January 15, 2022
A precocious 12-year-old spends the summer trying to save her furry companion. Mira "Miranium" Williams, future astronaut and astrophysicist, already felt like her family was living on the edge of a black hole after her father became unemployed, causing her mom to spend less time doing community theater and more time at her accountant job. Worse, her best friend, Thomas, moved from Orlando to Washington, D.C., and her nemesis, Tamika, has moved into his old house. Luckily, she still has Sir Fig Newton, her best feline friend. Concerned that Fig has become lethargic, is eating less, and has sweet-smelling breath, Mira researches and concludes that he has diabetes, known as the silent cat killer. Unfortunately, they can't afford to treat Fig, and the only way to avoid her parents' plan to give him up for adoption is to raise $2,000 for treatments within a month. With help from an unlikely source, Mira finds a way to save her cat and keep everyone's spirits up. Thomas' debut will pull at readers' heartstrings. Mira displays tremendous spirit as she continually advocates for her beloved cat. As well as being heartwarming, this well-paced novel also contains numerous interesting facts about famous scientists that will make readers just as excited about science as Mira. Mira is biracial, with a Black father and White mother; Thomas is White, and Tamika is Black. A noteworthy debut. (Fiction. 8-12)
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April 1, 2022
Gr 4-7-Mira dreams of being an astrophysicist, but first this middle-schooler must make it through the worst summer of her life. Things start out with a literal bang as her experiment to create plasma by microwaving grapes goes awry. Her unemployed dad searches unsuccessfully for a job, her best friend now lives hundreds of miles away, and her science-fair nemesis shows up at all the wrong times. And when Mira's beloved cat Sir Fig Newton falls ill, the family cannot afford treatment. Mira gathers information, analyzes data, and arrives at a plan to save him. Scientific facts are woven into the first-person narrative, with Mira's feelings often described in astrophysical terms: embarrassment as a black hole, frustration as superheated energy, and solitude as an asteroid's aftermath. A vibrant cast of secondary characters includes Mira's church-going grandmother, who convinces her granddaughter of the value of faith. Mira, whose mother is white and father is Black, finds inspiration through the experiences of noted women scientists of color; brief descriptions of trailblazers like Mae Jemison fit neatly into the narrative. The plot takes one detour that minimizes the potential seriousness of an allergic reaction, but gets back on track to reach a satisfying conclusion. VERDICT Middle grade readers looking for realistic stories with engaging protagonists will enjoy meeting Mira, a girl whose passion for science gives her a sense of purpose and the tools to solve problems.-Jenny Andrus
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