Catch A Falling Star

Catch a Falling Star
Written by Meg McKinlay
Middle Grade, Historical, Contemporary, #LoveOZMG
Published March 1st 2019
256 Pages
Thank you to Walker Books Australia
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★★★★☆
It’s 1979 and the sky is falling. Skylab, that is. Somewhere high above Frankie Avery, one of the world’s first space stations is tumbling to Earth. And rushing back with it are old memories. Things twelve year old Frankie thought she’d forgotten. Things her mum won’t talk about, and which her little brother Newt never knew. Only did he? Does he? Because as Skylab circles closer, Newt starts acting strangely. And while the world watches the sky, Frankie keeps her own eyes on Newt. Because if anyone’s going to keep him safe, it’s her. It always has been. But maybe this is something bigger than splinters and spiders and sleepwalking. Maybe a space station isn’t the only thing heading straight for calamity.
Frankie Avery is watching the skies high above her small town in Western Australia where six years prior, revolutionary space station Skylab was launched into orbit. NASA estimates that Skylab will fall to earth within the next few months, reigniting memories of six year old Frankie, two year old brother Newt and their father in their makeshift star observatory, teaching his children about the limitless depths of space before he disappeared from their lives.

The ramshackle observatory sits derelict, high on the hill holding secrets lost to time. Secrets of a father who is no longer of this world. Of a grieving family, an absent mother and a space station that is falling to Earth on the anniversary of her father's disappearance.

Frankie Avery is a wonderful young lady and narrator of Catch A Falling Star. She's mature beyond her years and currently cares for her brother, the namesake of scientific revolutionary Sir Issac Newton. Caring for Newt is a full time position and while Frankie juggles school, her homework and Newt's endless scientific experiments, she feels the frustration of friend Kat who adores Newt but would like to spend time with her best friend without her little brother tagging along. Frankie's mother works long hours, a nurse at the local hospital who is often late home and asks Frankie to prepare dinner and take responsibility for Newt.

Twelve year old Frankie just wants to please others, her mother, best friend Kat and keep Newt safe from harm, usually of his own doing but as the coverage of Skylab saturates the media, Newt begins tracking the falling space station, collecting information, articles and media reports to piece together when Skylab will fall to Earth. As an infant, Newt was always destined for the stars and although he can't remember, would sit upon his father's knee and watch the skies from their wooden observatory. With their mother working long into the night, Frankie and Newt only have one another and a dusty photo album that contains their father's life.

My heart ached for all Frankie endured, the loss of her father, the responsibility placed upon her young shoulders and the grief she suppresses to maintain the balance at home. I loved the nostalgic Australiana of the late seventies, the feeling of warm summer nights, freshly cut grass and walking to the local milk bar barefooted. Meg McKinlay has created a wonderfully gentle narrative, beautifully tender and an exploration of the many facets of grief and how is reshapes families. Absolutely loved it to the moon and back. 

19 comments

  1. Frankie sounds like an easy character to pull for and care about. What a lot of responsibility she had on her young shoulders! Sounds like it tackles grief in a very real way. Lovely review!

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    1. It was so lovely Tanya and a novel that both middle grade and young adult readers will be enamoured with. I loved the inclusion of Skylab, even being Australian I didn't know anything about it prior to Catch A Falling Star, thoroughly enjoyed it.

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  2. I am a sucker for these books, where children are asked to assume the responsibilities of their grown ups. Sounds like this author executed the story really well too. The touches of science are like a whole other layer of wonderful for me, because I love science.

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    1. That initially lured me in, the fallen space station but what I ended up with was such a wonderfully warm and beautiful story of grief and mending hearts after we lose those we love most. An enchanting read!

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  3. Aw, Added! Is it bad I would read it for the cover alone?

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    1. The cover is stunning isn't it! I would have picked it up for that alone but it's a beautiful book Noel, I think you'll really enjoy it.

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  4. Frankie sounds like such a wonderful young lady. I'm sure I'd really feel for her too, having to take care of her little brother, while still trying to be a young girl and have fun. Thank you so much for sharing.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I have abs no doubt you'll adore this Lauren, it's so lovely and gentle. I'd love to see what you think of it!

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  5. I don't read MG but this cover is so cute! But wow, such huge respknsability. I'd be feeling for Frankie a lot. Kind of wondering how the author tackled this for someone so young and to be presented to this audience. Very intrigued! Again, love that cover! Lovely review!
    Genesis @ Whispering Chapters

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    1. It's very much a cross category novel with Frankie being twelve years old. It's upper middle grade but lower young adult and I love those in between books.

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  6. I hadn't heard of this book prior to reading your review, but it sounds like such a beautiful story. Definitely one I could see myself enjoying. Great review!

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    1. It's magnificent Suzanne, such a gentle contemporary with lots of heartwarming moments. I've been enjoying middle grade so much more than young adult lately and books like Catch A Falling Star is why.

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    1. It's wonderful Deanna, I think you'd really enjoy this one.

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  8. Frankie makes my heart hurt in the best way.

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    1. She was such a lovely character Verushka, absolutely adored this one!

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  9. Well this sounds like a stunning book and it's MG? I mean, MG books aren't always given the respect they deserve but it sounds like a lot is looked at in this book and if you're review is anything to go by it's done well. And look at that cover! I haven't seen a book with a cover that pretty in a little while.

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    1. They aren't are they and I think most young adult readers feel they're too old for middle grade or that it's not relatable but middle grade novels are often more complex in their themes than young adult and they aren't afraid to start discussions on issues that young adult often overlooks. Like bullying and isolation, so gently and with respect as well. Australian middle grade novels in particular are absolutely brilliant.

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  10. Oh wow this sounds beautiful. Lovely review Kelly. I hadn’t heard of this one before, I’ll have to see if I can track down a copy. I’ve really been enjoying the #LoveOZMG range lately <3 😊

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