Apollo's Outcasts by Allen Steele

My name is Jamey, and Lina Shapar, the new president, is arresting anyone who's ever spoken against her, like my father. My sister and I fled to the moon, to the Apollo settlement where I was born, along with the former president's daughter Hannah. She announced to the world that her father died of natural causes and was not assassinated as Shapar claimed. Shapar seems intent on gaining unlimited power, and her actions may be leading to war with an Asian alliance. Apollo is an international settlement that has been supplying resources for nuclear powerplants on Earth. However, Shapar has other ideas about the current arrangements that may directly affect our lives on the Moon. Her decisions are making me seriously consider joining the Rangers. 

The essence of the conflict was an out-of-control "democratic" leader. Abuse of power was at the center of the problem, as the new president ignored restrictions found in the Constitution and censored or arrested anyone trying to share the truth. Opponents were steamrolled, as her actions escalated tensions on Earth and the Moon. Jamey's character was forced to deal with the legend of his deceased mother, and he overcame a lunar-related disability. His mother sacrificed her life while he was still an infant on the Moon, and his bones were weakened while he grew up on Earth. An additional subplot involves Jamey's budding relationship with the former president's daughter. It's mostly innocent flirting, but it has a moment of mounting passion. It doesn't serve any purpose in the context of the whole story. Overall, this book greatly contrasted with another book I chose not to finish. Both of them concerned world issues, but Apollo's Outcasts actually had an interesting main conflict and a realistic/creative look at a possible future. It viewed the moon as a vital source of resources rather than a lump of rock orbiting Earth. It's a great book to check out if you're looking for an entertaining science fiction.