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Chasing the Milky Way
In a book that pairs science with mental illness, and heart with adventure, Erin E. Moulton delivers a moving story about family, friendship and the lengths we go for the people we love.
Lucy Peevy has a dream—to get out of the trailer park she lives in and become a famous scientist. And she's already figured out how to do Build a robot that will win a cash prize at the BotBlock competition and save it for college. But when you've got a mama who doesn't always take her meds, it's not easy to achieve those goals. Especially when Lucy's mama takes her, her baby sister Izzy, and their neighbor Cam away in her convertible, bound for parts unknown. But Lucy, Izzy and Cam are good at sticking together, and even better at solving problems. But not all problems have the best solutions, and Lucy and Izzy must face the one thing they're scared of even more than Mama's living without her at all.
Perfect for fans of Sharon Creech's Walk Two...
Lucy Peevy has a dream—to get out of the trailer park she lives in and become a famous scientist. And she's already figured out how to do Build a robot that will win a cash prize at the BotBlock competition and save it for college. But when you've got a mama who doesn't always take her meds, it's not easy to achieve those goals. Especially when Lucy's mama takes her, her baby sister Izzy, and their neighbor Cam away in her convertible, bound for parts unknown. But Lucy, Izzy and Cam are good at sticking together, and even better at solving problems. But not all problems have the best solutions, and Lucy and Izzy must face the one thing they're scared of even more than Mama's living without her at all.
Perfect for fans of Sharon Creech's Walk Two...
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2014
12 people are currently reading
1889 people want to read
About the author
Erin E. Moulton
7 books109 followersErin E. Moulton writes books and tracks dead people. An experienced novelist, Erin is the author of Flutter, Tracing Stars, Chasing the Milky Way and Keepers of the Labyrinth. She is also the editor of Things We Haven’t Said: Sexual Violence Survivors Speak Out. In addition to her creative pursuits, Erin has over 12 years of experience tracking down interesting real-life questions at the reference desk and is an experienced librarian and genealogist. She holds a BA from Emerson College, an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a certificate in genealogical research from Boston University. When she isn’t searching for just the right word or just the right clue, she can be found teaching people of all ages about writing, publishing and research. Visit her online at www.erinemoulton.com.
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Or subscribe to Erin's Newsletter at http://fburls.com/89-SL7PRcnV
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 17, 2014
My review for School Library Journal was published on May 1, 2014. Originally, I had given this a starred review, but I guess the editors didn't agree.
Gr 5–7—Few middle-grade books depict a parent's mental illness as well as this one. Lucy Peevey, 12, and her best friend, Cam, dream of getting out of Sunnyside Trailer Park. To do so, they plan to compete in the BotBlock robot-programming contest. They have been saving up for months to pay the entrance fee, hoping that the prize money will lead to a better life. Cam's mom has an abusive boyfriend and Lucy's mom has manic-depressive disorder and hasn't been taking her medication. As Lucy's grandma explains to her, "It's like when one second you're so high you can taste the sweetness of the Milky Way." And "the next second it's like you have your head in the sand, and any sort of critter can go wandering in one ear and out the other." Lucy and Cam are competing against other kids with supportive parents, better equipment, and enough money not to have to worry about the entrance fee. And when Lucy's mother's has her head in the sand, anything can mess with the girls' already slim chances of entering and winning the contest. Moulton's characters are well developed, and Mama, in particular, never becomes a caricature of a person with mental health issues. Instead, she is nuanced, her disorder pulling back at just the right time. Readers who have a loved one with a similar illness will have much to relate to, and those who don't will see others in a more discerning light. There is also a good amount of science content, particularly coding and space themes, which could be tied into a STEAM book club. Just like Mrs. Peevey's manic-depressive disorder, Chasing the Milky Waytakes readers along for the highest of highs and lowest of lows. A much-needed addition.—Jessica Ko, Los Angeles Public Library
January 16, 2018
Wow. All the feels. This book kept breaking my heart more and more to a point that I want sure how much more I could take, but stick with it. There will be healing towards the end. I do not have much experience with mental illnesses of this nature, but the book seemed to be a very honest and realistic portrayal of what could be possible. Eye opening and emotional. Lucy is such a well developed character. I was so deeply concerned for her. I think this is a great book to develop awareness about mental illness and empathy. One of the best and most memorable middle grades books that I've read.
February 20, 2020
The first few chapters I wasn't sure I'd like it but then I fell in love with it. Highly recommend!
June 6, 2014
Huge thank you to Razorbill CA/Philomel for this ARC!
Chasing the Milky Way may be one of the best stories I've read that deals with mental illness as a prime focus. The book follows Lucy, a budding scientist at the age of twelve, who has to grow up a little faster than the other kids because her Mama isn't quite all there. Refusing to take her meds, and being... all out frustrating, Lucy questions what it means to dream, when her reality is something she is struggling to change where and now.
I loved reading about the relationship between Lucy, Mama and Grammie. Throughout the books you'd get these italicized bits that really looked deeper into how these three woman all co-existed, especially Grammie and Mama in the treatment and raising of Lucy. There's so much emotion within these sections, especially the fighting and aggression. Lucy functions as an observer throughout the text, and she's watching her Mama come a part at the seams. It's heartbreaking and raw, and I think many of us understand and have been in this kind of situation -- sometimes you just never know how you should respond.
I think what I equally loved about this book is the maturity aspect. This is a middle grade novel, but it's one that feels light-years ahead in terms of the overall themes and concepts. Lucy is very intelligent and mature for her age, yet she responds in the way any twelve year old might when encountering mental illness -- she attempts to rationalize it. But coming to terms with mental illness is never that simple, and I love how Lucy tries to find logic in her situation when there's no easy way to respond to it. All her feelings are so real and that made the connection is.
And then there's Mama. So frustrating and aggravating, and even hateful at times. There were moments where I should have hated her -- hated the treatment of her daughter and mother, and yet I couldn't. I just couldn't hate this woman with good conscience because of her desperation -- her need for help but her lack of acceptance and will to find it. There are so many people like this, and you always want to hope that they do get the help they rightfully need, but it's not as simple as we think it is, and the book does an amazing job illustrating that point.
I was captured by Chasing the Milky Way from the very first page. Erin E. Moulton has crafted some wonderfully real characters who feel so human in how they respond to the world around them. Lucy is the kind of dreamer where you want all the good to happen to her, and the ending is so bitter sweet that when you get there, there's almost this sigh of relief. This is one emotionally little book and one middle grade read that definitely should be on your radar.
Also Lucy wants to build robots. BEST CHILD EVER.
Chasing the Milky Way may be one of the best stories I've read that deals with mental illness as a prime focus. The book follows Lucy, a budding scientist at the age of twelve, who has to grow up a little faster than the other kids because her Mama isn't quite all there. Refusing to take her meds, and being... all out frustrating, Lucy questions what it means to dream, when her reality is something she is struggling to change where and now.
I loved reading about the relationship between Lucy, Mama and Grammie. Throughout the books you'd get these italicized bits that really looked deeper into how these three woman all co-existed, especially Grammie and Mama in the treatment and raising of Lucy. There's so much emotion within these sections, especially the fighting and aggression. Lucy functions as an observer throughout the text, and she's watching her Mama come a part at the seams. It's heartbreaking and raw, and I think many of us understand and have been in this kind of situation -- sometimes you just never know how you should respond.
I think what I equally loved about this book is the maturity aspect. This is a middle grade novel, but it's one that feels light-years ahead in terms of the overall themes and concepts. Lucy is very intelligent and mature for her age, yet she responds in the way any twelve year old might when encountering mental illness -- she attempts to rationalize it. But coming to terms with mental illness is never that simple, and I love how Lucy tries to find logic in her situation when there's no easy way to respond to it. All her feelings are so real and that made the connection is.
And then there's Mama. So frustrating and aggravating, and even hateful at times. There were moments where I should have hated her -- hated the treatment of her daughter and mother, and yet I couldn't. I just couldn't hate this woman with good conscience because of her desperation -- her need for help but her lack of acceptance and will to find it. There are so many people like this, and you always want to hope that they do get the help they rightfully need, but it's not as simple as we think it is, and the book does an amazing job illustrating that point.
I was captured by Chasing the Milky Way from the very first page. Erin E. Moulton has crafted some wonderfully real characters who feel so human in how they respond to the world around them. Lucy is the kind of dreamer where you want all the good to happen to her, and the ending is so bitter sweet that when you get there, there's almost this sigh of relief. This is one emotionally little book and one middle grade read that definitely should be on your radar.
Also Lucy wants to build robots. BEST CHILD EVER.
February 26, 2016
While caring for her younger sister and her mentally ill mother, and assisted by her young friend Cam, 12 year old Lucy attempts to achieve her dream of leaving the trailer park and changing all their lives by winning a robot contest. Equally hopeful and heartbreaking, this book accurately depicts life with a mentally ill parent.
May 9, 2017
This a great book for teens/ young adults. Deals with the impact of mental illness on family members in a realistic way. Some of the experiences are a bit over-the-top, but in a way that adds the kind of excitement and suspense a teen might enjoy. Lucy is a lovable character and evokes sympathy and admiration.
June 29, 2018
Hmmm... great writing, but the plot was a little too advanced for my kids yet a little too out-there to be believable for older kids. I love the author’s style though.
April 14, 2024
My ten year old granddaughter recommended this novel after reading it for fifth grade. Probably it's banned some places because it examines what it is like for a young girl who lives in a last stop type trailer park with her bipolar mother and younger sister, Izzy. Lucy and her neighbor Cam are working together to build a robot from scrap that they will enter into a competition with hopes of winning scholarship money and a prize. Their work is literally made from junkyard finds that the park manager helps them obtain. But with her more stable but also bipolar grandmother dead, Lucy is often forced to parent her parent. Her mother's symptoms are erratic and she's making bad decisions. She wakes the girls up in the middle of the night to go look at the sky and runs into the cold water. Lucy, aged 12, drives them home. Her mother has experienced all the complexities of a person whose mental health is up and down, with periods of clarity and excellent parenting and periods where things got bad enough she had to be hospitalized. Cam, Izzy, Lucy and Mama hit the road a bit early for a planned vacation and the road trip adventure, heading toward the robot competition which is a secret from Mama, takes them through decision making that is very questionable. Lucy is a wonderful character, the story continuously interesting and Mama's illness is portrayed in a way that is nuanced and realistic. A few experiences along the way test our credibility but the entire book is wonderful and gave my granddaughter a wide array of things to think about in a different, non stereotypical way.
June 5, 2017
A little too much "hissing" going on, but other than that, a very enjoyable read with likable characters, unique subject matter(mental health), especially for a children's book, and a lot of adventure.
August 3, 2017
An interesting look at mental illness through the eyes of a young girl whose mother suffers from bipolar disorder. There were some events that were really far-fetched, which lessened the impact this story could have had.
August 11, 2017
I like the reality of the ups and downs that the family feels because of Mamas mental illness. Seeing the life through a 12 year olds eyes who was forced to be an adult so soon, really brought the story full circle. Highly recommended!
March 16, 2022
This is an extremely well done middle grade novel about growing up with a parent with mental illness. I loved the plucky main character, twelve year old Lucy, and her dreams of entering a robotics competition to win a college scholarship.
February 15, 2018
Good lord this book was heartbreaking. It's about 2 girls dealing with a parent with a mental illness. Just a random BookOutlet purchase for me, but this one has earned a place on my bookshelf.
October 20, 2018
In love with this book, so amazing, recommend to the end !!
April 9, 2019
Very sad
July 21, 2019
Such an important book about mental illness of a parent, poverty, resilience. One of my top MG favorites.
December 21, 2023
I did not expect the hard left turn the story took. I don’t think everything Lucy and Cam did was very realistic, but it was a good story with a happy ending nonetheless.
November 2, 2016
I gave up on this book, because it was really confusing. : .............................(
July 9, 2019
I am in no way a medical professional, but based on what I have read in the DSM 5 and have seen with people I have known in my life, the mental illness presented in this book sounds more like Schizoaffective Disorder, not Manic Depressive Disorder. Anyone else have any thoughts?
June 27, 2019
4.5 there is something that seem a bit out there, and some that seem to put a "big happy bow" on things, but, overall it wasn't completely implausible.
The book is just, sort of sad..... well quite sad. It features a couple of kids struggling with their mothers mental illness, and like many people, they don't quite understand and sometimes it results in one screaming at the other. As well, much of this book promotes the idea that we don't always need to fight our battles alone.
The book is just, sort of sad..... well quite sad. It features a couple of kids struggling with their mothers mental illness, and like many people, they don't quite understand and sometimes it results in one screaming at the other. As well, much of this book promotes the idea that we don't always need to fight our battles alone.
August 23, 2015
Whoa! I was so impressed by Chasing the Milky Way. The first thing that caught my eye was the gorgeous cover, and then the synopsis totally cinched the deal. Every word kept me freaking out, but it was so beautifully written, I couldn't help but feel right at home with Lucy, Izzy, and Cam. It's one of those books I randomly decided to pick up in the library, but I'm so glad I did!
I always love books that show a unique child's perspective under serious circumstances. However, I was slightly surprised at how much Lucy (the main character, who is twelve years old), took control. I mean, she really had to be, because at times her mom could be a sorry excuse for a mother. And I mean that in the best way possible, because Lucy's mom really did try. And I admit, I was pretty ticked off at her for the majority of the book, but she really came through. You could really tell Lucy and her mom both loved each other, and had a special bond.
The book did read a little slow for me at first. Once Lucy and her friend Cam are on their way to BotBlock (the robot competition they saved all year to enter - planning to use the money they win to save for college), I thought there would be more scenes at BotBlock, but most of the book was their journey TO BotBlock. (Side note: seriously, BotBlock is a total tongue twister!) The scenes were Lucy's mom would get in one of her moods (good or bad) or hallucinate were intense, but some scenes in between were a little slow.
I did love all the descriptions and detail that went in to Lucy's mom's mental illness. This is one of the few books that I've read where the parent has a depression or something unbalanced in their mind, and it was so done so well. The thing is, Lucy's mom's lows are LOW, but her highs are also extremely HIGH. Both sides of her were equally touched on, so I could see her good and bad points. Lucy was angry with her mom at parts of the book - and I admit so was I! - but like I said, they both came through.
I will say it made me extremely grateful that I don't have to remind my parents to take medicines so that I can go to school and not worry my mom will disappear, or she'll forget to buy groceries. I was SO angry with Lucy's mom... pretty much the entire book. And there were some parts when I was mad at Lucy, too - I was all "NO JUST ASK FOR HELP OMG YOU'RE JUST A KID." Of course, that just made the story more realistic, but I was still mad. Like I said earlier, though, Lucy's mom does come around, and you get to see all of her moods and see who she is when she's on her medicines, being herself, and who she is when she's not at her best point.
Also - BotBlock. I really liked reading about Cam and Lucy's robot, PingPing200. How they began to make it, descriptions of what he looked like. PingPing was pretty much a character himself throughout the book, because the main goal in the story is to make it to BotBlock. And PingPing is there for the whole ride.
There's so much more I could go on about - the worry about being taken away from their mom, the ending just being SO beautiful. It was an amazing story!
I always love books that show a unique child's perspective under serious circumstances. However, I was slightly surprised at how much Lucy (the main character, who is twelve years old), took control. I mean, she really had to be, because at times her mom could be a sorry excuse for a mother. And I mean that in the best way possible, because Lucy's mom really did try. And I admit, I was pretty ticked off at her for the majority of the book, but she really came through. You could really tell Lucy and her mom both loved each other, and had a special bond.
The book did read a little slow for me at first. Once Lucy and her friend Cam are on their way to BotBlock (the robot competition they saved all year to enter - planning to use the money they win to save for college), I thought there would be more scenes at BotBlock, but most of the book was their journey TO BotBlock. (Side note: seriously, BotBlock is a total tongue twister!) The scenes were Lucy's mom would get in one of her moods (good or bad) or hallucinate were intense, but some scenes in between were a little slow.
I did love all the descriptions and detail that went in to Lucy's mom's mental illness. This is one of the few books that I've read where the parent has a depression or something unbalanced in their mind, and it was so done so well. The thing is, Lucy's mom's lows are LOW, but her highs are also extremely HIGH. Both sides of her were equally touched on, so I could see her good and bad points. Lucy was angry with her mom at parts of the book - and I admit so was I! - but like I said, they both came through.
I will say it made me extremely grateful that I don't have to remind my parents to take medicines so that I can go to school and not worry my mom will disappear, or she'll forget to buy groceries. I was SO angry with Lucy's mom... pretty much the entire book. And there were some parts when I was mad at Lucy, too - I was all "NO JUST ASK FOR HELP OMG YOU'RE JUST A KID." Of course, that just made the story more realistic, but I was still mad. Like I said earlier, though, Lucy's mom does come around, and you get to see all of her moods and see who she is when she's on her medicines, being herself, and who she is when she's not at her best point.
Also - BotBlock. I really liked reading about Cam and Lucy's robot, PingPing200. How they began to make it, descriptions of what he looked like. PingPing was pretty much a character himself throughout the book, because the main goal in the story is to make it to BotBlock. And PingPing is there for the whole ride.
There's so much more I could go on about - the worry about being taken away from their mom, the ending just being SO beautiful. It was an amazing story!
June 25, 2014
Lucille Peevey dreams of only one thing, to escape Sunnyside Trailer Parks. She has even created a checklist to keep her on tract:
1) Save up registration Money
2) Complete, practice, and program PingPing200
3) Go to BotBlock Challenge (and win)
4) Make dreams come true (see dream charts, p. 7 and 8)
The plan for taking control of their lives is in place…
The only problem is we haven’t crossed off number one on our list, or number two, and three and four can’t get done until the other two are done.
Lucille and her best friend Cam have been mowing lawns, raking leaves, and accepting charity for the past year to save up for the BotBlock Jr. Robot Challenge having saved $352.50 they are still $10 short for the registration money. They have T-Minus 36 hours before takeoff to Seahook, NH and T-Minus 75 hours until the competition. When Cam doesn’t have to help with his siblings he comes before and after school to help build, program, and practice with the Bot, PingPing 200, and Lucille works on it before school, after school and when she doesn’t have to deal with Mama’s “episodes”. Winning the Challenge means $5,000 and 15% college tuition which will help Lucille get out of Sunnyside Trailer Parks, get help for Mama, and send her to college.
For the past 4 years Lucille, Mama, Gram, and Izzy have been visiting Seahook, NH for the BotBlock Jr. Robot Challenge and this year Lucille is finally old enough to compete in the challenge. With Gram gone her only hope in getting to Seahook for the BotBlock Challenge is Mama. Mama is suffering from a mental illness and refuses to take her meds (goddamn government medications). Lucille’s checklist still needs crossing off, Mama refusing to take her meds is a setback, and getting to the competition is 3 days away. Can Lucille and Cam save up the last $10 and make it to the BotBlock Challenge with a completed and programed PingPing200 in time to compete? Or will Cam’s family obligations and Mama’s slow downward spiral set them back? What other challenges will Lucy face as she strives to reach her dreams?
Author Erin E. Moulton has created a story that surround a family's history of mental illness and the challenges it brings. Young readers will get engaged and even feel hope for the characters in their quest. This is a great coming of age story but also shares in an emotional journey that young audiences will be able to relate to. Short chapters make for a quick read. Vivid imagery will put young readers right in the mix with the characters.
1) Save up registration Money
2) Complete, practice, and program PingPing200
3) Go to BotBlock Challenge (and win)
4) Make dreams come true (see dream charts, p. 7 and 8)
The plan for taking control of their lives is in place…
The only problem is we haven’t crossed off number one on our list, or number two, and three and four can’t get done until the other two are done.
Lucille and her best friend Cam have been mowing lawns, raking leaves, and accepting charity for the past year to save up for the BotBlock Jr. Robot Challenge having saved $352.50 they are still $10 short for the registration money. They have T-Minus 36 hours before takeoff to Seahook, NH and T-Minus 75 hours until the competition. When Cam doesn’t have to help with his siblings he comes before and after school to help build, program, and practice with the Bot, PingPing 200, and Lucille works on it before school, after school and when she doesn’t have to deal with Mama’s “episodes”. Winning the Challenge means $5,000 and 15% college tuition which will help Lucille get out of Sunnyside Trailer Parks, get help for Mama, and send her to college.
For the past 4 years Lucille, Mama, Gram, and Izzy have been visiting Seahook, NH for the BotBlock Jr. Robot Challenge and this year Lucille is finally old enough to compete in the challenge. With Gram gone her only hope in getting to Seahook for the BotBlock Challenge is Mama. Mama is suffering from a mental illness and refuses to take her meds (goddamn government medications). Lucille’s checklist still needs crossing off, Mama refusing to take her meds is a setback, and getting to the competition is 3 days away. Can Lucille and Cam save up the last $10 and make it to the BotBlock Challenge with a completed and programed PingPing200 in time to compete? Or will Cam’s family obligations and Mama’s slow downward spiral set them back? What other challenges will Lucy face as she strives to reach her dreams?
Author Erin E. Moulton has created a story that surround a family's history of mental illness and the challenges it brings. Young readers will get engaged and even feel hope for the characters in their quest. This is a great coming of age story but also shares in an emotional journey that young audiences will be able to relate to. Short chapters make for a quick read. Vivid imagery will put young readers right in the mix with the characters.
March 29, 2014
Last year I read, and adored, Erin Moulton’s Tracing Stars, so I was very excited to dive into her newest middle-grade contemp., Chasing the Milky Way...and Moulton proves once again that she is a marvelous storyteller who crafts stories full of heart, wit, and charm!
Twelve year old Lucy Peevy wants out of the trailer park and has a plan to do just that. Along with her best friend and neighbor, Cam, Lucy has built a junkbot, wanting to enter the annual BotBlock competition in hopes of winning money and college scholarships. But Lucy’s mentally ill mother doesn’t make life easy for Lucy and her little sister Izzy. Mama is off her meds again and spiraling out of control. When their little family is threatened with separation, Mama takes Lucy, Izzy, and Cam on a wild ride, destination unknown. Lucy must summon all her courage and smarts to keep her family together, but discovers that somethings are just too big to handle.
Chasing the Milky is an honest and touching tale about family, friendship, mental illness, and so much more. Moulton has spun a smart story that is equal parts tender, poignant, aching, and hopeful. Mental illness is a heavy and hard subject to tackle, especially in a middle-grade book, but Moulton has done so beautifully and realistically, while maintaining an age-appropriate level of exploration and understanding. The Peevy’s story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, full of adventure and full of bone-deep emotion, will make readers cry and smile, sometimes in the span of a single page.
What makes Chasing the Milky Way such a deeply felt and captivating story, are the wonderfully crafted characters. Readers will become fully absorbed in the lives of these layered, realistic, very alive characters. Lucy, Cam, and Izzy are all endearing, sweet, capable, smart kids in their own ways, and the way they love and support each other is so moving. And Moulton has done Mama’s character such breathtaking justice, making her more than just her mental illness. By the end of the book, all of these lovely characters felt like so much more than just creations on the page; they felt like friends to me.
My Final Thoughts: Chasing the Milky is a thought-provoking and thoughtfully written book that will stay with readers for a long time.
Twelve year old Lucy Peevy wants out of the trailer park and has a plan to do just that. Along with her best friend and neighbor, Cam, Lucy has built a junkbot, wanting to enter the annual BotBlock competition in hopes of winning money and college scholarships. But Lucy’s mentally ill mother doesn’t make life easy for Lucy and her little sister Izzy. Mama is off her meds again and spiraling out of control. When their little family is threatened with separation, Mama takes Lucy, Izzy, and Cam on a wild ride, destination unknown. Lucy must summon all her courage and smarts to keep her family together, but discovers that somethings are just too big to handle.
Chasing the Milky is an honest and touching tale about family, friendship, mental illness, and so much more. Moulton has spun a smart story that is equal parts tender, poignant, aching, and hopeful. Mental illness is a heavy and hard subject to tackle, especially in a middle-grade book, but Moulton has done so beautifully and realistically, while maintaining an age-appropriate level of exploration and understanding. The Peevy’s story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, full of adventure and full of bone-deep emotion, will make readers cry and smile, sometimes in the span of a single page.
What makes Chasing the Milky Way such a deeply felt and captivating story, are the wonderfully crafted characters. Readers will become fully absorbed in the lives of these layered, realistic, very alive characters. Lucy, Cam, and Izzy are all endearing, sweet, capable, smart kids in their own ways, and the way they love and support each other is so moving. And Moulton has done Mama’s character such breathtaking justice, making her more than just her mental illness. By the end of the book, all of these lovely characters felt like so much more than just creations on the page; they felt like friends to me.
My Final Thoughts: Chasing the Milky is a thought-provoking and thoughtfully written book that will stay with readers for a long time.
August 14, 2015
Lucy and Cam want nothing more than to get out of the Sunnyside Trailer Park. Their plan is to compete in the annual BotBlock competition, win $5000 and 15% college tuition. They have a plan to complete their mission that includes raising the admission fee, building and programming their robot and getting to the beachside competition. Lucy wants to escape a mom with manic-depressive disorder who seems to be off her meds and Cam wants to get away from a house filled with children and his mom's abusive boyfriend. In addition to their problems at home, they are also hassled by a bully at school. Their road to victory is hit with several roadblocks when Lucy's mama takes them on a runaway roadtrip to escape the authorities.
Mental illness is a hard topic to cover in middle grade fiction. It isn't often written about and when it is sometimes it is overblown or completely unrealistic. Chasing the Milky Way does not suffer from either of those problems. It is a very realistic look at what it is like to live with a mentally ill parent. Lucy deals with so much more than most kids will ever deal with, but I am sure kids with mentally ill parents will recognize a lot of her story. It is a book that was a bit hard to read because it seemed so realistic. I just knew disaster was around the corner and I kept not wanting it to arrive. I wanted Lucy and Cam to succeed but knew there was very little chance it was going to happen. It was almost like watching a horror movie where you knew the bad guy was going to attack at any moment. You cover your eyes or hide behind the chair and peak out at intervals. That is kind of like how I felt reading this book. Mama is not the bad guy of course, her illness is, but it still felt like it could jump out at you at any moment, which I am sure is how mental illness sometimes feels. This book is going to be a hard sell to a lot of readers, but the ones that tackle it are going to have their eyes open to a world I hope they never experience.
Mental illness is a hard topic to cover in middle grade fiction. It isn't often written about and when it is sometimes it is overblown or completely unrealistic. Chasing the Milky Way does not suffer from either of those problems. It is a very realistic look at what it is like to live with a mentally ill parent. Lucy deals with so much more than most kids will ever deal with, but I am sure kids with mentally ill parents will recognize a lot of her story. It is a book that was a bit hard to read because it seemed so realistic. I just knew disaster was around the corner and I kept not wanting it to arrive. I wanted Lucy and Cam to succeed but knew there was very little chance it was going to happen. It was almost like watching a horror movie where you knew the bad guy was going to attack at any moment. You cover your eyes or hide behind the chair and peak out at intervals. That is kind of like how I felt reading this book. Mama is not the bad guy of course, her illness is, but it still felt like it could jump out at you at any moment, which I am sure is how mental illness sometimes feels. This book is going to be a hard sell to a lot of readers, but the ones that tackle it are going to have their eyes open to a world I hope they never experience.
June 8, 2015
I really had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I really liked Lucy and her sister and her friend, Cam.They were definitely sympathetic characters--especially Lucie and Cam.
Cam's situation was very different from Lucie's, but he needed to escape his life every bit as much as Lucie did. Anytime I read about a child being abused and it not being detected by the adults around him, I worry about how many times I missed the signs in my teaching career.
Lucie's situation is so very different. She is loved, but her mother's mental illness makes her as much a victim as Cam is. When I read books like this, I wonder how many kids are going to school each day in similar circumstance and falling through the cracks because no one sees the truth. Ms. Shareze sounds like a wonderful teacher, but it is too easy for her to accept Lucie's non-answer to her question about whether or not everything is ok. I am afraid too many adults are like that.
My very strong feelings about these characters and the situations they were dealing with actually became a distraction from the plot. I admired Lucie's spunk, but I kept finding her straying into my reality instead of staying put on the pages of the book. I don't know if that was good or bad.
Once Lucie "came off the pages," I started thinking about her driving the RV and managing to elude the police for so long. I have had limited experiences driving an RV, and I just kept thinking about that.
This is not a problem I usually have. I do know that I became very engaged with the book, and I think many middle school, young adult, and adult readers would, too.
I thought the portrayal of the mother's mental illness was very well done and would provide food for thought for all the book's readers.
(16-17: I-1, II-1, III-DM+)
Cam's situation was very different from Lucie's, but he needed to escape his life every bit as much as Lucie did. Anytime I read about a child being abused and it not being detected by the adults around him, I worry about how many times I missed the signs in my teaching career.
Lucie's situation is so very different. She is loved, but her mother's mental illness makes her as much a victim as Cam is. When I read books like this, I wonder how many kids are going to school each day in similar circumstance and falling through the cracks because no one sees the truth. Ms. Shareze sounds like a wonderful teacher, but it is too easy for her to accept Lucie's non-answer to her question about whether or not everything is ok. I am afraid too many adults are like that.
My very strong feelings about these characters and the situations they were dealing with actually became a distraction from the plot. I admired Lucie's spunk, but I kept finding her straying into my reality instead of staying put on the pages of the book. I don't know if that was good or bad.
Once Lucie "came off the pages," I started thinking about her driving the RV and managing to elude the police for so long. I have had limited experiences driving an RV, and I just kept thinking about that.
This is not a problem I usually have. I do know that I became very engaged with the book, and I think many middle school, young adult, and adult readers would, too.
I thought the portrayal of the mother's mental illness was very well done and would provide food for thought for all the book's readers.
(16-17: I-1, II-1, III-DM+)
November 18, 2014
Gripping novel about mental illness and so much more, Erin Moulton's third middle-grade novel really hits the sweet spot. We all know someone like Lucy Peevey - bright, ambitious children who have to juggle so much at home, so much more than children their age can ever be expected to handle. In this case, its Lucy's own mother, who at one time was a brilliant and successful professor, but now struggles with a bipolar disorder that leaves Lucy reeling. And yet Lucy is one smart cookie. With her eyes (and heart) set on entering her robot into the "junkbot" category at an annual competition at the beach in New Hampshire, Lucy keeps one eye on the prize as she negotiates her mother's increasing erratic and unpredictable behavior, and another eye on her robot PingPing200.
Told with humanity and heart, Moulton successfully captures the nuances and complexities of mental illness without ever making it seem like a freak show, or something that happens to "others". She wholly inhabits Lucy's world, the love she has for her mother, and her determination to see through her dreams, even if it means putting everything she loves at risk.
I couldn't help but think of Katherine Paterson's The Same Stuff as Stars. Both set in Vermont, both involving girls and their seemingly impossible dreams to escape their realities - in Moulton's story it is Sunnyside Trailer Park and in Paterson's, it is the crumbling apartment complexes of Burlington - combined with strong mentors who believe in their worth and their dreams, and a resiliency in the girls themselves that reminds us all of the strength of the human spirit.
Told with humanity and heart, Moulton successfully captures the nuances and complexities of mental illness without ever making it seem like a freak show, or something that happens to "others". She wholly inhabits Lucy's world, the love she has for her mother, and her determination to see through her dreams, even if it means putting everything she loves at risk.
I couldn't help but think of Katherine Paterson's The Same Stuff as Stars. Both set in Vermont, both involving girls and their seemingly impossible dreams to escape their realities - in Moulton's story it is Sunnyside Trailer Park and in Paterson's, it is the crumbling apartment complexes of Burlington - combined with strong mentors who believe in their worth and their dreams, and a resiliency in the girls themselves that reminds us all of the strength of the human spirit.
October 25, 2014
Twelve-year-old Lucy dreams of escaping her life in a trailer park, barely scraping by with a six-year-old sister Izzy and a mother who suffers from bipolar disorder. In order to get rich and get out of the trailer park, she and her best friend Cam plan to enter BotBlock: a robot design and trial competition offering a cash prize and college tuition. But just before they are to leave for the competition, Lucy's mother has a complete breakdown. When the authorities come to take her to an institution and put the children in foster care, Lucy, Izzy, and Cam flee with their mother. Now they must avoid bringing attention to themselves, as an Amber Alert has been issued for them. And Lucy's mom is getting worse and worse as time goes on.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is beautiful, and while Lucy often sounds much older than twelve years old, she makes a great narrator. It's sad without being melodramatic and exciting without going over the top (for the most part). The coping mechanisms and family life that the children endure are captured very well. I like the fact that Lucy wants to be a scientist, as you don't see a lot of girls go that way in books. Her strained relationship with her mother is really beautiful as well.
I didn't enjoy the last 50 pages as much as I did the rest of the book, as some of the decisions the characters made seemed a little unrealistic. But the rest of it was worth the read.
- Kelsey
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is beautiful, and while Lucy often sounds much older than twelve years old, she makes a great narrator. It's sad without being melodramatic and exciting without going over the top (for the most part). The coping mechanisms and family life that the children endure are captured very well. I like the fact that Lucy wants to be a scientist, as you don't see a lot of girls go that way in books. Her strained relationship with her mother is really beautiful as well.
I didn't enjoy the last 50 pages as much as I did the rest of the book, as some of the decisions the characters made seemed a little unrealistic. But the rest of it was worth the read.
- Kelsey
February 5, 2017
Both heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Twelve-year-old Lucy and her best friend Cam have a plan to escape a life of poverty, and it all starts with winning a robot-building competition. But there are some things that you simply can't plan for, like having a mentally ill mother who descends into psychosis at the worst possible times. Now Lucy has three tasks instead of one: get to the competition, take care of her own shattering family, and hide all the drama from the rest of the world. Things quickly spin out of control, and the more Lucy tries to fix them, the further she seems to get from her dreams. She's determined not to give up... but the price she pays may end up being higher than she ever imagined.
In the tradition of Dicey's Song, Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey, and The Paradox of Vertical Flight, this novel reminds us that children who are forced to grow up too fast live in a world of their own, a world whose entire weight can land on their shoulders and crush them.
Twelve-year-old Lucy and her best friend Cam have a plan to escape a life of poverty, and it all starts with winning a robot-building competition. But there are some things that you simply can't plan for, like having a mentally ill mother who descends into psychosis at the worst possible times. Now Lucy has three tasks instead of one: get to the competition, take care of her own shattering family, and hide all the drama from the rest of the world. Things quickly spin out of control, and the more Lucy tries to fix them, the further she seems to get from her dreams. She's determined not to give up... but the price she pays may end up being higher than she ever imagined.
In the tradition of Dicey's Song, Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey, and The Paradox of Vertical Flight, this novel reminds us that children who are forced to grow up too fast live in a world of their own, a world whose entire weight can land on their shoulders and crush them.
October 29, 2018
Wow. I didn't know what I was getting into when I decided to read this book. I thought the main plot would be about robotics. There is a little robotics, but it is secondary to the main plot which is about manic-depressive disorder. It doesn't just nibble around the edges either. This is a well-written story of how a parent's mental illness can have devastating effects on a family.
11-year-old Lucy's family has fallen from grace. Her intelligent mother, who once worked as a professor at a college, can barely take care of her two daughters. With no dad in the picture, Lucy is the one taking care of her mother. Out of necessity she is very mature for her age. They live in a trailer park and Lucy is already thinking of her future. She knows she wants a better life. If only she can win the robotics competition, she'll win enough money to help pay for college.
There are several major episodes that perfectly describe how insane and incompetent Lucy's mother can be when she is off her medication. One is the time her mom wakes her up in the middle of the night to go look at the northern lights. Another is when she loses control in the principal's office. The best example is when they are on their way to the robotics competition and steal an RV.
If you want a middle grade book that tackles bipolar illness, look no further.
11-year-old Lucy's family has fallen from grace. Her intelligent mother, who once worked as a professor at a college, can barely take care of her two daughters. With no dad in the picture, Lucy is the one taking care of her mother. Out of necessity she is very mature for her age. They live in a trailer park and Lucy is already thinking of her future. She knows she wants a better life. If only she can win the robotics competition, she'll win enough money to help pay for college.
There are several major episodes that perfectly describe how insane and incompetent Lucy's mother can be when she is off her medication. One is the time her mom wakes her up in the middle of the night to go look at the northern lights. Another is when she loses control in the principal's office. The best example is when they are on their way to the robotics competition and steal an RV.
If you want a middle grade book that tackles bipolar illness, look no further.
April 6, 2015
Lucy Peevey 12, and her best friend, Cam dream of getting out of Sunnyside Trailer Park. She has even created a checklist to keep her on track. 1) Save up registration Money 2) Complete, practice, and program PingPing200 3) Go to BotBlock Challenge (and win) 4) Make dreams come true (see dream charts, p. 7 and 8). Lucy along with Cam have built a junkbot, wanting to enter the annual BotBlock competition in hopes of winning money and college scholarships. But things go wrong as they so often do and Lucy is left making decisions no child should ever have to make. Lucy’s mentally ill mother doesn’t make life easy for Lucy and her little sister Izzy. Mama is off her meds again and spiraling out of control. When their little family is threatened with separation, Mama takes Lucy, Izzy, and Cam on a wild ride, destination unknown. Lucy must summon all her courage and smarts to keep her family together, but discovers that somethings are just too big to handle. The loss of her beloved Gram and her mother's mental illness force Lucy into difficult choices and hard lessons in life. Chasing the Milky is a thought-provoking and thoughtfully written book that will stay with readers for a long time.
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