This post was originally published on this site.
If you are drawn to novels that are full of perseverance and quiet hope, then you need to read Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt. Orbiting Jupiter is one of the novels that we are encouraging people to read in companion to The Wednesday Wars for this year’s Big Read Lakeshore program.
What It’s About
The novel is told from the perspective of Jack, whose parents adopt a 14-year-old who is a father. Jack’s new brother, Joseph, has a troubled past. Fresh out of juvie, Joseph struggles with the death of his girlfriend and the loss of his child, Jupiter.
Although Joseph starts out shy and defensive, he soon finds his place on the farm where they live. Sometime between milking the cows and ice skating on the pond, Joseph learns to trust Jack and his parents. And for Christmas, they promise to help Joseph find his daughter.
A lot of Orbiting Jupiter takes place in winter, and the serene feeling of snow falling perfectly encompasses the mood of the book. On the peaceful farm, Joseph’s perseverance and hope in his daughter leads to a series of small miracles. Jack soon realizes how valuable family is for the healing process and helping miracles happen.
Why Read It
People of all ages will enjoy Orbiting Jupiter. As a short novel, every single sentence is essential to the themes of family, resilience, and hope.
Teachers can use Orbiting Jupiter in the classroom to teach their students how to get through the hard parts of life with the help of others. Young people especially need to know how important hope and fighting for what you believe in is. If you are a teacher planning on using Orbiting Jupiter, use these teacher resources we have prepared for you.
Adults will love all the same things about Orbiting Jupiter that students love; however, they will also appreciate the understated beauty of Schmidt’s prose. If you are in a book club (or are just reading it on your own), use these resources.
We are so excited for everyone to join the Big Read Lakeshore in reading Gary D. Schmidt’s books! Come hear from him at the Author Keynote Address November 16 in Graves Hall, Hope College at 7:00 p.m. And on November 17, you can come to the Gary Byker Library in Hudsonville to hear Gary talk about Orbiting Jupiter at 6:00 p.m. If you want to learn more about this year’s program or know when our other events are, check out our website.
The post The Value of Quiet Hope in Orbiting Jupiter appeared first on Big Read Lakeshore.
