Chasing JupiterBy Rachel Coker
When the world around you falls apart, dreams are all you have....
But when Cliff and Scarlett watch footage of the moon missions on television, Cliff decides he wants to be the first person to Jupiter. Scarlett determines that Cliff will get his dream and promises to build the rocket to Jupiter. But dreams take money and that is the one thing they don't have.
With the help of Frank Leggett they start making money selling peach pies. Frank's father owns a peach orchard and agrees to supply Scarlett with peaches which she bakes into pies. Frank, with help from Cliff, builds the stand that Scarlett and Cliff use to sell their pies on Saturdays.
On Fridays, after being volunteered by her mother, Scarlett is helping Mrs. Greene cook meals. But in the process she makes a friend who is willing to help her navigate some of the questions that life is throwing at her. The biggest question in Scarlett's life is how to have peace in her life. But Mrs. Greene's answer isn't exactly what Scarlett is looking for.
As Scarlett, Cliff and Frank spend time together they become friends. Scarlett and Frank learn that they are both more than they have appeared to others over the years. Frank is smart and caring and Scarlett is humorous and dedicated to her brother. Frank has a crush on Juli, which hurts Scarlett because she knows that Juli doesn't even know who Frank is and she has developed feelings for this young man who become her friend over the summer.
But when a series of events changes her family forever Scarlett is left to deal with the new reality and her feelings of guilt. Could she have done something different so that tragedy could have been averted? Will the promised rocket to Jupiter ever be built? With her life in turmoil Scarlett finds herself seeking the peace that Mrs. Greene told her about, the peace that will change her from the inside out.
I enjoyed Chasing Jupiter, but when I read the line "Call 911" I had to take a pause. I didn't know the 911 system was in use in 1969. Growing up in Florida I remember when the system started where I lived and it was in the later half of the 1980's. So I had an interesting time doing research on the history of the 911 emergency call system because of this book. If anyone is interested in checking out the website I found click the following to read The History of 911. But back to Chasing Jupiter the characters make you care about them. You identify with their hurts and joys. You feel the guilt that they feel when an accident that could have been prevented wasn't. Don't miss out on this offering from Rachel Coker.
I received a copy of this title from the publisher Zovndervan for the purpose of this review, a favorable review was not a requirement.
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Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Chasing Jupiter by Rachel Coker by clicking on the links above, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.
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About Chasing Jupiter Buy the book at Amazon
Scarlett Blain'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, but also fulfill a promise to launch her brother's dream.
About Rachel Coker
Rachel Coker is a homeschool student who lives in Virginia with her parents and two sisters. She has a passion for great books and has been surrounded by them all her life. In fact, as a young child, Rachel helped her parents in a family-run Christian book business. Her gift for writing became apparent at the age of eleven at which time her parents signed her up for a year of lessons with a professional writing coach. When she is not writing or playing the piano, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
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