Starfleet Academy: The Delta Anomaly is one of the first forays into the new universe created by the 2009 film, and explores some of the time everyone's favorite cadets spent at the titular academy. Written with a focus on a younger teen audience than most Trek books, The Delta Anomaly ends up a quick and light read-- but there is just enough depth to appeal to older audiences as well. There are even a few connecting elements that harken back to established Trek tales to give old fans a little bit extra to enjoy.
At its heart, The Delta Anomaly is a murder mystery set in Star Trek's version of San Francisco. Most events relating to that main storyline occur throughout the city and the Academy campus, while some sub plots venture into space as well. The smaller, more planet-bound setting gives Delta Anomaly a different feel from the galaxy-trotting adventures Trek fans are accustomed to, but the tighter focus helps home in on character growth and the core plot instead of establishing a complex setting in an unfamiliar region.
The characters in the book are a mix of old and new, with Kirk, Bones, and Uhura forming the core cast (although Spock appears in a supporting role.) The returning characters are fairly close interpretation of their film counterparts. The book's original characters are handled decently. Good examples include Kirk's love interest, Hannah, who has just enough depth to be interesting and believable, and Victyor Tikhonov, Kirk's rival, who feels generic but serves his purpose well enough nonetheless.
The Delta Anomaly is definitely written for a young audience, as evidenced by the book's large text and simple sentence structure. It ultimately doesn't come across as juvenile, however, as there are plenty of scientific terms and advanced technology sprinkled throughout the multiple plot threads. Kirk, Bones, and Uhura are often in different places as clues gather and conclusions are reached on the way to the resolution. Ideas are presented in clear and unambiguous manners, though the clues leading to them do leave enough room to deduce how events will proceed.
The Delta Anomaly may be a young adult novel with a different feel from that of other Trek entries, but it is an enjoyable light read for fans of any age. My feeling is that it will make a good entry point to keep the younger audience interested between films, as well as offer one of the few chances thus far to get better acquainted with the new universe's versions of the classic characters. It's a good start to a new series in a new setting, and shows significant potential that could be harnessed by future installments.