Young Adult (Realistic) Fiction Annotation - Orbiting Jupiter

Orbiting Jupiter – Gary D. Schmidt

Basic Info:
Genre: Young Adult Realistic Fiction
Publication Date: October 6, 2015 (hardcover)
Number of Pages: 183
Geographic Setting: Rural Maine
Time Period: Current
Series: None

Plot Summary:

Joseph Brooks has only truly known love once in his 14 years. That was before he was sent to juvenile where he tried to kill a teacher, and before he was incarcerated at Stone Mountain. When he is placed with a foster family in rural Maine, he slowly opens up to his foster brother, Jack, and Jack’s parents. They learn that Joseph’s one true love was Maddy and that he is the father of a baby named Jupiter. Joseph wants nothing more in life than to be a father to Jupiter. After careful contemplation, his foster parents are willing to help him find her, but he has obstacles to overcome: the court system, and his drunk, abusive father who will reappear and change the course of everything.

Characteristics of Young Adult Realistic Fiction
Pacing: Shorter chapters and a quickly unfolding story line make for a faster pace.  
Characterization: The main characters (Joseph and Jack) are believable and likeable. While Joseph originally seems quiet and somewhat menacing, the reader soon learns that he is scared, heartbroken and very intelligent. While fatherhood is not a typical problem that young teen boys experience, it does happen and this book does not “devalue or minimize” this issue that some teen boys face (Cataldi, 2018.)
Tone: The story is emotionally intense with readers experiencing Joseph’s emotions vacillating between heartbreak and hope.

Readers May Also Enjoy (Fiction):
Hanging on to Max – Margaret Bechard

Both novels are young adult realistic fiction dealing with teenage fathers who choose to raise their baby in the absence of the baby’s mother.

Mahalia – Joanne HornimanBoth novels have authentic characters who are not only experiencing coming-of-age issues, but also the travails of being a teenage father raising a child on his own. While “Jupiter” is faster-paced, “Mahalia” unfolds at a more leisurely pace. 

Work Cited

Cataldi, E. (2018, April 02). Readers' Advisory - Week 13. Retrieved April 08, 2018, from http://readersadvisoryblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/week-thirteen.html