Grace Needs Space!
To the moon and back! A sci-fi middle-grade graphic novel about a young girl’s long-awaited summer trip across space with one of her moms. But when her relationship with her mom goes sideways, so does her trip. Will Grace be able to save her summer vacation before it ends?
Grace is SO EXCITED to fly a freighter from her home space station (and away from her BORING mother Evelyn) to a faraway moon! Plus, she’ll get some quality time with her FUN mom Kendra—something Grace definitely needs. Finally, a real adventure that Grace can get excited about while the rest of her space station friends go away for their summer vacations.
But when Kendra is too focused on work, Grace’s first big trip suddenly becomes kind of lonely. Grace had so many plans for fun. But all it takes is one quick decision to explore the moon by herself before Grace’s adventure suddenly becomes not so out of this world at all. With her mom mad at her, Grace wants nothing more than to return home. Then their ship breaks down. Will Grace be able to get through to her mom and save their trip in the end?
Reviews
"At its heart, this is a classic middle-grade plot of a kid frustrated by being underestimated by a parent, but the space setting makes it a genuine thrill. Perfect for kids who loved Jennifer L. Holm’s Lion of Mars."Booklist, Starred Review!
"A tender story that explores the complexity of familial bonds as deftly as it does the outer regions of space."
"The sci-fi setting creates high stakes for this realistic story of a tween ready for adventure, navigating her relationships with separated parents. Highly recommended; give to fans of Molly Brooks’s 'Sanity & Tallulah.'"
"Wilgus (Chronin) and Abrego (Sprite and the Gardener) skillfully highlight the enormity of the interstellar setting alongside Grace’s intimate personal realizations. Though the story takes place among the cosmos, the earthly truths surrounding love and connection proves artfully rendered."
"Wilgus's authentic conversations between Grace, Evelyn, and Ba both capture emotional moments within families and the uncomfortable situations that arise between grown-ups. A relatable and amusing story for all ages."Shelf Awareness (Kharissa Kenner, children's librarian, Bank Street School for Children)
"This is simply a joy of a book, with words and pictures that work in wonderful harmony to give us a captivating setting, relatable characters, and a thoughtful depiction of family."
"[B]uoyant.... There aren’t terribly high stakes in this novel, and that’s perfectly okay—a few days away from one’s usual routine can spark a lot of new understanding and inspiration."The Bulletin