  | Jupiter rising Author: Schmidt, Gary D. | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
When Jack's P.E. coach pairs him up with Jay Perkins for the cross-country team, neither of them is happy about it. Jack is grieving the loss of Joseph, his foster brother, and adjusting to his role as big brother to Jupiter, Joseph's orphaned daughter. As Jack's relationships with both Jay and Jupiter grow and his running improves, suddenly Jack's past and present smash together as Jupiter's maternal grandparents fight his family for sole custody of her.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG+ Reading Level: 4.60 Points: 4.0 Quiz: 551929 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/01/24)
School Library Journal (11/02/24)
Booklist (+) (06/01/24)
The Hornbook (00/11/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 11/02/2024 Gr 7–10—Eighth grader Jack Hurd is familiar when it comes to loss. This companion to Orbiting Jupiter opens with Jack losing his cherished horse, a couple years after the death of his foster brother, Joseph. To make matters worse, Jack's PE coach sets Jack up to train for cross-country with Jay Perkins, a bully who once ganged up on Joseph in the locker room with his two friends. The light that eases all of this pain is Jupiter, Jack's foster sister and Joseph's daughter. Before Jack's family can legally adopt Jupiter, her grandparents, who have never spent any time with Jupiter, come forward and want custody. They are mourning a loss of their own, their daughter Madeleine, Jupiter's mom. Jack's world comes crashing down as he fears he will break the one promise he made to Joseph: that he will always know where Jupiter is. This is a beautiful, poignant tale about love, loss, and fighting for what matters. Jack is a well-written protagonist, whose relationships with Jupiter and Jay are the standouts of the novel. Although the writing style is spare, the emotions in each situation are not minimized. Tissues might be needed for this one. VERDICT A book that begs to be read in one sitting.—Amanda Harding - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 06/01/2024 *Starred Review* In this companion book to Schmidt’s Orbiting Jupiter (2015), Jack is still grieving for Joseph, his older foster brother. Joseph's three-year-old daughter, Jupiter, is about to be adopted by Jack’s foster parents when her maternal grandparents decide to adopt her themselves. But if they take Jupiter, how can Jack keep his promise to his brother to always know where she is”? A judge ponders the adoption case while the emotional tension within Jack builds throughout the narrative, clarifying what really matters to him, as well as which people in his life recognize his loyalty, courage, caring, and clarity of mind. Meanwhile, Jack’s commitment to become a runner leads to one vital friendship, sometimes overshadowed by two despicable enemies among the track-team members. The relationship between Jack and his father is particularly well drawn, and Jack’s close, playful rapport with Jupiter is both amusing and irresistibly touching. One of the happiest three-year-old characters in children’s fiction, Jupiter is both believable and indispensable to the story. Schmidt writes from the heart in this moving novel, which deals with people facing what they dread and shows how a small community sometimes quietly protects its members as they face inevitable changes. A rewarding reading experience. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
