In "Planet Earth is Blue" by Nicole Panteleakos, Nova is a 12-year-old non-verbal girl with autism who is in foster care. Nova and her older sister, Bridget, have been passed between foster and group homes since Nova was very young. Bridget has been Nova's primary champion and interpreter through it all as she understands Nova when no one else can.
Unfortunately, Bridget and Nova are separated right now. Nova is with a new foster family who seems to understand and support her more than previous families. Nova has been labeled non-verbal, severely mentally challenged and unable to read or write. But her new family comes to realize those things are not entirely true. Nova is extremely bright but unable to communicate with those around her.
Nova is also a space buff and is eagerly awaiting the launch of the Challenger spacecraft and the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliff. Her class is going to watch the launch, and Nova counts down the days because Bridget has promised to be there with her.
As the day of the launch arrives, we know what is going to happen. I remember watching the Challenger launch with my class just as Nova does. The explosion and aftermath were hard to comprehend and heartbreaking. The disaster forces Nova to realize Bridget is not coming back. It forces her to remember why she is alone and what happened to Bridget.
This was one of the best audiobooks I have listened to in a while. It was riveting, and I was sincerely invested in Nova's story. I am not sure I would have had the same experience if I had read it. The narrator, Dylan Moore, does an amazing job translating Nova's "sounds" into words with meanings.
An intuitive reader will realize something has happened to Bridget since she is not with Nova, but it is still heartbreaking to learn the truth as Nova learns it. I was thrilled that she had found such a supportive family though. The depiction of Nova's foster family is truly wonderful, and you hope that children like Nova in real life have such supportive families.
Angie Bayne is the children's services manager and collection development manager at Missouri River Regional Library.