Clues to the Universe

Synopsis:

“This #ownvoices debut about losing and finding family, forging unlikely friendships, and searching for answers to big questions will resonate with fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Rebecca Stead.

The only thing Rosalind Ling Geraghty loves more than watching NASA launches with her dad is building rockets with him. When he dies unexpectedly, all Ro has left of him is an unfinished model rocket they had been working on together.

Benjamin Burns doesn’t like science, but he can’t get enough of Spacebound, a popular comic book series. When he finds a sketch that suggests that his dad created the comics, he’s thrilled. Too bad his dad walked out years ago, and Benji has no way to contact him.

Though Ro and Benji were only supposed to be science class partners, the pair become unlikely friends, and Ro even figures out a way to reunite Benji and his dad. But Benji hesitates, which infuriates Ro. Doesn’t he realize how much Ro wishes she could be in his place?

As the two face bullying, grief, and their own differences, Benji and Ro try to piece together clues to some of the biggest questions in the universe.”

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Review:

If you’re looking for a book that shatters your heart in the best way possible, pick up this book. It’s definitely a heartbreaker, but it is so beautifully written, it’s worth it. Two kids with different versions of loss end up becoming partners and then friends. Grief is a universal experience but is also an emotion felt in very different circumstances. In Clues to the Universe, both characters are grieving but for two very different reasons. If you look past the main characters, grief is shared among the supporting cast of characters as well. You can see through alternating POV chapters how everyone deals with grief differently.

What I love in this story is Li’s portrayal of friendship. Friendship isn’t easy and Li doesn’t shy away from that fact. But, she also shows the reader how much better life can be when you’ve got someone in your corner. This is a powerful story that would be great for kids looking for that vintage vibe (set in the 1980s) or as a book discussion title. But, I think it would be an exceptional title for kids processing their own grief.

Verdict:

Pair Clues to the Universe with See You In the Cosmos by Jack Cheng and We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly for a middle grade space theme!

If you’re interested in purchasing Clues to the Universe by Christina Li, please use my affiliate links for Bookshop.org or Amazon.com. When you purchase from either of these links, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.

Need to Know:

Title: Clues to the Universe
Author: Christina Li
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: Jannuary 12, 2021
Page Number: 304 pgs.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.