The Year We Fell From Space

Liberty Johansen wants to change the way people see the stars.  Everyone else just looks for the old constellations, but Liberty sees new images that are relevant to her life at the time.  Her father taught her to love the stars, and she's been struggling to see anything.  Her father promised they would see him all the time, but they haven't seen him in months.

One night while she is out looking at the stars, a meteor falls from the sky and lands near her.  She feels a connection to this space rock which has suddenly found itself in an alien world, so she begins talking to the meteorite, sharing the things she can't tell anyone else.  Even though she's angry with her father, she can't deny she's inherited so many things from him.  What if she also inherited his depression?  Her little sister Jilly is struggling, too, refusing to leave the house.  And then there's her mom; everyone thinks her mom should be sad, but she actually seems happier.

As Liberty struggles to make sense of her new reality, all the challenges of her old life become even harder to face.  There are the neighbor boys who used to be friends with Liberty and Jilly, but they are now tormentors.  There's also the girl at school who has used her social power to ostracize Liberty.  She doesn't feel comfortable talking to anyone which leaves feeling alienated from her whole life.

Will Liberty be able to find the pattern to get her life back on track?

This new middle grade novel from Amy Sarig King mixes a touch or her signature surrealism with the very real emotional struggles of her protagonist.  This is a lovely and quiet novel revealing the inner life of a child dealing with life's struggles.  King is gentle with her protagonist even when she is prickly, a good reminder to us all to be gentle in our interactions with others.  Highly recommended.