Scarlett Blaine’s life in 1960s Georgia isn’t always easy, especially given her parents’ financial struggles and the fights surrounding her sister Juli’s hippie lifestyle. Then there’s her brother, Cliff. While Scarlett loves him more than anything, there’s no denying his unique behavior leaves Cliff misunderstood and left out. So when he wishes for a rocket to Jupiter, Scarlett agrees to make it happen, no matter how crazy the idea might be.
Raising the rocket money means baking pies, and the farmer’s son, Frank, agrees to provide the peaches if Scarlett will help him talk to Juli. The problem is, Scarlett really enjoys her time with Frank, and finds herself wondering if, someday, they could be more than friends. Just as she thinks everything might be going her way, Cliff suffers an accident that not only affects the rocket plans, but shakes Scarlett’s view of God. As the summer comes to an end, Scarlett must find a way to regain what she’s lost, and also fulfill a promise to launch her brother’s dream.
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Sexual Content - 0/5
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Violence - 0/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
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Summary
Overall I met Rachel Coker at the ICRS this year. I am new to her writing and Chasing Jupiter is my first book of hers to read. Rachel is an amazingly talented teen
writer and a very sweet person. Chasing Jupiter is a story about family and all its baggage. The story was heartbreaking, humorous, and sweet. Scarlett was the glue
that kept the family together. Cliff is her unusual brother who wants a rocket to Jupiter. Rachel was accurate in her descriptions of Cliff’s unusual behavior. You assume Cliff is autistic although his behavior does not have a name or label in 1969. Frank is the boy next door who saves injured animals and helps Scarlett with her
promise to Cliff. The family dynamics felt real. I gave Chasing Jupiter five stars since it had me so emotionally invested I cried. I highly recommend Chasing
Jupiter to any young adult.
Sexual content: a kiss