Chasing the Milky Way
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5.0 • 4 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
In a book that pairs science with mental illness, and heart with adventure, Erin E. Moulton delivers a moving story about family, friendship and the lengths we go for the people we love.
Lucy Peevy has a dream--to get out of the trailer park she lives in and become a famous scientist. And she's already figured out how to do that: Build a robot that will win a cash prize at the BotBlock competition and save it for college. But when you've got a mama who doesn't always take her meds, it's not easy to achieve those goals. Especially when Lucy's mama takes her, her baby sister Izzy, and their neighbor Cam away in her convertible, bound for parts unknown. But Lucy, Izzy and Cam are good at sticking together, and even better at solving problems. But not all problems have the best solutions, and Lucy and Izzy must face the one thing they're scared of even more than Mama's moods: living without her at all.
Perfect for fans of Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons, Jerry Spinelli's Maniac Magee and Katherine Paterson's The Great Gilly Hopkins.
Praise for CHASING THE MILKY WAY
"Chasing the Milky Way takes readers along for the highest of highs and lowest of lows. A much-needed addition."--School Library Journal
"A poignant story filled with chaos, deep affection and hope."--Kirkus Reviews
"An empathetic portrayal of mental illness full of sensitivity and, ultimately, hope."--Booklist
"Moulton...writes freely about children forced to assume adult responsibilities while remaining in touch with their idealism, and the possibility of everyday magic."--Publishers Weekly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Lucy Peevey, 12, and her best friend Cam are pinning their hopes on winning the BotBlock robot programming competition as a way to solve their families' financial problems (they currently live in a trailer park) and pay for part of their future college tuition. Their current obstacles include Lucy's irrational and paranoid manic-depressive mother who ignores Lucy's birthday, buries china in the yard, and scribbles about visions of Robert Frost and Cam's mother's abusive boyfriend. The novel takes an unexpected turn when Lucy's mother's behavior forces them on the run. With a stolen RV and Lucy's younger sister in tow, Lucy and Cam try to stay optimistic that their dreams are within reach if they can just make it to the competition. Lucy's memories of her late grandmother, her life's anchor, are gracefully woven in, as is Lucy and Cam's passion for science. Moulton (Tracing Stars) writes freely about children forced to assume adult responsibilities while remaining in touch with their idealism, and the possibility of everyday magic. Ages 8 12.
