Chasing Jupiter

“What is it that you want, Scarlett?”

My shoulders slumped. “I want peace. Peace from bickering and arguments and stress.” I took a breath. It was awkward to talk about. I couldn’t imagine Mrs. Greene knew anything about what we went through, day in and day out. With Grandpop Barley and Cliff and Juli and all the money problems.

Book: Chasing Jupiter by Rachel Coker, Zondervan Publishers, 2013

 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 13-20

Subjects: Family relationships, disabilities/mental illness, salvation, friendship

Summary: A rocket to Jupiter. Cliff has a list of quite a few things he wants for his birthday but this is the one item he really wants. And Scarlett wants him to have it. It represents all they dream of – dreams themselves, a hope that there’s something more than the stress their family deals with every day. So she, Cliff and the boy she likes (who likes her wild, rebellious older sister) determine to spend the summer raising the money for the rocket. Before their goal can be reached a series of tragedies occur, each one worse than the other until Scarlett believes dreams can not come true and all hope is gone. Soon it’s down to one last chance, one last person who might have answers for Scarlett and she’s not even sure she can see this person again.

Notes: This is a coming of age kind of story, telling the story of the summer one young girl grew up. Scarlett always had to be mature for her age, taking on the role of mothering her brother and grandfather, but when tragedy hits their family Scarlett has to find out if dreams really can come true or if that’s just a childish fantasy in storybooks. When the local minister’s wife talks with Scarlett they discuss how having God in one’s life can be of any benefit when tragedies still exist. The woman explains to Scarlett that “the beauty of salvation and God’s grace isn’t in Him solving all of our problems instantly, like a magic genie. Its beauty comes in the assurance that He has a greater plan for you.”

Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review as a part of the Team Novel Team Blog group.

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