ALA Booklist (Thu Dec 05 00:00:00 CST 2024)

When thirteen-year-old Houston is accepted into the Junior Astronaut Recruitment Program, JARP, he must leave his mother and younger brother, Robbie, for the summer. Houston promised years ago, after their father left, that he would never leave his brother behind. But Robbie needs to stay home to receive care for cerebral palsy and epilepsy. While at JARP, Houston feels guilty but is also excited to kick-start his own adventures into the cosmos. He won't have to be his brother's caretaker this time, though he wants to find a way for Robbie to go into space too. Houston is caught in a lie to his new friends about his famous astronaut grandfather man he's never met but desperately wants to make proud d finds himself struggling to succeed in the program and to keep his promise to Robbie. Lackey's heartfelt story is a ray of hope for the next generation's future in space. It includes strong themes of family, friendship, and teamwork as well as a critical look at disability access in the space program.

Kirkus Reviews (Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

There's nothing Houston Stewart cares more about than space-with the exception of Robbie, his little brother.When their dad walks out on them and their mom, the brothers make a vow: They'll go to the moon together someday. Accepted into the prestigious Junior Astronaut Recruitment Program, Houston's path to this dream has begun. However, 10-year-old Robbie has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and is nonspeaking. Thirteen-year-old Houston is determined to not only find a way for Robbie to join him, but in the process win over his NASA hero-who's also the maternal grandfather he's never met. Houston's newly assigned crew is full of quirky, varied personalities, and they must work through conflicts to lift each other up. A wealth of fascinating details about space travel is shared naturally via their lessons and tasks; both the overwhelm and the excitement of the aspiring astronauts are well conveyed. Houston's connection with his estranged grandfather-once a distant idol, now coming into view as a flawed human being-provides an emotional center of gravity, as does the affection between the brothers. But, while treated with respect, Robbie often feels pushed off to the side, present to motivate Houston's journey. The need for accessibility both in regular life and the space program for people with disabilities like Robbie and Houston's crewmate Freya, who has a sensory processing disorder, is highlighted. Houston and his family read white; the JARP candidates are racially diverse.Full of passion and determination. (author's note, resources) (Fiction. 8-12)

Publishers Weekly (Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Junior astronauts aim for disability inclusion in Lackey’s conscientiously researched summer camp drama. After their father left, 13-year-old Houston Stewart, who cues as white, promised his now-10-year-old brother, Robbie, that they’d travel space together. So when Houston is accepted into the Junior Astronaut Recruitment Program, a NASA recruitment camp inaccessible to people with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, like Robbie, he feels guilt “like a black hole, sucking Houston into a familiar crush.” Still, he goes, both to work toward his future and for an opportunity to meet his estranged maternal grandfather, astronaut Carey Broderick. He hits turbulence with Broderick upon arrival, and as a camp competition to propose a bold new project for NASA heats up, Houston wonders both how to work through conflict on his crew and whether space travel will ever be accessible to all humankind. Inspired by a family member with cerebral palsy, per an author’s note, Lackey (All the Impossible Things) employs close perspective and nuanced characterization to capture the realities of full-time caretaking as well as the brothers’ joyful connection. Anchored by the detail-rich space program environment, the book’s competitive tension balances the introspective evolution of intersectionally diverse cast members. Age 10–14. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (Sept.)