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A review by theeuphoriczat
Finding Jupiter by Kelis Rowe
4.0
You have to absolutely read this for yourself, it is pure magic.
We follow Ray and Orion as they cross paths for the first time in a roller rink in Memphis. Ray is home for the summer. They meet, Orion is crushing hard on Ray, he was just so cute (but it was refreshing to see a young black boy be allowed to be young and have a wholesome crush), he was so shy when he met her and while he wanted to seem calm and collected around her, he just could not. Also seeing Orion through Ray's eyes was just so cute, having dealt with the grief associated with a father that died the night she was born (I love how this feeling was layered, more than grief, she just did not know how to feel), she has kept her heart guarded. Until Orion came bulldozing in. (I don't want to spoil it).
The writing is so beautiful, easy to read, poetic in its elegance and each conversation between Jupiter and Orion just moves you closer to the stars. I will stop gushing now. If you like poetry (as much as I do) then you will love the writing in this book.
I want to really thanks to the author for writing such a beautiful story. It tells young black boys that they can be young and in love and there is nothing wrong with being vulnerable and accepting of love. It tells young black girls that it is okay to be who you are, be assertive, be in love, be angry, be open to change and be ready for happiness. We don't see that a lot in YA, black relationships tend to centre a lot of black trauma from adultification of children to police brutality, but this is breath of fresh air. We can love and be happy, the young CAN be young, make mistakes and find happiness, no matter how brief.
Thanks to Tandem Collective UK for making this book available to me as part of the readalong
We follow Ray and Orion as they cross paths for the first time in a roller rink in Memphis. Ray is home for the summer. They meet, Orion is crushing hard on Ray, he was just so cute (but it was refreshing to see a young black boy be allowed to be young and have a wholesome crush), he was so shy when he met her and while he wanted to seem calm and collected around her, he just could not. Also seeing Orion through Ray's eyes was just so cute, having dealt with the grief associated with a father that died the night she was born (I love how this feeling was layered, more than grief, she just did not know how to feel), she has kept her heart guarded. Until Orion came bulldozing in. (I don't want to spoil it).
The writing is so beautiful, easy to read, poetic in its elegance and each conversation between Jupiter and Orion just moves you closer to the stars. I will stop gushing now. If you like poetry (as much as I do) then you will love the writing in this book.
I want to really thanks to the author for writing such a beautiful story. It tells young black boys that they can be young and in love and there is nothing wrong with being vulnerable and accepting of love. It tells young black girls that it is okay to be who you are, be assertive, be in love, be angry, be open to change and be ready for happiness. We don't see that a lot in YA, black relationships tend to centre a lot of black trauma from adultification of children to police brutality, but this is breath of fresh air. We can love and be happy, the young CAN be young, make mistakes and find happiness, no matter how brief.
Thanks to Tandem Collective UK for making this book available to me as part of the readalong