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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
The Year We Fell From Space by Amy Sarig King is by an author (A.S. King, as she writes her YA work under) I've been meaning to read from for years, and while it was a bit unexpected to start with a middle grade novel of hers, her latest book caught my attention and my library had an audiobook, so I decided to listen to it. It's a sad, honest, story about a 12-year-old girl, Liberty, who is obsessed with the night sky. It's a love she shares with her father, who has just moved out, leaving her and her younger sister alone with their mom. Liberty is also dealing with relationships at school, all while trying to figure out what her life looks like now.
I genuinely loved King's writing in The Year We Fell From Space, it's understated and emotional and she just perfectly captures the family dynamics and struggle that Liberty is going through. There's a bit an odd element--Liberty talking with a meteorite--but not as much as I expected given what I've heard about King before. This is definitely a contemporary book, and it's a powerful one that asks a lot of profound questions. It might not be able to answer them all, but it gives comfort and a path forward. I think this would be an excellent read for young readers whose parents are divorcing or struggling with mental health. It's definitely a slow and introspective story, but it was a lovely introduction to King, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I genuinely loved King's writing in The Year We Fell From Space, it's understated and emotional and she just perfectly captures the family dynamics and struggle that Liberty is going through. There's a bit an odd element--Liberty talking with a meteorite--but not as much as I expected given what I've heard about King before. This is definitely a contemporary book, and it's a powerful one that asks a lot of profound questions. It might not be able to answer them all, but it gives comfort and a path forward. I think this would be an excellent read for young readers whose parents are divorcing or struggling with mental health. It's definitely a slow and introspective story, but it was a lovely introduction to King, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
The way the father's depression was presented didn't make much sense to a child with no familiarity with a similar situation and the information about the girlfriend, the difficult spaces of the 12-year-old narrator were too much for my 11-year-old son
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautiful exploration of a child's experience of parental divorce, as well as one parent's chronic depression. As always, King's writing is full of character and wonderfully surprising imagery, but all through language that is direct, accessible, and charming. Exceptionally rich and nuanced emotional complexity in every character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Abandonment
All topics are approached with sensitivity and nuance.
Middle grade book about a girl’s family going through a divorce, being true to yourself, and deals with mental health in yourself and in a parent.
It took a long time for me to get into this audio book. The meteorite was an interesting device for self reflection that was underutilized.
The ending was great, but took a long time to get to that place.
It took a long time for me to get into this audio book. The meteorite was an interesting device for self reflection that was underutilized.
The ending was great, but took a long time to get to that place.
God. I don’t even know if I have the right words to talk about how this book impacted me. If I had to pick one word to describe it, it would be healing. This is the book I wish I had when I was younger and going through the same things as the main character. It allowed me to gain some closure for my past. It felt like that little girl that I was, screaming for someone to listen to her, was finally heard. Really heard.
A.S. King is my favorite author of all time. She has impacted me so profoundly, both through meeting her and reading her books. She has this way of peering into my soul and writing the book that I need at exactly the right time. I can truly never describe how grateful I am for her. What she has been through herself is unimaginable, and I want to send her all of my love, just as she has done for me without even knowing it. Thank you, A.S. King, for sharing your voice and stories with the world. You make me want to share mine.
Please pick up your own copy on October 15, and then give one to every person, child and adult, that needs it.
A.S. King is my favorite author of all time. She has impacted me so profoundly, both through meeting her and reading her books. She has this way of peering into my soul and writing the book that I need at exactly the right time. I can truly never describe how grateful I am for her. What she has been through herself is unimaginable, and I want to send her all of my love, just as she has done for me without even knowing it. Thank you, A.S. King, for sharing your voice and stories with the world. You make me want to share mine.
Please pick up your own copy on October 15, and then give one to every person, child and adult, that needs it.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The honesty in A.S. King's books cut through like nothing else. This is how it feels to be twelve.
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
I haven’t picked up any of King’s books before, but when I saw she won the Printz award at ALA this year, I was motivated to check her out. In #theyearwefellfromspace, Liberty is a 12 year old girl starting middle school in the midst of her parents’ divorce. I’ve read many books with young kids of divorced parents, but nothing like this before. Divorce is almost a character in itself, as Liberty grapples with her new family structure, her feelings, her sister’s feelings, and how she is viewed by her classmates. Mental health, therapy, and depression are beautifully discussed. Every character goes to therapy, but we are in the room with Liberty's as she tries to work through her complicated feelings. It was uncomfortable reading about her strained relationship with her father; my heart broke as he drifted away from their family and continuously hurt Liberty and her sister with his silence. But the situation felt realistic, and the way the family ultimately decides to work through the divorce is heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful.
I haven’t picked up any of King’s books before, but when I saw she won the Printz award at ALA this year, I was motivated to check her out. In #theyearwefellfromspace, Liberty is a 12 year old girl starting middle school in the midst of her parents’ divorce. I’ve read many books with young kids of divorced parents, but nothing like this before. Divorce is almost a character in itself, as Liberty grapples with her new family structure, her feelings, her sister’s feelings, and how she is viewed by her classmates. Mental health, therapy, and depression are beautifully discussed. Every character goes to therapy, but we are in the room with Liberty's as she tries to work through her complicated feelings. It was uncomfortable reading about her strained relationship with her father; my heart broke as he drifted away from their family and continuously hurt Liberty and her sister with his silence. But the situation felt realistic, and the way the family ultimately decides to work through the divorce is heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful.
Words cannot express how much I loved this book. It was written perfectly. My parents divorced when I was an adult but everything in this book still rings true. It's so deep for a middle-grade and very moving. READ THIS IF YOU ARE ANYONE YOU LOVE HAS EXPERIENCED A DIVORCE AND/OR ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION!! (Which is what, 99% of us?)