Greetings from Planet Earth

Reach for this book when your child is starting to ask the hard questions about family history or when you notice them retreating into hobbies to avoid a difficult reality at home. It is a sensitive exploration of a boy named Theo who is caught between the infinite possibilities of the 1977 Voyager mission and the heavy, silent vacuum of his father's absence following the Vietnam War. While the setting is historical, the emotional core is timeless: it deals with the weight of kept secrets and the courage it takes to ask for the truth. This story is ideal for middle-grade readers (ages 9 to 12) who are transitioning into a more complex understanding of their parents as flawed, three-dimensional people. It balances scientific wonder with a realistic look at mental health and grief, providing a safe space for parents to discuss how families heal when they finally start talking. You might choose it to help a child process their own feelings of 'missing' a piece of their family puzzle.