Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Saturday, January 18, 2020

We DREAM of SPACE by Erin Entrada Kelly

How I Heard About It:
*I picked up this ARC during #NCTE19 this past November.  I have seen a few friends post their thoughts about the story on social media.  I moved the book up to the top of my TBR pile.  Winter weather here "FORCED" me to read most of today.  LOL!!!


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
1.  *The story is set during the month of January 1986 leading up the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

2.  *The Nelson-Thomas family is trying to keep on "lid" on their issues so they don't have a family "explosion" of their own.

3.  *Bird is a twelve-year old twin who dreams of becoming a commander of her own shuttle mission.  She is beyond focused on the upcoming launch.

4.  *Fitch is Bird's twin.  He has an intense interest in video games.  After an "incident" at school with another student, he finds himself suspended.

5.  *The third sibling is older brother Cash who can't quite find his way in school while struggling to find what he is truly "gifted" at.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
1.  *Erin Entrada Kelly certainly knows how to write a beautiful, powerful, and emotional story.

2.  *The three children in the Nelson-Thomas family were heart-warming, thoughtful, and sympathetic to the reader.

3.  *I enjoyed the format of the story with alternating sections devoted to each of the three characters.  Even though they each had their own story, all plot lines were connected back to the family dynamic.

4.  *The portrayal of the family was realistic and I think one that many families face each and every day.  I loved how the children relied on each other during difficult moments.

5.  *The conclusion of the story one of the most tender moments between siblings that I've ever read.


Who Should Read It:
*Fans, both young and adult readers, of Erin Entrada Kelly; must put this title on their TBR list.  They will NOT be disappointed.  The novel is almost 400 pages so the reader definitely needs to have stamina.  Although there is not an overly amount of text on the page.  The sections are short and very assessable to the middle-grade and middle-school reader.  Look for the novel in May of 2020.  Happy Reading!


Rating:   5 STARS out of 5 Stars








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