Editing Space Cadet (section)

==Critical reception==
Surveying Heinlein's juvenile novels, [[Jack Williamson]] characterized ''Space Cadet'' as "a long step forward. ... The characters are stronger [and] the background is carefully built, original, and convincing, the story suspenseful enough." Williamson noted that Heinlein was "perfecting the ''[[bildungsroman]]'' form that shapes the whole series."<ref>Jack Williamson, "Youth Against Space," ''Algol'' 17, 1977, p. 10.</ref>

[[P. Schuyler Miller]] gave the book a favorable review as "a first-rate historical novel of the near future," saying "So subtly has the scientific detail been interwoven with plot and action that the reader never realizes how painstakingly it has been worked out."<ref>"Book Reviews", ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'', May 1949, p. 157</ref>