Light From Other Stars by Erika Swyler was not at all what I was expecting, but I was completely ok with that. This was a book that I picked up on a whim at BookExpo 2019, without knowing much, mostly because of the cover.
(PHOTO CREDIT: SARAH READS BOOKS)
About the Book:
Eleven-year-old Nedda Papas is obsessed with becoming an astronaut. In 1986 in Easter, a small Florida Space Coast town, her dreams seem almost within reach—if she can just grow up fast enough. Theo, the scientist father she idolizes, is consumed by his own obsessions. Laid off from his job at NASA and still reeling from the loss of Nedda’s newborn brother several years before, Theo turns to the dangerous dream of extending his living daughter's childhood just a little longer. The result is an invention that alters the fabric of time.
Decades later, Nedda has achieved her long-held dream, and as she floats in antigravity, far from earth, she and her crewmates face a serious crisis. Nedda may hold the key to the solution, if she can come to terms with her past and the future that awaits her.
Verdict:
I loved the science in this book. It wasn't overdone, and it was laid out in a way that was easy to follow without getting lost in the details. Swyler's writing of an eleven-year-old voice was authentic and fun to read. I found myself really getting into Nedda's head and putting myself in her shoes. With that being said, I thought alternating between young Nedda and astronaut Nedda was a nice touch. You could really see the impact of past events and her relationship with her father on her adult self.
If science fiction isn't your thing or you feel intimidated by it, this would be a good book to start with. Also, if you want to sip on a yummy drink while reading, check out this recipe I made for Orange Dreamsicles!
Comments