Orbiting Jupiter

by Gary D. Schmidt

I personally (perspective of a 12 y/o) LOVE this book! Starting on page 174 to the end of the book made me cry. This book is written from Jack's POV. (SPOILER)--> Joseph's father intrudes in his new home and threatens to shoot Jack (Joseph's foster brother) if Joseph wouldn't leave with him. Joseph agrees, and leaves with his abusive dad (who sold Jupiter, Joseph's 4 m/o daughter, for money). He speeds in his truck, t-bones Joseph and Jack's teacher, and flip into The Alliance. Keep in mind that it is below 0 degrees in the winter. It takes them 2 days to get the truck out of the water, in which Joseph dies. Joseph has his funeral. After a year, the daughter of his that he was forbidden to see goes to live with Jack and his parents. Joseph called Jack "Jackie", which was sweet in my opinion. Gary D. Schmidt quotes on page 183 "...Jupiter smiled and laughed and she waddled around my parents. And then she stopped, and then she held up her hands, and then she said 'Jackie.' I knelt down and Jupiter got on my back. She closed her little arms around my neck. I stood and hefted her up. She laid her head against me. 'Jackie.' She yawned. 'Jackie.' 'Jupiter.' I whispered back. 'Jupiter. I promise I'll always know where you are.' 'Jackie.' She said again. And I carried her into the house"