NZ Intermediate School Librarians discussion

Set in 1979 in a small town in Western Australia. Frankie, aged 12, and her younger brother Newt lost their dad 6 years earlier. The family have not dealt well with the grief - their mother has removed all the photos of their Dad and she has preoccupied herself by working long hours. It is up to Frankie to take care of Newt, doing the housework and preparing basic meals. Frankie is struggling but no one is aware of this - she can't talk to her mother, and she can't talk to her best friend Kat - partly because Kat seems to have the perfect family life and Frankie is too embarrassed by her largely absent mother. Frankie's enduring memories of her dad Charlie were times they spent observing the stars from their special "Star Shack" in their backyard. Frankie used to want to be an astronomer, but since her Dad died she has turned her back on the stars. However now, in 1979, she is forced to think of the stars again as SkyLab, a space station, is being decommissioned and will fall back down to Earth in a largely uncontrolled and unpredictable descent. NASA hopes the pieces of SkyLab will land harmlessly in the Indian ocean, off the coast of Western Australia - but they can't guarantee it. The whole world seems fascinated by Skylab, including Frankie's brother Newt - who has developed an obsessive interest, an interest that will put him in danger - and makes the family face up to their loss & grief. Themes of dealing with grief, family, friends. A great read for Intermediate age students.