Chasing Jupiter
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
Scarlett Blaine’s life in 1960s Georgia isn’t always easy, especially given her parents’ financial struggles and the fights surrounding her sister Juli’s hippie lifestyle. Then there’s her brother, Cliff. While Scarlett loves him more than anything, there’s no denying his unique behavior leaves Cliff misunderstood and left out. So when he wishes for a rocket to Jupiter, Scarlett agrees to make it happen, no matter how crazy the idea might be.
Raising the rocket money means baking pies, and the farmer’s son, Frank, agrees to provide the peaches if Scarlett will help him talk to Juli. The problem is, Scarlett really enjoys her time with Frank, and finds herself wondering if, someday, they could be more than friends. Just as she thinks everything might be going her way, Cliff suffers an accident that not only affects the rocket plans, but shakes Scarlett’s view of God. As the summer comes to an end, Scarlett must find a way to regain what she’s lost, and also fulfill a promise to launch her brother’s dream.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With a mature voice and descriptive ability that belies her 17 years, Coker (Interrupted) tells the story of Scarlett Blaine, the 16-year-old protagonist of this sweet love story centered on a family in late-1960s Georgia. Scarlett's eccentric younger brother, Cliff, is bent on learning Spanish and building a space rocket. Together, Scarlett and Cliff endeavor to bake and sell peach pies to fund a trip to Jupiter for Cliff, his birthday wish. Along the way, the Blaine family confronts the hardships of caring for Grandpop Barley, a curmudgeon who loves peanut butter, and Scarlett's rebellious older sister, Juli. Minor confusions and repetitions mar Coker's sophomore effort, and not every storyline finds an organic conclusion. Yet the author's passion, along with her gift for description and pace, make up for these small imperfections, as does the pure charm of the narrative. Ages 12 up.
