Thank you #NetGalley and #GirlFridayBooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
After Anna is orphaned, she is packed off to Uncle Jack’s research farm. Because Anna’s eyes are always on the sky (and her heart is in space), she notices that there’s something unusual about the sky around the farm. Strange lights and odd noises lead Anna to befriend Mara, an unusual woman who lives in an…unusual…home on the shores of a nearby lake. Anna quickly learns that Mara is more than she first appears.
Numerous elements and episodes of the story are firmly rooted in popular culture. Rather than making the story trite, these roots help the story feel like a modern twist on that which we already know. Time travel, wormholes, and creatures from other dimensions combine to make this fast-paced story work. Anna’s innate curiosity elevates these potentially scary elements to pure adventure as she embraces new experiences and new friends.
I loved the discussion on contemporary agricultural practices and the need to find ways to sustainably farm for a growing population. The diverse cast of characters make clear that sustainable agriculture is a worldwide issue. This important aspect of the story is accessible without being patronizing to young people.
Engaging characters makes this a fun read that explores deeper themes such as friendship, finding purpose, and finding hope in an often confusing world. This book is great for middle school and early high school age kids, those who like a splash of science in their stories, and those who always try to do the right thing.
