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Reviewed by: Ana Canino-Fluit, Elementary School Librarian Title: Grace Needs Space! Author: Benjamin A. Wilgus Publisher: RH Graphic
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 3-7 Genre/Type of Book: Science Fiction
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: One of Grace's parents is non-binary Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I added it for LGBTQ rep and SEL connections. If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: Grace needs Space! is gripping, emotionally poigniant and beautifully illustrated. Grace might live in space but her life is incredibly grounded and relatable.
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Review:
In Grace needs Space!, Grace is a typical tween except she just happens to live on a space station. At the start of the story Grace is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her ba, Kendra. Kendra is a transport pilot and is taking Grace along with them for a two week delivery trip to the moon colony of Titan. Grace has been looking forward to this trip for months, but the reality just doesn’t match her expectations. Since her ba used to working alone, is often too busy to interact with her or canceling plans at the last minute. Once on Titan, Grace meets some local kids, while exploring on her own since once again her ba is busy with unexpected work issues. The kids invite her along to their field trip to Kraken Mare, a place Grace has long wanted to visit. While the visit starts off great, Grace ends up being left behind in a secure area after becoming overwhelmed. The near disaster, leads to Kendra curtailing Grace’s exploration privileges but still not spending time with her. On their way back to Genova Station, Grace’s home station, Kendra’s ship starts experiencing issues, and Grace defies Kendra to communicate the problems to her other mom Evelyn. Evelyn comes to help, discovering the true cause of the malfunction and the whole experience makes Grace see Evelyn, the mom she lives with most of the time in a different light.
I loved this book. It deals with typical kid problems like inter-family communication, absent parents, anxiety and loneliness in atypical setting.The non-binary and diverse family representation (inter-racial and LGBTQIA+) is matter-a-fact yet subtle.
This book is a great book for kids who love Raina Telgemeier but are open to reading something set in space, introducing them to science-fiction.
Rep notes: Grace and Evelyn Mendez are dark-skinned, while Kendra Mendez is light-skinned.
Kendra Mendez uses Mx. as their honorific.
Number of party hats:
