Reasons to Look at the Night Sky

Gr 4-7–Eleven-year-old Luna prefers the dependability of science and math, but a substitute teacher inspires her to see how art can complement facts in a science unit about stars. Luna is obsessed with space and just knows she will be an astronaut among the stars someday. That plan starts by securing a spot in a NASA summer camp and thriving in her science class, but substitute teacher Ms. Manitowabi changes everything at school, just as things are changing for Luna at home. Daniel crafts a diverse cast of characters in this novel in verse, including a secondary character who uses "they/their" pronouns. Luna’s race is not specified nor is her friend Maggie Cho’s (a budding environmentalist), but we learn they live in Ottawa, Canada. Luna’s father is an astronomer and uses a wheelchair, her mother is a florist and poet. Luna’s dependence on routine and a deep focus on one interest are part of her challenges to adapt but are not treated as deterrents, and she is willing to work on embracing new things. Daniel implements the phases of the moon as section headings and includes Ojibwe sky stories as excellent complements to Luna’s story.