Orbiting Jupiter

By Gary D. Schmidt

Book Overview

In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.

Two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter.

After spending time in a juvenile facility, he's placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost.

When Jack meets his new foster brother, he knows three things about him:

Joseph almost killed a teacher.He was incarcerated at a place called Stone Mountain.He has a daughter. Her name is Jupiter. And he has never seen her.

What Jack doesn't know, at first, is how desperate Joseph is to find his baby girl. Or how urgently he, Jack, will want to help.

But the past can't be shaken off. Even as new bonds form, old wounds reopen. The search for Jupiter demands more from Jack than he can imagine.

This tender, heartbreaking novel is Gary D. Schmidt at his best. He is the author of the Printz Honor and Newbery Honor Book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy; Okay for Now, a National Book Award finalist; and The Wednesday Wars, a Newbery Honor Book, among his many acclaimed novels for young readers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0544938399
• ISBN13: 9780544938397
• Release Date: May 2017
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Small but mighty!

Nothing complex literarily as it’s designed for younger readers with a twelve year old boy narrating the story but boy, this packs an emotional punch! A candid and unpretentious tale about a fourteen year old boy in foster care who has a daughter. It touches on abuse, love, fatherhood, trauma, friendship, sacrifice, loss, legacy and hope. In all my years looking after children in government care, every kid needs and deserves to have someone to love them and to advocate for them 😭. A heartstring gripper for sure, this was moving and powerful in a stripped back, unfussy way. I didn’t expect to cry, but cry I did. I both loved and hated it! EDIT: A month later and I can’t stop thinking about this book. Have decided to upgrade from 4.5-5⭐️ rating.

Beautifully heartbreaking

This is an easy read as the words just continue to flow so effortlessly. Be warned if you’re a crier to get ready.

A book so short but made me cry so much genuinely love it

Cried

I couldn't put it down

My sister recommended me this book a while ago and I didn't even give it a second thought and just forgot about it. Later on I found it in my local library and checked it out. I read it all in one sitting and have reread it multiple times. I got so tired of checking it out I just decided to buy it. I highly recommend even just once, it is super fast to read and super engulfing.

Orbiting Jupiter

I found myself put off by the summary of this book, thinking it was not something I would enjoy, however with nothing better to do, I decided to read it anyway. And I was right, there was nothing better that I could have done. Read the book, it will not disappoint.