Saturday, May 25, 2013

Chasing Jupiter

Title: Chasing Jupiter Author: Rachel Coker Publisher: Zonderkidz Copyright Date: 2013
When the world around you falls apart, dreams are all you have. 

Rachel Coker’s debut novel Interrupted was a captivating love story set during World War II. Her sophomore novel, Chasing Jupiter, is set in 1969, starring the Blaine family . . . which is known for its eccentricities.

Scarlett Blaine stars as the first-person voice of this original narrative. Her father is employed on a nearby peach farm, her mother works at an old plantation’s bed-and-breakfast, her sister Juli is the pretty and popular hippie girl, and her grandfather is a crotchety old man losing his memory. And then there’s Cliff, the ten-year-old autistic kid whose problems weren’t understood well in the ’60s. Cliff’s dream is to fly to Jupiter—along with his love of Spanish ways and arranging cans. And despite everything, Scarlett will find a way to  give him his dream.

Like in Interrupted, most of the characters are well-crafted. The only one I don’t feel I “got to know” well enough was Scarlett’s mother. I can’t even remember what she looked like, or whether Miss Coker described her at all. The story being told in first-person, it is much easier to understand Scarlett and the immense difficulties she faces growing up in a nearly “dysfunctional” family. The plot is also cute and sweet, romantic and not entirely cliché, as Interrupted ended up being (slightly). Miss Coker did have a few grammatical issues, and there were also some editing mistakes—both things I found in Interrupted also. The Christian message was good, but not brilliant, and not as focal as it at first appeared to be. As with the previous novel, the dashing hero and the lovely heroine (okay, I’m exaggerating) don’t both seem to become Christians. 

Chasing Jupiter was a lovely read sincerely recommended to readers. Oh, I have a question, too: do you find me able to give you adequate information with shorter book reviews, or would you rather I return to longer ones?

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

18 comments:

  1. Oh yes I read that book! I think I cried during the whole last half of the book! To me; the ending was terrible ;( I just really hate books that end sad. But great review =D

    P.S. I was wondering; How do you get the " you might also like" thing under your posts? I can't figure out how to get it on my blog =/

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    1. The ending was sort of sad, but I'm glad she didn't end on a cliche note and fix everything all happy.

      Oh, help. My sister Hallie (halliejophotography.blogspot.com) was the one who helped me to figure this out. I will head to your blog and try to tell you the HTML code from there.

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    2. That's your sister?? Wow - I have been following her as well because I love her photos. Had no idea you two were sisters. :)

      Rebecca

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    3. Yeah :) I'm superbly proud of her.

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  2. I want to read this book very much! Ahhh! Okay. I think i need to buy it or something.

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    1. You know, you can always contact Rachel's publicist for a book to review on your blog, and she'll send you free copies! Here's Candice's email: candice(at)djccommunications(dot)com.

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  3. I also can't wait to read this one!!!:) Man, I keep having follower problems. Because you just unfollowed me!?!?!?!?

    Layla.

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    1. This one is really good--have fun!

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    2. Also, I'm once again not following you!!!!!

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    3. Do you mean you're not wanting to follow me or the thing won't let you? Because the thing should be working.... It says I've got 38 followers.

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    4. Oh, I figured it out! I just accidentally switched a setting:( Sorry...

      Layla.

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    5. Oh, it's fine! Don't worry about it.

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  4. This book sounds incredibly interesting, and I have heard mention of Rachel Coker from a few friends. I will be looking her up! :)

    Rebecca

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    1. She is wonderful! I think this book is even better than Interrupted--I don't exactly *like* it better, but you can tell that she's improved as an author.

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  5. WOW! This book was spectacular. So mature for such a young author.

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    1. I know, isn't she wonderful? It was better than a lot of books I've read that were written by much older authors.

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  6. Loved this book, Hannah.

    Yes, I did read it today. (Laid in bed practically all day long with cramps. :( ). Anyway, loved it and was very impressed. Her stories are interesting and really draw you in, and you feel like you can totally feel the confusion and pain the characters are feeling.

    I will definitely be recommending Chasing Jupiter to everyone I know that reads!! :)

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    1. Oh, I'm sorry you weren't feeling well...that stinks. But it was a really sweet story, wasn't it? I know, I'll be recommending it too!

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