Orbiting Jupiter

De: Gary D. Schmidt

Narrado por: Christopher Gebauer

The two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at 13, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he's placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets 12-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.

©2015 Gary D. Schmidt (P)2015 Recorded Books

Crushingly beautiful

Among other things, I am an 8th grade teacher and former foster parent. This book is devastatingly realistic; I felt gutted at the end; wrenched by feelings in the way that only a master storyteller can evoke. I wish every student (and every adult) could read this book and understand that Joseph is sitting in our classroom every day.

Brought up so many emotions I never knew I had

I had read this in middle school but never fully grasped at what the story was about. Reading it again and a whole new world of emotions and controversy was open to me. My eyes were opened from this book and I am so happy that I read it.

Character development was superb.

The narrator is fantastic! He really captured me and I don’t know if I would have liked it as much as I do without him, he really pulled me in. He is a wonderful story teller, very much like listening to David Sedaris. It is a beautiful story about kindness, family, love, hope and loss.

Hold your heart

Can't say this is a happy story, but it definitely hit me right in the heart. One of those books that makes me wish I were the characters. The performance is spot on.

Well...

This book was great but had a tough ending. I think this story is a good fit for upper middle school.