TAKING OFF, by Jenny Moss

Taking Off, by Jenny Moss
Walker, 2011
YA historical

Okay, so I feel odd calling this book that takes place in the mid-80s "historical," as I was ALIVE then, but I can't quite call it contemporary when I add up the years, so.... It reads like it's happening right now, though, so maybe that is helpful to know.

Annie lives in Crystal Lake, Texas, where nearly everyone in town is associated with NASA. Things are good--she's a senior, one of her close friends has been her boyfriend for the past two years, and if you ask either her boyfriend Mark (who thinks they should get married and stay in Clear Lake after graduation) or her best friend Lea (who wants Annie to go to the same college with her), Annie's life seems pretty much mapped out. But Annie's not sure she wants to do all that. In contrast to everyone else in town, it seems, Annie's not interested in space. She wants to be a poet.

When Lea twists her arm into attending a dinner party full of astronauts, Annie meets Christa MacAuliffe, the woman chosen from thousands to be the first teacher in space. Christa's exuberance for life and for following her own dreams inspires Annie to stand up for what she wants instead of following everyone else's plans for her. When launch time comes, Annie convinces her somewhat-unreliable dad, plus a young coworker of his, to take a road trip to Cape Canaveral, Florida to see the launch in person. Even though I know what happens to the Challenger, I couldn't help feeling the excitement and anticipation of being there right along with Annie.

This book felt to me like one of those songs that sound quiet but have a growing tension in the underlying accompaniment and that build into something important. A great tribute to Christa MacAuliffe and the shuttle system (which is being phased out this year), as well as a nod to teachers everywhere and the importance of following your dreams.

The Lost Thing, by Shaun Tan

Normally I am completely uninterested in the film industry, but I see that the Oscars are tonight and that Shaun Tan's film of his book The Lost Thing won for best animated short film! My 10YO LOVES Tan's work, and the film version of this story is just lovely. You can see it here. Enjoy!