Author: Erin Entrada Kelly
Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore
We Dream of Space is a chapter book by author Erin Entrada Kelly for children aged 8-12. Originally published in hardback in 2020, it has just recently been released in paperback as well. The author has previously won the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, and now We Dream of Space has been named a Newbery Honor Book. This book is a work of historical fiction, focusing around the space shuttle Challenger and spanning just the first month of 1986.
Cash, Fitch, and Bird live in a somewhat dysfunctional family, and they each stay in their own little bubbles. Bird enjoys taking apart machines and drawing their schematics – for fun! Fitch spends most afternoons at the arcade trying to beat his own high score. Cash, the oldest one, has broken his wrist and is on the verge of failing seventh grade for a second time. Their science teacher, Ms. Salonga, has been teaching about the Challenger for weeks, and Bird decides she wants to be an astronaut herself when she grows up. When the space shuttle tragically explodes though, it actually pushes the siblings closer than they’ve ever been before.
This book isn’t a necessarily light read and it doesn’t have an abundance of humorous moments. But it does tackle a lot of things kids go through. Fitch is dealing with emotions and keeping them in check. Cash is trying to discover what he’s good at and what he enjoys doing. Bird is facing peer pressure for being the smartest one in the class. They’re learning about friendships and how to treat people. They’re learning about teasing and bullying. They’re typical middle schoolers trying to figure things out. We Dream of Space is a really solid read – even for adults – and it leaves you with a very heartwarming conclusion.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of We Dream of Space today!
