Welcome to Litsy!

This was a great read! I thought the author did a really good job of setting the tone of the household they lived in, and how when something happened to cause it to shift the three siblings learned too rely on each other.

Just finished my project for the winter break. It seemed only logical to put it on my book shelf!

Reading my #bookspin in the mountains, I love seeing the snow outside the window while I read!

1. Ahead of schedule
2. I actually don‘t own many books so I tend to focus on my TBR instead.
#two4tuesday @thespineview

To read this middle grade, I had to get over the fact that it is historical fiction about something that happened in my childhood. This book follows three siblings who are learning about space in anticipation of the Challenger space shuttle launch in 1986. I knew it would be sad, but I didn‘t expect the sadness to come from the children‘s family life. I enjoyed it, but it could have used a few more chapters to show how the MCs end up.

The Challenger explosion was a major event in my childhood, yet I think this is the first book I‘ve read that is set specifically at that time. The 3 siblings are dealing with their parents constant fighting in different ways, as well as navigating 7th grade. The author brilliantly keeps the reader in that time and place while working through emotions that are timeless. Great middle grade read.

I read 5 books for #MiddleGradeMarchThroughTime, and really enjoyed the journey! I met da Vinci‘s assistant Salai in early 1500s Milan, I watched as Dutch children in the early 1900s worked to attract storks to their village, and I traveled with Rifka Nebrot as her family fled the Russian pogroms in 1919. I spent time on a kibbutz in Israel during the 1967 Six Days War, and saw the Challenger explosion through the eyes of middle-schoolers in 1986.

I don‘t really know how to review this one… the writing was excellent and the characters felt very real to me. I think that was part of the problem - I just feel so sad for these kids, each orbiting alone around this broken, dysfunctional family. I think I saw another review that used the word bleak, and that‘s honestly the perfect word. Maybe it would have made the story less realistic, but I wanted more hope for these kids at the conclusion.

I enjoyed the glimpse into what life may have been like as a child when the Challenger was all people could talk about.

March Book 10/25 #LitsyLove #bookspinbingo

This week has been more exhausting than it has any right to be... settling in for some mindless #audioknitting with my next #MiddleGradeMarchThroughTime book!

Took me smack dab back into sixth grade. Back into my own dysfunctional family and knowing my siblings were my rock. Back into knowing a teacher like my own Ms. Cole was going into outer space. Back to looking for Halley's Comet in my backyard. Wow!!! #MGBuddyRead @megnews

3✨This book follows the historical happenings of the Challenger spacecraft tragedy. I was in the womb but not born yet for this event, but remember watching a video about it in science and feeling broken hearted at the loss. The book has teen drama like bullying and relationships. Sorry I would have more, but was trying to read it with a sick 18 month old needing a lot of mommy time. Read for #MGBuddyRead @megnews

Posting #mgbuddyread discussion questions now because I‘ve got a busy day. Join when you can. They‘ll be tagged with a spoiler alert so check my page for the rest of the questions.

This month‘s #MGBuddyRead was another excellent MG historical fiction piece, so it fits in well with my #MiddleGradeMarchThroughTime list. I was too young in ‘86 to be aware of the Challenger launch and disaster, but not so young that I was unaware of the general mood of the country and I can tell they really got that right. Things like the parents‘ conflicts over women‘s rights and the social conflicts the kids face at school all felt spot on.

Oh my heart! MG historical fiction done right. Took me right back to 1986. I cannot wait to discuss with #MGBuddyRead Saturday!
#MiddleGradeMarchThroughTime
#RoadTripUSA2022 DE

Here's the stack I will be pulling from for #MiddleGradeMarchThroughTime - there's no way I get through all of them, but I'm looking forward to challenging myself to read as many as I can! @megnews @sblbooks

For anyone interested in the March #mgbuddyread. See @megnews to get added to the tag last.

Reminder of March #MGBuddyRead, a novel about the 1986 Challenger explosion. If you aren‘t tagged here and would like to be please let me know. All welcome!

I don‘t actually remember the Challenger explosion, but it was still a bit strange to listen to a story about a historical event within my lifetime. This is a story of 3 siblings with little in common except class with a teacher who is spending the weeks leading up to the Challenger launch with related lessons. I liked each sibling‘s story and how they came together in the end, but somehow I wanted more.

#MiddleGrade #audiobook #TRS2021

Lovely middle-grade fiction by a great writer. This story is about three siblings, and takes place in 1986 when the space shuttle Challenger exploded. Touches on themes of families, neglect, relationships, and self-confidence. Terrific read.

I've got the book! Although once again, I have to finish my book club book before I can read it. Hopefully this weekend... What works for you? #buddyread
@BucklingBookshelves

#middlegrade

Such a lovely story about three middle school siblings in the 1980s navigating family dysfunction, failing grades, new friendships, and figuring out where they belong in this world. Set during the months & days leading up to the Challenger Disaster of 1986. I loved 12-year-old Bird‘s schematics interspersed throughout the book. #middlegrade

A Newbery honor book set in the 80s about a dysfunctional family and how they navigate life.

This is a odd book about family dynamics, was a intriguing read, interesting to learn about The Challenger incident though so grateful to have learnt about that. 3.75/5
Read for the April #Buzzwordathon - April is space words.

I LOVED this book!!! I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into until I heard The Challenger and unfortunately I knew what happened before I read it. Besides that i love how this dealt with a family that sounded so true and marriage and sibling relationships and just the whole dynamic of this family. I love how you got the point of view from each of the 3 children and their thoughts and worries. A wonderful middle grade book A+

Middle Grade book #18. I was really disappointed with this book. The parents were awful. Some families might be like that, but it seemed to cast the idea that women in the 80‘s were that dissatisfied. Why did we need to hear about that? The focus was the children and how the Challenger disaster affected them, especially Bird. They were more concerned for their family and each other than their parents. #100YEARS100BOOKS #BookSpinBingo #17 #MGMarch

I‘ve seen a lot of so-so ratings for this book, and I understand why. Three siblings are going through some significant emotional struggles at home and school. Throughout the whole book my heart goes out to them, and I just want things to turn around for each of them. Readers get a glimmer of hope toward the end, but it‘s not quite enough. The ending needs to resolve more of the family‘s issues and be a bit more encouraging. Powerful story though.

I was home sick from elementary school when the Challenger exploded. Adults - at least the ones I knew - didn‘t really talk to us about the trauma we kids felt. I found this audiobook almost relentlessly depressing with a glimmer at the end. #audiostitching

This was much sadder than you expect a children's book to be.

Next read. Set in 1986. Challenger, my 8th grade year. Historical fiction. Wow!

Catching up on some #bibliomaynia . This new book by Kelly is not #setinouterspace but instead takes place in 1986 just before the launch of The Challenger and focuses on 3 siblings, one who wants to join NASA, and their science teacher who was an applicant for the Teacher Space program.

Received this ARC today from Harper Collins!! Can‘t wait to read this!!!