Play Book Tag discussion

Aster is not great with social cues and interpreting language in any other way than its most literals sense. Aster is a great scientist studying making her own salves and medicines to treat others and journaling her experiments as her mother did, only knowing her through her journals. She is also loyal the few people in her life. They are all on the USS Matilda, which replicates the social stratification of the US in the time of slavery, and en route in space to a supposed better planet. When continued power cuts, push those on the lower decks beyond misery and the the current leader of the spaceship dies mysteriously, Aster cannot stop investigating the link with her mother despite the affects on her relationship with the ship's high level surgeon.

The books is violent and brutal similar the history of slaves with those abusing power over other humans because they can. Solomon exposes those realities but also explores sex and gender and their expected roles in society as well. Aster is such a great character and I love her confused but tender relationship that she risks exploring with the surgeon. I look forward to more by Solomon.

Steeplechase: Space Opera x 35; Authors of Color x 54
BWF: Tenacious Trailblazers: Letter U Submission