uncovers the secrets hidden - in the hives of Valtra. Zack Jackson & The Hives of Valtra is the third novel in the Zack Jackson series of science-fiction stories for all ages. The Zack Jackson Series includes Zack Jackson & The Cult of Athos Zack Jackson & The Cytherean Academy Zack Jackson & The Hives of Valtra