Jupiter Rising

Schmidt, Gary D. Jupiter Rising. New York: Clarion Books, 2024.
Do we love people for who they are or for what they represent? Jack is mourning the death of his foster brother Joseph. He is also not getting along with his new running partner, Jay, assigned by the cross-country coach. At least Jupiter, Joseph’s young daughter, is still part of the family. But then Jupiter’s maternal grandparents decide they want custody of her. And Jack discovers that his running partner is also mourning a loss: Jupiter’s deceased mother was Jay’s cousin. Sometimes, problems are complex and solutions require a reorientated view of life. This elegantly written yet easy to read novel is highly recommended for readers 12 years old and up. 

More stories by Gary D. Schmidt

More stories about foster families

A Secret Shared

MacLachlan, Patricia. A Secret Shared. New York: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021.
Thanks to the wonders of DNA testing, Norah and Ben stumble upon a secret. Their younger sister, Birdy, is adopted. Should they tell their parents what they’ve discovered? Should they tell Birdy? This 145-page present-tense novel, printed in a relatively large font with widely spaced lines and short paragraphs, is a wonderful story for readers 8 to 12 years old. As with all Patricia MacLachlan stories, the language flows gracefully and the ideas linger in the mind long after the book is closed. Highly recommended, of course.

More novels for younger readers