If Found Return to Astropop

by Lucas Hargis

Unaware of one another’s gender or appearance, a poor, aspiring architect and a spoiled, free-spirited astronomy fanatic find themselves mutually smitten by reading each other’s journals.

Genderfluid, sixteen-year-old Robin “Astropop” Chicory lost a journal three months ago. When a stranger (known only as Pippopotamus) secretly returns it, Astro discovers that Pip read their innermost thoughts and meticulously traced Astro’s past movements. Without meeting, Pip believes s/he is smitten with Astropop. Astro knows this because Pip wrote a heartfelt journal in response.

Astro reads both journals side-by-side, amazed at how simple words on paper can exert a mutual gravity between complete strangers. As their tandem confessions and intimate stories tangle with the drama in Astro’s everyday life, Astro ends up hopelessly smitten with Pip, too. But because of distance, timing, and interference from the universe, it’s impossible for them to ever meet.

When Astro flips to Pip’s last precious page, a supernova of hope explodes—a precise time and place where shy Pip will be waiting. Astro can finally meet the intriguing Pip, but fears their deep, inexplicable connection will be broken. And there’s the world-shattering chance the revelations of who they each truly are will eclipse their imagined versions of one another.

Genres: Young Adult, LGBT, Contemporary

Unknown Binding

About the author

I’m a multipotentialite: incurable nomad, YA author, artist, tattoo addict, spreadsheet whiz, tarot reader, unicorn-at-large, and lover of all things weird.

Repped by Sara Crowe. My debut, If Found Return To Astropop, is scheduled for Fall 2017.

Reviews

[Lucas Hargis]

I kinda liked it a lot.

[Mark Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debut author Lucas Hargis tells the story of Astropop, a 16-year old who has left a journal in a used book store where it is found a few months later by Pip. The unusual feature of this YA novel is that the sex of the two teens isn't revealed. As the double narratives (Astropop in the journal and Pip in real time) gradually come together, the tension is about their emotional discovery of other, not their gender identification. While this device is a risk that could derail even old pro authors, Hargis makes it sing with an elegance that looks easy. It's not. I never felt awkward or confused by the lack of gender references here, which is more than I can say for some other books I've read.

The story is told with an assurance and poise that makes it irresistible, but at the same time wit and warmth are never far away from the book's dazzling surface. While the setting is contemporary and realistic, Hargis captures the sense of magic in the world as seen by Astro and Pip, the deep sparkle of the universe that always lurks somewhere beneath the skin of reality.

"If Found Return to Astropop" isn't just timely and challenging, with its genderfluid characters. It is a breathtaking piece of writing. I was privileged to read this work in advance of publication, and I can't wait to give it pride of place on my shelf.

[K.C. Shaw]

Okay, you know what? I'm reviewing this because I have read it even though it doesn't seem to be available anywhere. I was one of the lucky people who beta read the book in its final stages of revision before it found a publisher. That was years ago, but it's stuck with me and every so often I check online to see if it's finally available. That it's not says more about the publishing industry than it realizes.

The book is sweet, often funny, beautifully written, and almost dreamlike while being grounded in the real world too. Astropop and Pip are both enormously sympathetic characters with their own troubles and challenges, while being very different too. The story is something between a slow burn fic and a YA about friendship and connections--a potent combination. The ending is perfect!

I want to buy this book. I want to buy a physical copy so I can give it to friends and then order myself a new one. I don't know what happened with the publisher, but if Lucas wants to kickstart self-publication I would throw fistfuls of money at the project. Five stars. All the stars!