04/08/2019
Autistic astronomy lover Nova Vezina is 12 years old in January 1986, and although she rarely speaks, she understands much more than people give her credit for. Her older sister, Bridget, is the only person who really sees her, but when Bridget runs away, Nova is placed in yet another foster home, this time alone. To cope, she counts down the 10 days to the Challenger shuttle launch, which Bridget promised to watch with her. In the meantime, her new foster family works hard not only to understand and support Nova, but also to encourage her teachers and social worker to see her in a new light. Readers familiar with the Challenger’s fate will recognize the approaching tragedy, but the love of Nova’s new family envelops her when its harsh reality hits. Debut author Panteleakos develops a believable, authentic point of view through Nova’s letters to her sister (called “scribbles” by her teacher), which distill her own memories, sensitivities (“pencils scratch papers, which bothers my ears”), and interests alongside 1980s attitudes about autism. A sensitively told story that may help young readers stretch their compassion and empathy. Ages 8–12. (May)
★ 2019-02-17
In Panteleakos' debut, a nonverbal, autistic astronomy enthusiast counts down to the space shuttle Challenger's launch—and her runaway sister's return—in January 1986.
Twelve-year-old Nova Vezina hates deviating from routine, which makes moving from 11 foster homes in seven years challenging. But each new school's verdict is the same: "Cannot read. Cannot speak. Severely mentally retarded." A "thinker, not a talker," Nova can't explain that her big sister, Bridget, taught her the alphabet and read her novels, such as Peter Pan. Bridget disappeared after they ran from their last home, but she'd promised they'd watch the Challenger's launch together. As Nova counts down the remaining 10 days, third-person chapters alternate with Nova's printed letters to Bridget ("scribbles" to everyone else), which grow uneasy as Bridget doesn't appear. Interspersed flashbacks reveal the sisters' turbulent past and sensitively illustrate the uncertainty of foster care. The author poetically immerses readers in Nova's mind as Nova endures "the constant scratching of sounds that [invade] her brain," befriends fellow special education classmates, and struggles to be understood by both well-meaning and patronizing adults. Bursting with worry, joy, empathy, humor, and even mischief, Nova is endearingly nuanced. The countdown's multiple conclusions dovetail in an ending Nova might call "Crayola Pine Green": a mixture of conflicting emotions that will linger long after the last page. An author's note provides background on autism and the Challenger disaster. Nova and Bridget are ethnically ambiguous; Nova's foster mother is light-skinned, her foster father dark-skinned, and her foster sister biracial.
Stellar. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
“Pantleakos masterfully blends character and plot in this gorgeous, hopeful story.” —Booklist, Starred Review
“Bursting with worry, joy, empathy, humor, and even mischief, Nova is endearingly nuanced... Stellar.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“An exceptional debut featuring a character everyone can root for.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Tender and illuminating, Planet Earth is Blue is a beautiful debut novel about the strength of a girl who knows exactly who she is, even when others can’t see her.” —Rebecca Stead, Newbery-winning author of When You Reach Me
“A powerful story about the extraordinary mind of a young girl with autism and the bond between sisters.” —Ann M. Martin, Newbery Honor–winning author of A Corner of the Universe and the Baby-sitters Club books
“Nova is a character you will never forget, who will break your heart and put it back together again in a new way. She felt so real.” —Gennifer Choldenko, author of the Newbery Honor Book Al Capone Does My Shirts and One-Third Nerd
“A remarkable, sensitively told debut with a joyfully positive portrayal of neurodifference. Nova and her indomitable spirit will remain with you long after you close the book.” —Cindy Baldwin, author of Where the Watermelons Grow
“As close to perfect as a story can get. It speaks to heartbreak and joy, pain and resilience, tragedy and humanity (both big and small) in a unique and utterly engaging ‘speechless’ voice that transcends all boundaries.” —Nora Raleigh Baskin, author of Anything but Typical and Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story
“Nova’s story will wrap itself around your heart page after page after page. It’s like reading a hug. A beautiful debut!” —Ellie Terry, author of Forget Me Not
★ 06/01/2019
Gr 3–7—Twelve-year-old Nova knows what her testing results will be, how she'll be labeled. But inside she knows she's smart, that she can read and write, and that she knows everything there is to know about space. She's learned a lot from her big sister Bridget, and when Bridget gets back, they'll read The Little Prince together and, most important, watch the Challenger space shuttle take off with the first teacher in space. But the launch is just a few days away, and Bridget hasn't come back yet. Nova sort of likes her new school; after all, it does have a planetarium. Her new foster family is nice, too, but, as Bridget warned her, she shouldn't assume she'll have a forever family. How can Nova communicate what she feels inside, her passion for space, and her ability to feel emotions like any other kid? And why isn't Bridget here yet? Debut novelist Panteleakos creates a character who shares many of her own experiences as a child with neurochallenges. Through Nova she depicts the perspective, intelligence, and rich imagination of someone with an autism spectrum disorder. Readers will cheer for Nova as she seeks to find her own voice and sense of belonging in a world that is changing at the speed of the universe. VERDICT An exceptional debut featuring a character everyone can root for.—Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools
Narrator Dylan Moore’s slow, even pacing gives voice to 12-year-old Nova, a nonverbal foster child on the autism spectrum who is counting down the days to the promised return of her runaway sister, Bridget, on the day of the space shuttle CHALLENGER's launch. In flashbacks, listeners hear Bridget’s fierce, protective love for Nova in her tough tone, which is sharp with the anger of someone who is forced to grow up too quickly. Moore gives memorably distinct voices to each of the students in Nova’s special needs classroom, as well as to Nova’s new foster family. Moore’s portrayal of Nova is wonderfully nuanced, realistically voicing her attempts at speech, her happiness as she begins to thrive in her foster home, and her mounting unease as the story moves toward its heartrending climax. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Narrator Dylan Moore’s slow, even pacing gives voice to 12-year-old Nova, a nonverbal foster child on the autism spectrum who is counting down the days to the promised return of her runaway sister, Bridget, on the day of the space shuttle CHALLENGER's launch. In flashbacks, listeners hear Bridget’s fierce, protective love for Nova in her tough tone, which is sharp with the anger of someone who is forced to grow up too quickly. Moore gives memorably distinct voices to each of the students in Nova’s special needs classroom, as well as to Nova’s new foster family. Moore’s portrayal of Nova is wonderfully nuanced, realistically voicing her attempts at speech, her happiness as she begins to thrive in her foster home, and her mounting unease as the story moves toward its heartrending climax. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine