We Dream of Space

Reach for this book when your child feels like an outsider in their own home or is struggling with the pressure of high expectations. It is a deeply empathetic look at the lives of three very different siblings, Bird, Fitch, and Cash, as they navigate the weeks leading up to the 1986 Challenger launch. While the backdrop is historical and scientific, the heart of the story is the emotional landscape of a family where the parents are often arguing and the children are left to find their own ways to belong. It is perfect for middle-grade readers who are starting to realize that the adults in their lives are flawed. You might choose this book to help a child process sibling dynamics, academic frustration, or the quiet loneliness of being a dreamer in a loud world. It provides a safe space to discuss how we cope when big dreams, or even our heroes, fall short.