by Wendy Mass
ages 8-12

Yesterday, I saw a lovely review of this book over at Fuse #8, which coincidentally enough, I had just brought home from the library. I thought that it sounded like something that I would enjoy, and began it this afternoon. I couldn’t put it down.

I’m having trouble putting my effusive thoughts into coherent sentences (the Alvin and the Chimpmunks Witch Doctor in the background isn’t helping!), so I’ll just stick with a bullet list:

• Basically, it’s the story in the voices of three (well, four) kids: Ally, a homeschooled girl who lives at Moon Shadow campground, and has been preparing for the advent of a solar eclipse her whole life, and who is faced with the impending move back to suburbia; Bree, a A-list girl, whose whole life is fashion and shopping, and who is being summarily uprooted from her suburban life when her parents decide to take over the running of Moon Shadow; and Jack, an overweight loner who failed science and is stuck going to see the solar eclipse instead of going to summer school.

• I loved that this book was about astronomy. Honestly, that was the only thing I remember from 8th grade science, but I really love going out and looking at stars and the moon. This book captured the awe that stargazing can make a person feel very eloquently.

• I liked how Mass did the three voices. Each one was disctint, with a voice I could literally hear in my head, but they all interconnected in ways in order to propel the story forward. There were only a few instances where I felt like the narrative sagged, and it wasn’t enough for me to really care.

• In the same vein, I liked how Mass treated her characters. Bree was one that I could see myself being annoyed at, but I found myself sympathizing with her and eventually even liking her. But it wasn’t just Bree: all of the characters (even the 20-something eclipse chaser dudes) were likable. Even though we only heard the narrative from three of the kids, I wound up liking pretty much everyone who had a place in the book.

• All that said, I actually learned stuff from this book. (It’s not often I can say that!) Mass threw an awful lot of astronomy in the book, and did so in a way that felt completely organic to the story. Of course Ally’s going to go off about stars and nebulae: it’s been her whole life for as long as she can remember. I just happened to pick up a few interesting facts along the way.

• Given all the science and narrative and everything else, what I really liked was that this was a book about change and hope. And looking for the best in everything — from situations to people.

• Oh, and don’t forget to read the author’s note at the end.

(Just for the record: because this is a Cybils nominee, I’ve been asked to make sure y’all know this is my opinion only, and not that of the panel.)