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42 pages 1 hour read

Orbiting Jupiter

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2015

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Book Brief

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Gary D. Schmidt

Orbiting Jupiter

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2015
Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Rural Maine • Contemporary

Theme
Publication Year

2015

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-17 years

Lexile Level

740L

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Super Short Summary

In Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt, twelve-year-old Jack Hurd's family fosters 14-year-old Joseph Brook, who has a troubled past including attacking a teacher and having a daughter named Jupiter he's never met. As Jack and Joseph's friendship grows, Joseph bravely attempts to reconnect with his daughter, facing numerous challenges and dangers, ultimately impacting everyone around him deeply. Themes of teenage pregnancy, juvenile detention, and grief are present.

Melancholic

Emotional

Heartwarming

Challenging

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

4.4

53,658 ratings

82%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Gary D. Schmidt's Orbiting Jupiter is praised for its emotional depth, compelling characters, and sensitive handling of difficult topics like foster care and young parenthood. Critics highlight the poignant narrative and strong character development. However, some reviewers found the plot predictable and wished for more complexity in secondary characters.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Orbiting Jupiter?

A potential reader for Gary D. Schmidt’s Orbiting Jupiter is a young adult who enjoys poignant, character-driven stories about resilience and friendship. Fans of Sharon Draper’s Out of My Mind or John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars will appreciate the emotional depth and realistic portrayal of teenage struggles.

4.4

53,658 ratings

82%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Rural Maine • Contemporary

Theme
Publication Year

2015

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-17 years

Lexile Level

740L

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