We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

We Dream of Space, by Erin Entrada Kelly, is about three siblings, all very different, who are all trying to find their own orbit in a struggling family. There's Bernadette, nicknamed Bird, who dreams of being NASA's first female shuttle commander. She is academically excellent but she struggles to feel seen and heard. There's Fitch, who loves the arcade but struggles with his temper, and there's Cash who wants to play basketball but is struggling to keep his grades up. The three of them are all drastically different but they want the same things. They dream of hope, they dream of belonging, they dream of space. The book is told from the perspective of all three siblings. In the story, their parents are on the verge of splitting up which may be a touchy subject for some readers. The book is set in January 1986, leading up to the Challenger space shuttle explosion which makes it a historical fiction novel. I would recommend it for ages 8 and up. The book is 381 pages long with easy vocabulary and a straightforward plot. I really loved this book because it was really relatable and it carried a beautiful message. That we should do things that are difficult. Even if they are scary, if they cost a lot of money, if there's a chance that we wont find anything, we should do them because we might learn something and that's worth it. (Anna. Grade 7)

Rating: 4/5

Vocabulary Difficulty: 1/5