Tethered to Other Stars - by Elisa Stone Leahy (Hardcover)

There are so many things I love about this middle-grade book! My favorite aspect is the close love shared by Wendy's family, even though they each keep secrets from the other family members. The family has recently moved to a new town, and Wendy and Tom know they are supposed to live quietly without drawing any attention to their family. They aren't sure why, but they suspect it involves ICE officers and families disappearing in their previous town. It is hard for Wendy to obey the family rules when there is a contest at the library she is intensely interested in. The prizes are all astronomy-related, and astronomy is Wendy's great love. There is also a science fair at school that will have a judge from the Ohio State University Astronomy Department, and they might be scouting for candidates for a junior internship program at the planetarium! The book contains bullying, protests, immigration issues, and discrimination within the context of an American-Latino family. Ms. Leahy's tone when dealing with middle-school characters and their circumstances feels authentic. So, too, do her adult characters and their concern for their children. Another thing I loved about the novel is the caring shown by the community. The book had many bad things, but so much love shone throughout that one had to feel hopeful for the characters. This is a wonderful read for middle-school students and anyone older. There are many great lessons to be learned from Ms. Leahy's writing.