ALA Booklist (Mon Dec 09 00:00:00 CST 2024)

Eleven-year-old Luna wants to focus on acing her class' space unit so that she can get into NASA's summer camp. However, her mom's new promotion, the replacement of her beloved science teacher with a long-term substitute, and changing friend dynamics are encroaching on what was supposed to be a perfect semester, all sending her spiraling. Told in verse that strengthens as Luna learns to embrace poetry, this middle-grade novel provides readers an easy entry into her one-track mind, which begrudgingly opens to the beautiful ways art and science intertwine. Set in Canada and featuring Indigenous Sky Stories as a major plot point, readers will enjoy learning with Luna and appreciate the lighter tone and quick pace that makes the story fly. While Luna's voice can be a bit whiny at times, it feels authentic to an 11-year-old with a serious case of tunnel vision. This quick read has many STEAM applications and will easily appeal to aspiring astronauts while also potentially sparking interest in more-complex verse and narratives.

Kirkus Reviews

A space-loving kid learns to adapt to changeEleven-year-old Luna McKenna loves outer space more than anything, which is why she's so excited for her class astronomy unit and accompanying in-depth research project. Unfortunately, her beloved teacher is on leave, temporarily replaced by substitute Ms. Manitowabi. Now their final project will combine science with art, a subject Luna finds unappealing. Other undesirable changes are afoot, as well: Mom's promotion at work and subsequent new schedule means the end of the family's Tuesday Taco Night tradition, and Luna's friendship with bestie Maggie Cho faces threats from Maggie's parents' impending split (she'll spend half her weekends downtown with her dad) and Maggie's competing friendship with classmate Astrid. Slowly, Luna comes to accept that not all change is bad and begins to see connections between art and science, particularly after Ms. Manitowabi shares her Ojibwe Sky Stories with the class. Despite the significance the Sky Stories have to Luna's journey, none of them actually appear in the book. Readers may also wonder why first-person narrator Luna tells her story in verse, given how early and often she repeats her dislike of poetry. Still, Luna's love of space and fear of change may endear her to similarly minded kids. Luna presents white; her father uses a wheelchair, and his disability is naturally woven into the work.A solid story about dealing with discomfort and change.(Verse fiction. 8-12)

School Library Journal (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 4–7— Eleven-year-old Luna prefers the dependability of science and math, but a substitute teacher inspires her to see how art can complement facts in a science unit about stars. Luna is obsessed with space and just knows she will be an astronaut among the stars someday. That plan starts by securing a spot in a NASA summer camp and thriving in her science class, but substitute teacher Ms. Manitowabi changes everything at school, just as things are changing for Luna at home. Daniel crafts a diverse cast of characters in this novel in verse, including a secondary character who uses "they/their" pronouns. Luna's race is not specified nor is her friend Maggie Cho's (a budding environmentalist), but we learn they live in Ottawa, Canada. Luna's father is an astronomer and uses a wheelchair, her mother is a florist and poet. Luna's dependence on routine and a deep focus on one interest are part of her challenges to adapt but are not treated as deterrents, and she is willing to work on embracing new things. Daniel implements the phases of the moon as section headings and includes Ojibwe sky stories as excellent complements to Luna's story. VERDICT This book will resonate with readers who are navigating the trials of adolescence and the difficulty of embracing the unknown, as well as those interested in space and mythology.— Melinda Graham