WE DREAM OF SPACE

WE DREAM OF SPACE by Erin Entrada Kelly

 We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly is a Newberry Honor winner set in 1986. Does anyone reading this remember what catastrophe happened in 1986? (If you don't, I'll post it at the bottom.)

The Nelson Thomas family is complicated. Mom and dad spend a lot of time fighting. Cash, the oldest child, has already failed seventh grade and is in danger of failing again. Twins Fitch and Bird are as different as night and day. Fitch has a serious temper problem and Bird is extremely studious. Each member is basically living in their own world with their own thoughts and dreams.

At school, Ms. Salonga, their teacher, has the whole class focused on the upcoming Challenger Space Shuttle launch. There are so many hopes and dreams wrapped up in this launch. After all, a teacher is a part of the crew! Those hopes and dreams are filtering down to the students, and lives are starting to change.

Then things don't go as planned. Tragedy strikes. Does that mean that it's pointless to hope and dream? That is something the Nelson Thomas kids must answer.

HEADS UP- This is a coming of age book, so there is a moment of talk about body changes. Mom and dad are fighting with each other and even though there's no actual words written, it will tell you they are using bad language at each other or the kids are periodically saying/thinking bad words (again no actual words are written).The Lord's name is used 2 or 3 times.

ALONGSIDE ACTIVITY- After reading this, Isaac and I watched the Challenger launch.

1986 Catastrophe- Challenger explosion