Multiple points of view relate the story of three siblings as they struggle through seventh grade within the backdrop of the Challenger Disaster of 1986. Bird is a super-motivated science nerd who dreams of becoming the first female shuttle commander. She is uber-excited about the upcoming shuttle launch and writes an essay about why she should be included in the group of students allowed to view it from the school auditorium. Bird has dreams, brains, and ambitions, but lacks confidence and family support to succeed in a male-dominated world. Her twin brother Fitch is a video game addict. He spends his days at the local arcade. When an unpopular girl develops an embarrassing crush on him, he is not sure what to do. What he ends up doing is creating a disaster. Meanwhile, older brother Cash is an underachiever. He longs to be a great basketball player yet lacks the skills. On his second year of seventh grade he is in danger of flunking out--again. How can Cash find purpose and motivation in a world that doesn't take him seriously? January 1986 chugs by, as the three siblings deal with social and school pressures, as well as feuding parents and a dysfunctional home life. After the ill-fated shuttle launch, they must work together to find a healthy way forward, healing both their personal hurts and their broken family.
It is hard to believe that 1986 is historical fiction, but here we are. Young readers will be transported back to a time when mothers were returning to work (yet still being held accountable for all household chores), families had to share one television and telephone, arcades ruled, girls were not encouraged to pursue scientific careers, and no one had cell phones. Even with these societal changes, many things remain the same. Seventh grade is still socially confusing, many families are distant and dysfunctional, and we humans still make mistakes and hurt people inadvertently. Award winning author, Kelly, pens a story of three very different siblings who learn that they are stronger together. The Challenger Disaster was a terrible tragedy in our country's history and children, especially those who are interested in space travel, will enjoy seeing it through the eyes of contemporaries. Beyond the plot, this is at its root a character-driven family story. All three characters experience growth throughout the novel and take responsibility for their own lives and form their own functional family unit. The story is solidly written and heartfelt. There is one part where one of the siblings has an outburst that hurts someone's feelings that actually made me gasp. The character was even more shaken up than I was and searched for a way to finally find grace. Readers will learn from this example that mistakes, though not always able to be fixed, can at least be repaired and we don't have to carry around the guilt and shame forever. For sure, parts of this novel were hard to read, but in the end the reader is left with a feeling of hope and knowledge that better days are coming--both for the characters and the country. An author’s note at the end adds historical context and the author’s personal experience with the disaster. An excellent book and sure to be one of my favorites of the year.
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