We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly
Release: May 5th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Source: Amazon

Synopsis:

It’s January 1986. The launch of the Challenger is just weeks away, and Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelson Thomas are three siblings in seventh grade together in Park, Delaware.

Cash loves basketball, Dr. J, and a girl named Penny; he’s also in danger of failing seventh grade for a second time. Fitch spends every afternoon playing Major Havoc at the arcade and wrestles with an explosive temper that he doesn’t understand. And Bird, his twelve-year-old twin, dreams of being NASA’s first female shuttle commander, but feels like she’s disappearing.

The Nelson Thomas siblings exist in their own orbits, circling a tense, crowded, and unpredictable household, dreaming of escape, dreaming of the future, dreaming of space. They have little in common except an enthusiastic science teacher named Ms. Salonga—a failed applicant to the Teacher in Space program—who encourages her students to live vicariously through the launch. Cash and Fitch take a passive interest, but Bird builds her dreams around it.

When the fated day arrives, it changes everything.

We Dream of Space Review:

This was such a thought-provoking story that moved me after reading it.

All the 3 characters are interesting and distinctive from each other. The star of the story is of course Bird. You can see how she tries to keep her head high and stay positive no matter how volatile her surroundings are. She wants to make the best of the situation but people unknowingly keep bringing her down. Fitch and Cash also added well to the story. Fitch’s storyline with Amanda was interesting and I liked the way the author handled the fallout. Cash’s story was a bit weak compared to the others, but still nice to read.

Moreover, I also loved how the author captured the 80s. It was entertaining to see references made to video games, Madonna, E.T. etc. The Challenger was one of the most disastrous explosions to air live at that time, so I applaud how the author handled the situation. I was not aware of Judith Resnik and researched her after reading this story. On a side note, Days of our Lives is still one of my favorite shows and I liked how the author made a nod to the soap opera in the book.

My only complaint is that I wished the parents realized how their actions impacted their children. I really disliked how oblivious they were to raising their children. They got so lost in their hatred towards each other. It was a shame to see how this stayed as is in the story without any improvement.

Apart from that, this is very important book that I feel that parents should read with their children, if they are part of such a household. Overall, “We Dream of Space” is now one of my favorite stories from the author!