September 9, 2019
King (Me and Marvin Gardens) capably tackles the complexities of divorce and depression in this multifaceted novel. When 12-year-old narrator Liberty’s parents announce their separation, the budding astronomer—who creates star maps featuring new constellations—plunges into a difficult new reality. Familial change is further impacted by confusing social dynamics at school, where Liberty is outcast from a group of friends; the intense responsibility she feels toward her younger sister Jilly, who ceased going outside following their parents’ separation; and her father’s absence. Anxious Liberty proves keenly observant, piecing together her father’s new relationship and often considering what she has in common with him and how his depression manifests (“It makes him do things like snap or yell or stare into space or drive away for a few hours or sit in a room with no lights on for a day”). The running internal dialogue she conducts with a meteorite that falls to the woods near her home offers insight into her struggles and fears but can break the narrative pace; still, strong character interaction and Liberty’s engaging, often humorous voice make the difficult slice-of-life topics relatable. Ages 8–12.