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.
‘A witty and tender story mapping the marvels of science and the human heart.”
– Anna Fienberg, author of the Tashi series and many more
‘Endearing characters and stellar storytelling.’
– Glenda Millard, author of The Stars at Oktober Bend, The Duck and the Darklings and many more
‘Catch a Falling Star is middle grade writing at its very
finest … sure to end up on school curriculum lists and will be enjoyed
in tween and teen bookclubs around the country.’
– Megan Daley, Children’s Books Daily
McKinlay’s gift for writing accessible characters for younger readers shines through … Catch a Falling Star is a finely crafted novel that will catch the attention of teachers as well as readers aged nine and up. Highly recommended.
– Tehani Croft, Books+Publishing
‘… perfectly pitched for readers on the cusp of adolescence …
McKinlay, as always, brings an enormous amount of insight to a story
without weighing it down and the result is a book that is tender,
hopeful, and slightly surreal.’
– Bec Kavanagh, Readings Kids
