Clues to the Universe by Christina Lee

Two fatherless middle-graders find solace by joining together on a project and a quest.

Clues to the Universe by Christina Lee. Quill Tree (HarperCollins), 2021, 292 pages

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-14

Benjamin (Benji) Burns has been coasting through school in the shadow of his popular older brother. And of his absent father, who left when Benji was too young to remember him. His hardworking mom refuses to speak about the man, but a recent discovery has shaken Benji’s world: his favorite comic series, Spacebound, was created by his own dad! Not only do they share a last name, but the boy has discovered drawings that bear an uncanny resemblance to Gemma Harris, hero of the Spacebound series. Efforts to contact Dad have failed, so meeting him remains a dream until Benji meets Roselind (Ro) Ling, the new girl in his class.

Ro has recently lost her own father to a drunk driver, and is managing her grief by continuing a rocket-building project they began together: building a rocket. Benji and Ro, thrown together in science class, discover a mutual love of science fiction. Ro is also very interested in science facts, and proposes a dual partnership. If Benji will help with the rocket, Ro will help find David Allen Burns.

Their search takes the form of a quest, with a daring journey, disappointing failures, and ultimate bittersweet victory. The ending doesn’t meet the kids’ expectations, but endings seldom do. Encountering new realities and adjusting for them is a large part of growing up, and Benji and Ro are compelling, distinctive characters who will engage readers’ sympathies.

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.25

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