
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a parent's sudden emotional or physical absence, or when they start asking 'big' questions about the universe and faith. Ivy's mother has unexpectedly left to find herself at a spiritual retreat, leaving Ivy in a state of confusion and longing. To cope, Ivy teams up with a space-obsessed boy named Paul Walden to embark on a secret quest across Texas to find her mom and witness a space shuttle launch. This story beautifully balances the heavy reality of family abandonment with the lighthearted wonder of a summer adventure. It provides a safe space for children ages 8 to 12 to explore themes of religious doubt, scientific curiosity, and the realization that parents are flawed human beings. It is an excellent choice for normalizing feelings of resentment and hope during times of family transition.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewTwo children traveling alone on a bus and navigating a large city.
Protagonist lies to her father and runs away to find her mother.
The book deals directly with parental abandonment and religious cult-like behavior. The mother's departure is treated realistically, not metaphorically. The resolution is hopeful but grounded: Ivy finds her mom, but she must accept that her mother is a complex, sometimes unreliable person. Religion is explored through a lens of questioning and personal seeking.
A 10-year-old who feels like the 'grown-up' in their house or a child who loves astronomy but also wonders about the 'why' of the world. It's perfect for kids who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of travel.
Read cold, but be ready to discuss why a mother might choose to leave her child, as this can be frightening for some readers. A parent might see their child becoming unusually cynical about family promises or expressing deep loneliness despite being in a two-parent household.
Younger readers will focus on the 'runaway' adventure and the cool space facts. Older readers (11-12) will pick up on the nuanced critique of organized religion and the protagonist's growing emotional maturity.
Unlike many 'missing parent' books, this one uniquely ties the search for a person to the scientific awe of space exploration, bridging the gap between faith and physics.
Ivy is dealing with the fallout of her mother leaving their small town for a religious retreat called The Great Good. Feeling abandoned and skeptical of her father's passive approach, she befriends Paul Walden, a boy obsessed with the Cape Canaveral shuttle launch. Together, they hatch a plan to travel to the coast, combining Ivy's search for her mother with Paul's dream of seeing the final shuttle flight. Their journey is one of self-discovery, friendship, and reconciling science with faith.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.