Flight of the Solar Ducks — Charles Morgan

In an unequal world half the planet lives in comfort while the other half festers in a giant rubbish tip. Aracuria is a boy with a mission. In an exciting adventure he and his friends seek the treasure that will stir the people to rebellion and set the world to rights. But when they board the Solar Duck for the planet Draco they can hardly know what terrors lie ahead. A fast-paced, sparkling science fantasy and winner of the 1988 Kathleen Fidler Award for new children's fiction.