Clues to the Universe

Debut author Li explores themes of bullying and cultural identity, volleying between two seventh grade narrators who, on the first day of school in 1984 Sacramento, mistakenly switch folders in science class. Budding scientist Ro, who is "exactly half Chinese, a quarter Scottish, and a quarter Irish," lives with her mother and dreams of sending a rocket to space to honor her late father. Benji, a talented white artist who's not fond of school, is obsessed with comics series Spacebound, which he's convinced is authored by his absentee father, whom he thinks is communicating with him through the story. After the swapped folders lead to a friendly bond, the pair strike a deal: Ro will help find Benji's dad if Benji helps Ro build a science fair-winning rocket. But with a bully in their class determined to thwart them both and their plan hitting roadblocks, their friendship suddenly seems anything but certain. Though the plot unfolds slowly into a predictable arc, alternating first-person chapters provide insight into each character's fears, worries, and hopes, creating two compelling, relatable protagonists who recognize the strengths in their differences and help each other forge new paths forward. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jessica Regel, Foundry Literary. (Jan.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 4-7--Twelve-year-olds Ro and Benji are both having a rough start to the school year. Ro's father recently died, and her mother can no longer afford her private school tuition. Transferring to a school where she knows no one proves difficult, and overhearing conversations of students trying to guess her biracial ethnicity (she is white and Chinese) is painful. Benji, who is white, is lonely and aimless because his best friend, Amir, moved across the country. When Ro and Benji begin working on a science fair project together, an unlikely friendship is formed. While the two are very different in terms of personality and interests, they bond over the shared experience of not having a father. The combination of Ro's aptitude for science and logic and Benji's artistic talents and laid-back personality results in a good team. Soon the two are working on more than a science fair project. They are helping each other fulfill a dream that will bring them closer to their absent fathers--building the rocket Ro and her dad were going to work on together and tracking down Benji's comic book creator father. Since the story is set in the 1980s, before use of the internet was widespread, finding Benji's father is no easy task. The novel feels contemporary, so the setting may be somewhat confusing for readers who don't understand the technological limitations. Ro and Benji alternate narration, which helps the reader see their evolving perspectives of each other and provides a mechanism for telling their backstories. The book would have benefited from a stronger distinction between the two voices, though a heading at the beginning of each chapter indicates which character is speaking. It is refreshing to see a strong friendship between female and male characters depicted in a middle grade novel; it's the authenticity of this relationship that drives the heart of the story. VERDICT The message of resilience, courage, and friendship will resonate widely with young readers. Themes touched on include grief, fears, bullying, and identity, making the work highly discussable and a good candidate for classroom use.--Juliet Morefield, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Christina Li's Clues to the Universe is a triumphant story of friendship, loss, and the journey of finding your place in the world (and among the stars). A reminder that we sometimes have to travel great distances to find the secrets of what makes life beautiful. A remarkable debut!"— Pablo Cartaya, award-winning, bestselling author of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora