Here's the thing about these books, they're good basic military sci-fi. There are a few more moral dilemmas than average and a bit more philosophizing. But what really makes these books special is what ISN'T in them. No rampant misogyny. The female characters are developed, interesting and not just she-ra warrior types. Not only that but Andrew GROWS and realizes he's been an ass and so begins to appreciate his mother as an actual person. And while I'd always like more minorities (head-canon Andrew is Latino btw), there are minorities, with speaking roles. 
 It's such a relief to be able to read a military sci-fi book without putting it down a quarter of the way through because of bigotry. There's really no hope for humans if we're space-faring yet still queer-bashing. Kloos provides evidence of social evolution, not just technological advancements.