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The Secret Astronomers
Two anonymous girls. One ancient astrophysics textbook. A decades-old secret.
A fascinating, highly illustrated, epistolary novel perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell and Alice Oseman.
When a recent transfer student starts keeping her diary in the oldest textbook at the Green Bank High School library, the last thing she expects is to receive a response. Thus begins a sweeping tale of unlikely friendship and long-buried secrets between two secret pen pals at a rural West Virginia high school.
Copernicus is adrift and searching for answers after the sudden death of her mother, and leaving her cosmopolitan life in San Francisco behind. Kepler is a small-town girl with straight A's and big plans to be the first person in her family to go to college, despite her family's modest means. The two girls are so different from one another but united in their goal to solve a mystery that has riddled Green Bank for decades.
Meticulously hand-drawn by debut author Jessica Walker across the pages of an actual ancient astrophsyics textbook, The Secret Astronomers is a story of friendship, family, crop circles, secret crushes, giant telescopes, life in Appalachia, and two girls discovering new ways to connect across any divide that separates them.
A fascinating, highly illustrated, epistolary novel perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell and Alice Oseman.
When a recent transfer student starts keeping her diary in the oldest textbook at the Green Bank High School library, the last thing she expects is to receive a response. Thus begins a sweeping tale of unlikely friendship and long-buried secrets between two secret pen pals at a rural West Virginia high school.
Copernicus is adrift and searching for answers after the sudden death of her mother, and leaving her cosmopolitan life in San Francisco behind. Kepler is a small-town girl with straight A's and big plans to be the first person in her family to go to college, despite her family's modest means. The two girls are so different from one another but united in their goal to solve a mystery that has riddled Green Bank for decades.
Meticulously hand-drawn by debut author Jessica Walker across the pages of an actual ancient astrophsyics textbook, The Secret Astronomers is a story of friendship, family, crop circles, secret crushes, giant telescopes, life in Appalachia, and two girls discovering new ways to connect across any divide that separates them.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2025
53 people are currently reading
8799 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
September 25, 2025
I would probably rate the story itself a little lower but because of the way it's written it feels like a 4 star book :)
October 3, 2025
Quick synopsis: two high school students (code names Copernicus and Kepler) are using the same physics textbook every day in the library. One is using it to study, and another is drawing inside it. They start leaving each other notes, and the story becomes about their anonymous friendship through the pages. At the same time, they’re uncovering a mystery hidden in the beginning of the book.
Okay so I didn’t like this one!
I surprised myself by really struggling with the format of the book, which is told wholly in letters written inside of an old physics textbook. There are post it notes, drawings, and scraps of paper, and while I thought it was really cool, it also really jumbled my brain. I kept forgetting which person was speaking because the only way of differentiating was by the paper they wrote on. However, I have the ARC which is in black and white, so I’m curious to see what the colour version looks like!
Since the friendship between the students is kept anonymous, they use code names to refer to themselves. This was cool, but there were also so many other code names to keep track of and it made me so confused. For example, Kepler refers to her dad as “Sirius,” her crush as “Orion,” her other crush as “Aquarius,” and etc etc.
The book surprisingly tackled a lot of important topics including colonization and stolen land, identity, and disability, which I thought was great. My only issue with this was that sometimes it felt like the author was starting to write an essay on these topics, rather than the writing coming from the POV of two teenagers writing notes to each other.
With regard to the notes, I sort of don’t understand how it works? I know they write in the book when they’re at school, but how do they keep coming into the library at separate times to write in it but never run into each other? Also the responses were always immediate so were they going to the library multiple times a day? I’m just not sure.
The mystery element of the book was very anticlimactic. Nothing crazy happened, but the characters were constantly in absolute shock of all their discoveries which I found to be mostly mediocre.
To end with some positive, I thought it was really beautiful to see their friendship blossom out of the blue. Kepler and Copernicus are obviously two very different people, and it was heartwarming to see them brought together by this random book.
Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for giving me a copy of this book to read!!
Okay so I didn’t like this one!
I surprised myself by really struggling with the format of the book, which is told wholly in letters written inside of an old physics textbook. There are post it notes, drawings, and scraps of paper, and while I thought it was really cool, it also really jumbled my brain. I kept forgetting which person was speaking because the only way of differentiating was by the paper they wrote on. However, I have the ARC which is in black and white, so I’m curious to see what the colour version looks like!
Since the friendship between the students is kept anonymous, they use code names to refer to themselves. This was cool, but there were also so many other code names to keep track of and it made me so confused. For example, Kepler refers to her dad as “Sirius,” her crush as “Orion,” her other crush as “Aquarius,” and etc etc.
The book surprisingly tackled a lot of important topics including colonization and stolen land, identity, and disability, which I thought was great. My only issue with this was that sometimes it felt like the author was starting to write an essay on these topics, rather than the writing coming from the POV of two teenagers writing notes to each other.
With regard to the notes, I sort of don’t understand how it works? I know they write in the book when they’re at school, but how do they keep coming into the library at separate times to write in it but never run into each other? Also the responses were always immediate so were they going to the library multiple times a day? I’m just not sure.
The mystery element of the book was very anticlimactic. Nothing crazy happened, but the characters were constantly in absolute shock of all their discoveries which I found to be mostly mediocre.
To end with some positive, I thought it was really beautiful to see their friendship blossom out of the blue. Kepler and Copernicus are obviously two very different people, and it was heartwarming to see them brought together by this random book.
Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for giving me a copy of this book to read!!
November 21, 2025
the concept really grabbed me but the story is one ive kind of outgrown. great book for teens though!
July 11, 2025
The Secret Astronomers is an illustrated, epistolary novel following two teen girls as they pass notes and drawing back and forth in an old library book. Copernicus is new to the small Appalachian town and struggling after her mother died. Kepler is born and raised in the town and has plans to be the first person in her family to go to university. Together, they team up to solve a mystery featuring crop circles and secret crushes.
This was a really fun book! I adore epistolary novels and the art in this one was so beautiful and intriguing. I loved the concept of the book. The notes passed back and forth were so interesting and I loved the discussions that were brought up. Grief, disability, acceptance, judgment, family, and friendship were such poignant topics the author discussed so well. The mystery element was also teased really well and while I guessed the ending, I still really enjoyed it.
Copernicus and Kepler are such opposites, but their friendship was so lovely. Their discussions of their family and feelings felt so realistic and relatable. I loved the support they had for each other. Copernicus’s relationship with Ray outside of the notes sounded so sweet and wholesome.
Overall, if you like coming of age novels with a mystery element or are always excited to read epistolary books like me, you’ll definitely enjoy this one!
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA for the arc!
This was a really fun book! I adore epistolary novels and the art in this one was so beautiful and intriguing. I loved the concept of the book. The notes passed back and forth were so interesting and I loved the discussions that were brought up. Grief, disability, acceptance, judgment, family, and friendship were such poignant topics the author discussed so well. The mystery element was also teased really well and while I guessed the ending, I still really enjoyed it.
Copernicus and Kepler are such opposites, but their friendship was so lovely. Their discussions of their family and feelings felt so realistic and relatable. I loved the support they had for each other. Copernicus’s relationship with Ray outside of the notes sounded so sweet and wholesome.
Overall, if you like coming of age novels with a mystery element or are always excited to read epistolary books like me, you’ll definitely enjoy this one!
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA for the arc!
August 28, 2025
Ever since the days of "Amelia's Journal", I have been a sucker for mixed-media books. I'm always going to be drawn to them. This book was fun, and I especially liked the art work that is included through Copernicus' view points. The author did a great job creating two very distinct characters with only what could be written back and forth in notes, and I felt like I knew both of the characters well. I think my issue was that I wanted MORE. I'm unsure if this is going to be a standalone novel, but I would certainly read more from these characters. It kind of felt like the story was just getting going when it ended.
Thanks to Penguin Young Authors Group, Viking Books, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
Thanks to Penguin Young Authors Group, Viking Books, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
November 16, 2025
Wtf? Hoe saai?
November 21, 2025
lovely. so lovely.
Kepler and Copernicus, thank you for letting me into your story.
Kepler and Copernicus, thank you for letting me into your story.
August 31, 2025
Review: 4 stars
Okay, I surprisingly enjoyed this one!
Thank you, Penguin Teen for the physical arc - I ended up reading the digital arc version given that I wanted to experience the full colors of the book as the physical arc was in black and white.
Told in the form of epistolary notes in an ancient astronomy textbook, this novel brings about an unlikely friendship between two girls who could not be more different and a mystery surrounding one of their parents.
Copernicus just moved into a small town in West Virginia to live with her maternal grandparents after the death of her mother. She is looking to solve a mystery about her mum and wanting to know more about her mum’s teen years as her mum never talks about her past. Her discovery leads to her finding her mum’s old note in an ancient astronomy textbook which she doodles her journal notes on. Unexpectedly, Kepler discovers her notes when she was looking for an astronomy book to reference in her college application essays. Kepler was born and raised in this small town. Having to discover they enjoyed writing notes to each other, they dubbed themselves members of the Secret Astronomers Club to solve the mystery of Copernicus’s mum and their mysteries surrounding their small town including teenage drama and crushes.
|People with disabilities get used to standing out when it’s the last thing on Earth we’d choose to do. To others we can seem like we’re complaining or being difficult when all we’re doing is trying to hear|
The girls could not be more different as they grew up in different backgrounds. The notes allowed them some form of anonymity as they got to know each other’s different perspectives and also respect it despite not always agreeing with each other. Topics tackled are family ties and its complexities, the pains of growing up in a teen world, grief, disability, friendship, love and acceptance throughout it all. The discussions are so relatable and their support for each other is genuine. I do find the plot somewhat predictable as the story muddles through, making it an easy and digestible read.
|We have to be open to all different frequencies just in case a signal comes through that we weren’t expecting|
I could find myself relating to Copernicus as she has a hearing disability and would find myself nodding as she describes the struggles she goes through in her everyday life.
While the mystery element is simple and can easily be guessed, the book deserves a read as it focuses on the complexities of friendship. I also love the illustrations peppered throughout the book making this a visual and fun read.
Okay, I surprisingly enjoyed this one!
Thank you, Penguin Teen for the physical arc - I ended up reading the digital arc version given that I wanted to experience the full colors of the book as the physical arc was in black and white.
Told in the form of epistolary notes in an ancient astronomy textbook, this novel brings about an unlikely friendship between two girls who could not be more different and a mystery surrounding one of their parents.
Copernicus just moved into a small town in West Virginia to live with her maternal grandparents after the death of her mother. She is looking to solve a mystery about her mum and wanting to know more about her mum’s teen years as her mum never talks about her past. Her discovery leads to her finding her mum’s old note in an ancient astronomy textbook which she doodles her journal notes on. Unexpectedly, Kepler discovers her notes when she was looking for an astronomy book to reference in her college application essays. Kepler was born and raised in this small town. Having to discover they enjoyed writing notes to each other, they dubbed themselves members of the Secret Astronomers Club to solve the mystery of Copernicus’s mum and their mysteries surrounding their small town including teenage drama and crushes.
|People with disabilities get used to standing out when it’s the last thing on Earth we’d choose to do. To others we can seem like we’re complaining or being difficult when all we’re doing is trying to hear|
The girls could not be more different as they grew up in different backgrounds. The notes allowed them some form of anonymity as they got to know each other’s different perspectives and also respect it despite not always agreeing with each other. Topics tackled are family ties and its complexities, the pains of growing up in a teen world, grief, disability, friendship, love and acceptance throughout it all. The discussions are so relatable and their support for each other is genuine. I do find the plot somewhat predictable as the story muddles through, making it an easy and digestible read.
|We have to be open to all different frequencies just in case a signal comes through that we weren’t expecting|
I could find myself relating to Copernicus as she has a hearing disability and would find myself nodding as she describes the struggles she goes through in her everyday life.
While the mystery element is simple and can easily be guessed, the book deserves a read as it focuses on the complexities of friendship. I also love the illustrations peppered throughout the book making this a visual and fun read.
November 21, 2025
The Secret Astronomers is definitely a multilayered experience. While I was originally pulled in by the premise of a story told in notes, I was really firmly sold after getting a glimpse inside of this title. The idea of a story told in notes between strangers is one that will easily grab me every time. It’s alluring, mysterious, the temptation of being seen and understood down to your core, the quaint human connection of a relationship held entirely through written word. There’s something intimate and base level about that that I will always give a shot. Who doesn’t want to pull a random library book off of your library shelf and not only unearth a real life mystery, but better yet, make a whole new friend? The deeper ~mystery~ that our characters are trying to solve, and the one that initially brought one of our participants to this old and neglected title, is a lot less interesting than the human level exploration of the two high school students writing back and forth. One is revealed to be (spoilers) deaf partway through, one is struggling with incarcerated family, and the two of them handle topics like addiction and grief through the pages of this book together. Most interesting of all was the interwoven exploration of social politics, and an outsider coming in full fledged judgmental and condescending to a really rural tight knight community. That was intriguing to read through the two points of view attempting to coexist harmoniously. Overall, there was both a lot happening here, and nothing at all. Nothing ultimately dove too deep, or hit too hard. However the presentation of this being art and collage pieces, notes left behind, textbook graffiti, etc. made this a worthwhile quick read. I would love to hear the feedback of a younger audience, because I could see this being a reread on a loop, ultimate favorite, or entirely uninteresting to them piece. I find the work as a whole a worthwhile addition to a YA library collection. It’s a different format that might engage different types of readers. It’s visually stunning and will keep your attention in that way throughout. Would love to see more books like this.
December 3, 2025
firstly, i really loved the multimedia style-- but i think both the author and i realized pretty quickly that writing the ENTIRE book in this format was very limiting.
i think the story would have benefitted from this being used as a device- interspliced between the narration of the characters to fuel the story. i say this bc the growth of the characters is hard to grasp based on what they're writing.
and a lot of this book is about them living in a small town, which i get being a large driving force in the plot, but if they lived in such a small town, how would kepler not have been able to find out copernicus's identity from the fact that she's new and deaf? like in a small town, that knowledge would spread.
AND kepler's growth just being getting into college and then deciding to date aquarius instead of orion felt so flat. also the secret felt anticlimactic- it didn't really CHANGE their lives.
but again, i love how cozy it feels. solving mysteries, drawing in an old astronomy textbook with your pen pal, meeting all these characters in a small town- but only if we hadn't relied so heavily on the multimedia when its such a limited tool.
i think the story would have benefitted from this being used as a device- interspliced between the narration of the characters to fuel the story. i say this bc the growth of the characters is hard to grasp based on what they're writing.
and a lot of this book is about them living in a small town, which i get being a large driving force in the plot, but if they lived in such a small town, how would kepler not have been able to find out copernicus's identity from the fact that she's new and deaf? like in a small town, that knowledge would spread.
AND kepler's growth just being getting into college and then deciding to date aquarius instead of orion felt so flat. also the secret felt anticlimactic- it didn't really CHANGE their lives.
but again, i love how cozy it feels. solving mysteries, drawing in an old astronomy textbook with your pen pal, meeting all these characters in a small town- but only if we hadn't relied so heavily on the multimedia when its such a limited tool.
September 14, 2025
I grabbed an ARC of The Secret Astronomers at work and I cannot WAIT to see this in full color. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book for so many reasons. The format was extremely unique, and as much as I love epistolary stories, I think The Secret Astronomers put a new spin on a novel written in letters. Overlaying the notes as well as drawings, photos, etc. on top of the text within the textbook the characters were communicating through created a fun and engaging reading experience. I really liked the mystery storyline that was happening behind the scenes, and I wish that had been explored a little more. Overall, I liked getting to see Copernicus and Kepler get to know one another and themselves better, while still discussing some weighty topics with open minds.
June 8, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and I absolutely love it! I couldn’t wait to turn every page and see what was next. This is a very creative book with a lovely low-stakes story. So excited to see when this gets printed in full color!
December 24, 2025
This book is such an entertaining read, and had such a strong beginning. However, I felt like the ending came up short and honestly, the only reason I finished this book today was because yesterday Diane said she was shocked I hadn’t finished it yet.
November 12, 2025
A sweet and unique book, written in a modern take on the epistolary novel. Easy to follow and just what I needed when the world seemed to demand too much of me!
December 12, 2025
3.7
It took me awhile to get into this book, but I ended up really liking it!
It took me awhile to get into this book, but I ended up really liking it!
Read
December 21, 2025Dnf cuz lowkey it got rlly boring
December 20, 2025
Ok. To begin my review, I only got this book for free from a bookstore, since I got the free Advanced Readers Copy from Penguin Teen.
I was mainly drawn to this book because of the cover and the vague 2 sentences for a summary on the back. This captured my attention and made me very excited to start reading it.
When I did start reading it, it was very…interesting. I couldn’t say I didn’t enjoy the story. How the author captured each character and their story was unique…but you can definitely tell this was very liberal and Christianity hating. I completely understand if you aren’t a Christian, and don’t think that the right is great, but man, this book is about Astronomy, not the politics and beliefs! For example (and skip over this if you don’t want to much info) but on page 115, and I quote “Just imagine for a moment that some girls might like to ask other girls to the dance (ah, the shock!). And…wait for it…boys might want to ask other boys (the horror). But I’m sure those DEVILISH gender politics haven’t crossed anyone’s mind at GBHS.”
When did we have to bring “Gender Politics” into a book about mystery and space? There is absolute no reason. Call me whatever you want. But if you’re giving this to a child (ages 12 and up it says right on the front page) shouldn’t you give a warning about this? Ridiculous! So if you’re a Conservative Christian like me, stay clear of this.
But, otherwise from the insane perspective and not a great group of words (lots and lots of swearing, and words such as f***, s**, and many others) aside those major issues, the storyline was interesting, and I did like the idea of the conversation being on notes.
So was this book for me? No. But because it was free, I gave it a chance. I literally didn’t want to continue reading it so I just finished it in 2 days. Is this book for you? Maybe. Honestly, as much as I hate being politics into my books I write and the reviews I leave, it’s pretty simple. If your a leftist Democrat, where love is love, and anything goes by because we just want “peace” but you shut down any actual truth, and you want kids to “figure out their gender” because obviously the gender assigned at birth wasn’t enough, be my guess. But if your like me, where you can definitely see that there are major issues in the book, and your a Christian who cares about their country and wants the best for it. Do not read this.
I was mainly drawn to this book because of the cover and the vague 2 sentences for a summary on the back. This captured my attention and made me very excited to start reading it.
When I did start reading it, it was very…interesting. I couldn’t say I didn’t enjoy the story. How the author captured each character and their story was unique…but you can definitely tell this was very liberal and Christianity hating. I completely understand if you aren’t a Christian, and don’t think that the right is great, but man, this book is about Astronomy, not the politics and beliefs! For example (and skip over this if you don’t want to much info) but on page 115, and I quote “Just imagine for a moment that some girls might like to ask other girls to the dance (ah, the shock!). And…wait for it…boys might want to ask other boys (the horror). But I’m sure those DEVILISH gender politics haven’t crossed anyone’s mind at GBHS.”
When did we have to bring “Gender Politics” into a book about mystery and space? There is absolute no reason. Call me whatever you want. But if you’re giving this to a child (ages 12 and up it says right on the front page) shouldn’t you give a warning about this? Ridiculous! So if you’re a Conservative Christian like me, stay clear of this.
But, otherwise from the insane perspective and not a great group of words (lots and lots of swearing, and words such as f***, s**, and many others) aside those major issues, the storyline was interesting, and I did like the idea of the conversation being on notes.
So was this book for me? No. But because it was free, I gave it a chance. I literally didn’t want to continue reading it so I just finished it in 2 days. Is this book for you? Maybe. Honestly, as much as I hate being politics into my books I write and the reviews I leave, it’s pretty simple. If your a leftist Democrat, where love is love, and anything goes by because we just want “peace” but you shut down any actual truth, and you want kids to “figure out their gender” because obviously the gender assigned at birth wasn’t enough, be my guess. But if your like me, where you can definitely see that there are major issues in the book, and your a Christian who cares about their country and wants the best for it. Do not read this.
October 17, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley; Penguin TBR: Teen Galley Program; and Viking Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In small-town West Virginia, two teenagers meet via an old Astronomy textbook-turned-art project. Copernicus, a disabled queer teen, is struggling with finding her place in a small and traditional town, while Kepler is a local navigating her relationships with family and peers. While they initially clash, they eventually develop a friendship and become invested in the ambiguous past of one of their parents.
I personally felt ambivalent towards this book. I admired the unique format, which was very engaging, and the eventual explanations of Kepler and Copernicus’ lives in the real world. Their friendship is mostly realistic, I enjoyed the art so much, and the somewhat uncommon choice of setting created a unique world.
I felt the first section of the book was exposition-heavy and ended up overwhelming me, as there didn’t seem to be a particular focus. To me, the plot points didn’t flow very well into one another, which left me feeling a bit disoriented. More elements were pulled together later in the story, but some plot elements ended up having little follow through after the set up. I also felt the climax of the story was unsatisfying, and the mystery was somewhat easy to guess.
I was also off-put by Copernicus’ strong dislike of Appalachian residents, which began almost immediately. While I understand it would be jarring and upsetting to uproot one’s life as a teenager and would likely cause dislike of the region, the disdain for the people left me surprised. It was a rather cynical approach from Copernicus, who seemed eager to point out the faults in her peers, and I nearly elected not to continue reading the book because of this.
While my enjoyment of the book increased as I read on, I felt that the start could’ve been stronger and it was somewhat hard for me to warm up to Copernicus’ character. It was still a unique and spirited book.
In small-town West Virginia, two teenagers meet via an old Astronomy textbook-turned-art project. Copernicus, a disabled queer teen, is struggling with finding her place in a small and traditional town, while Kepler is a local navigating her relationships with family and peers. While they initially clash, they eventually develop a friendship and become invested in the ambiguous past of one of their parents.
I personally felt ambivalent towards this book. I admired the unique format, which was very engaging, and the eventual explanations of Kepler and Copernicus’ lives in the real world. Their friendship is mostly realistic, I enjoyed the art so much, and the somewhat uncommon choice of setting created a unique world.
I felt the first section of the book was exposition-heavy and ended up overwhelming me, as there didn’t seem to be a particular focus. To me, the plot points didn’t flow very well into one another, which left me feeling a bit disoriented. More elements were pulled together later in the story, but some plot elements ended up having little follow through after the set up. I also felt the climax of the story was unsatisfying, and the mystery was somewhat easy to guess.
I was also off-put by Copernicus’ strong dislike of Appalachian residents, which began almost immediately. While I understand it would be jarring and upsetting to uproot one’s life as a teenager and would likely cause dislike of the region, the disdain for the people left me surprised. It was a rather cynical approach from Copernicus, who seemed eager to point out the faults in her peers, and I nearly elected not to continue reading the book because of this.
While my enjoyment of the book increased as I read on, I felt that the start could’ve been stronger and it was somewhat hard for me to warm up to Copernicus’ character. It was still a unique and spirited book.
July 11, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC.
I am sure the print version will be beautiful and elevate the reading experience.
This unique epistolary novel showcases an unexpected friendship between two high school girls who remain anonymous to each other in a small rural town in West Virginia. Copernicus has just moved to Green Belt to live with her grandparents after her mother's death. She has found a secret note from her mom to find the oldest book in the library. Although she doesn't know why her mom mentions the book, Copernicus starts writing in it as a journal until Kepler writes back. Kepler has lived in Green Belt all her life, and her family before her has too, but Kepler wants to get out and go to college. The two girls become friends and create the Secret Astronomers Club to find out why Copernicus' mom wrote the note.
The two girls have different backgrounds, but unite over this mystery. They take time getting to know each other's perspectives in a way that wouldn't be possible if they interacted in person rather than notes (pen-pal style).
I appreciated that Kepler stood up to Copernicus' social justice ideas, often pointing out that "rednecks and hillbillies" were not being given the same benefit of the doubt as other groups, but she also admits not everything her town does is right, either. Kepler is deeply connected to her home and will defend it while also knowing she wants to leave for college.
The novel mainly focuses on their friendship, while the mystery of Copernicus' mom being a secondary plot line. The resolution of the mystery wasn't totally satisfying and was fairly easy to figure out.
I am sure the print version will be beautiful and elevate the reading experience.
This unique epistolary novel showcases an unexpected friendship between two high school girls who remain anonymous to each other in a small rural town in West Virginia. Copernicus has just moved to Green Belt to live with her grandparents after her mother's death. She has found a secret note from her mom to find the oldest book in the library. Although she doesn't know why her mom mentions the book, Copernicus starts writing in it as a journal until Kepler writes back. Kepler has lived in Green Belt all her life, and her family before her has too, but Kepler wants to get out and go to college. The two girls become friends and create the Secret Astronomers Club to find out why Copernicus' mom wrote the note.
The two girls have different backgrounds, but unite over this mystery. They take time getting to know each other's perspectives in a way that wouldn't be possible if they interacted in person rather than notes (pen-pal style).
I appreciated that Kepler stood up to Copernicus' social justice ideas, often pointing out that "rednecks and hillbillies" were not being given the same benefit of the doubt as other groups, but she also admits not everything her town does is right, either. Kepler is deeply connected to her home and will defend it while also knowing she wants to leave for college.
The novel mainly focuses on their friendship, while the mystery of Copernicus' mom being a secondary plot line. The resolution of the mystery wasn't totally satisfying and was fairly easy to figure out.
September 27, 2025
The Secret Astronomers is a unique contemporary YA novel. I haven't read anything like this before, and I really enjoyed it.
A teen girl from CA transfers to a small WV high school and starts writing her thoughts in the oldest textbook in the school library. The last thing she expects is for someone to respond, but they do. And thus begins an ongoing conversation - held via post-it notes, doodles, and ripped pages - between two girls who have never met in person, but who begin to build a special friendship.
Both girls have their own slew of difficulties and life circumstances they are dealing with. Copernicus is searching for answers after the sudden death of her mother. Kepler is determined to get out of their small WV town and be the first person in her family to go to college. The two unlikely friends not only share their lives with each other as pen pals, but also work together to solve a mystery Copernicus discovered her mom left behind.
I love the uniqueness of this book! The author hand drew the story and images across the pages of an actual old astrophysics textbook. Her illustrations really help bring the story to life. It's so fun to read Copernicus and Kepler's story in this way. As I was reading I could visualize each girl hiding in the back of the library, sneaking this ancient book off the shelf, and secretly writing her thoughts and letters in it before placing it back on the shelf. You can feel the girls' emotions and anticipation of each other's responses coming off the pages.
This is a story of friendship, family, high school crushes, aliens, secrets, telescopes, life in Appalachia, and connection.
This was such a fun book to read!
A teen girl from CA transfers to a small WV high school and starts writing her thoughts in the oldest textbook in the school library. The last thing she expects is for someone to respond, but they do. And thus begins an ongoing conversation - held via post-it notes, doodles, and ripped pages - between two girls who have never met in person, but who begin to build a special friendship.
Both girls have their own slew of difficulties and life circumstances they are dealing with. Copernicus is searching for answers after the sudden death of her mother. Kepler is determined to get out of their small WV town and be the first person in her family to go to college. The two unlikely friends not only share their lives with each other as pen pals, but also work together to solve a mystery Copernicus discovered her mom left behind.
I love the uniqueness of this book! The author hand drew the story and images across the pages of an actual old astrophysics textbook. Her illustrations really help bring the story to life. It's so fun to read Copernicus and Kepler's story in this way. As I was reading I could visualize each girl hiding in the back of the library, sneaking this ancient book off the shelf, and secretly writing her thoughts and letters in it before placing it back on the shelf. You can feel the girls' emotions and anticipation of each other's responses coming off the pages.
This is a story of friendship, family, high school crushes, aliens, secrets, telescopes, life in Appalachia, and connection.
This was such a fun book to read!
October 14, 2025
Inside the oldest book in the Green Bank, West Virginia high school library, a wealth of secrets can be found. When two students–one who is transplanted from progressive California to rural Green Bank and the other who is originally from the town–unexpectedly collide within the pages of the book, they find their similarities may be more plentiful than their differences. Every day, the pair exchange written commentary inside the pages of the book, and their friendship flourishes under the shadow of their secret identities. But when the book’s purported mysteries begin to get too close for comfort, the two students must determine whether they would like to bring their friendship into the open or keep it hidden for good. This unique book is much like a young adult version of S by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst. Designed as a book within a book, the foundation of the novel appears on the pages of an antiquated astronomy textbook. Drawings, sticky notes, and collage-style additions tell the story of the unnamed characters within the narrative, and their individual voices stand out thanks to their unique handwriting and conversational styles. Strong language and mature subject matter pepper the narrative, accurately reflecting the emotional struggles both characters are facing. The design of the novel enhances the readability of the story, especially thanks to the book’s unique and nontraditional approach. But even though the narrative progresses quickly as a result of its construction, the novel is no less resonant in the reader’s mind. Thoughtful and memorable, this is a compelling addition to library collections for young adult readers.
December 2, 2025
Two very different teens find common ground in the pages of an old physics textbook, corresponding through code names as they work to solve a mystery left behind by one's mother while avoiding meeting up in real life.
"Copernicus" is working through the death of her mother, "Sun" and her subsequent move from Portland to rural West Virginia, the place her astrophysicist mother fought like hell to escape. "Kepler" is an Appalachian with big dreams who likes to joke that her only two options are college or working at Dollar General like her big sister. Kepler gives Copernicus a taste of a different, kinder, side of Appalachia, while Copernicus comes through for Kepler in a big way when she needs some inspiration.
The book weaves the mystery into its setting. Green Bank, West Virginia, is a town without Wi-Fi, where people chase down rogue radio signals that might interfere with the government's secret radio telescope project to contact alien life. The year Sun was a senior, the telescope collapsed during a meteor shower while the football stadium lights went out. As Copernicus and Kepler dig into Sun's secrets, they get closer to finding out what really happed all those years ago. The mystery adds a much-needed dose of suspense, while the interactions between the girls provide the heart of the book.
The format is a standout, too. The handwritten notes, drawings, and doodles bring warmth, personality, and an extra layer of storytelling that makes the book feel alive.
Thanks so much to the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Copernicus" is working through the death of her mother, "Sun" and her subsequent move from Portland to rural West Virginia, the place her astrophysicist mother fought like hell to escape. "Kepler" is an Appalachian with big dreams who likes to joke that her only two options are college or working at Dollar General like her big sister. Kepler gives Copernicus a taste of a different, kinder, side of Appalachia, while Copernicus comes through for Kepler in a big way when she needs some inspiration.
The book weaves the mystery into its setting. Green Bank, West Virginia, is a town without Wi-Fi, where people chase down rogue radio signals that might interfere with the government's secret radio telescope project to contact alien life. The year Sun was a senior, the telescope collapsed during a meteor shower while the football stadium lights went out. As Copernicus and Kepler dig into Sun's secrets, they get closer to finding out what really happed all those years ago. The mystery adds a much-needed dose of suspense, while the interactions between the girls provide the heart of the book.
The format is a standout, too. The handwritten notes, drawings, and doodles bring warmth, personality, and an extra layer of storytelling that makes the book feel alive.
Thanks so much to the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2025
This book is a surprise and a delight. It's an epistolary, YA novel written entirely as post-it notes and edits to an old physics book in a high school library. The two narrators become close friends without ever meeting each other (they agree to communicate only through the book and assume the code names Copernicus and Kepler), as they navigate their senior year of high school in Green Banks, West Virginia, and try to solve a mystery about Copernicus's mother and mysterious, potential alien experiences in their town in the 1980s. It's a mystery full of blinking lights and secret messages and the price of staying or leaving, growing roots or severing them, and the book's visual element (overwriting and altering an existing text that still peeks through) seems like a particularly good fit for the story. The pacing is excellent, with a good balance between the mysterious past and the complicated present. I especially enjoyed the way one narrator's deafness is just a character trait, not a plot point, the other narrator's defense of her rural West Virginian culture even as she wants desperately to escape herself, and the way both narrators call each other out on their blind spots. They're both convincingly complicated, and while the mystery pulls the story along, the character interactions are just as satisfying. Definitely recommended.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.
December 7, 2025
Where do I even begin? For how this book is presented, it is so well written! I really enjoyed reading through the notes made by "Copernicus" and "Kepler" watching as their friendship slowly developed through their senior year and also seeing how they change their viewpoints on life because of the notes they leave. I picked this book up because I love Astronomy and I really appreciated the attention to detail within that specific topic, from how Copernicus and Kepler picked codenames for people they wanted to talk about, to just finding clues in relation to Copernicus's mom it was all pretty accurate! I also liked that it was set in Green Bank, West Virginia, a place that I had never heard of before. It is a completely real place and it really does have a slight ban on technology/wifi because of the Green Bank telescope! As of 2023 its population is at 51 which really brings out Copernicus's whole hillbilly/redneck thing she poked fun at haha! The entire time I was reading this, it really truly felt like I had been a student at GBHS a decade later who had randomly stumbled upon this textbook, with the way we as the readers are kept in the dark on who the note writers are, it was executed so well and it felt so real! Anyways, this was such a fun book to read and gave me plenty to do research on because of how fascinating the scenes were in this book!
October 12, 2025
This was an interesting book and I’m always a sucker for how epistolary novels stand out. I felt this novel did a great job of showcasing the differences between people who grew up in very different environments. Copernicus grew up in San Francisco where she was exposed to a lot more social justice topics. In contrast, Kepler grew up in a small town with limited access to the outside world due to the restrictions on radio waves and cellular devices. It’s interesting to see the two of them interact and work to help each other understand their different perspectives while also creating a bond and dealing with losses in their families.
This book is about dealing with grief and finding connection through loss and despite differences. It also deals with trying to create your own path and wanting to strive for more despite the challenges and recognizing that people often struggle with things that you can’t see. I felt at times the correspondence between the two characters felt very juvenile or suddenly switch emotions/topics, though I’ll give some grace due to the format of the novel being told exclusively through notes.
This book is about dealing with grief and finding connection through loss and despite differences. It also deals with trying to create your own path and wanting to strive for more despite the challenges and recognizing that people often struggle with things that you can’t see. I felt at times the correspondence between the two characters felt very juvenile or suddenly switch emotions/topics, though I’ll give some grace due to the format of the novel being told exclusively through notes.
December 11, 2025
I read this in two sittings because I was obsessed from the start! The unique format of this book is what drew me in after seeing an ad for it. I was really obsessed with the Illuminae Files two years ago, and that also had a unique format. This one was definitely not sci-fi, but I think that made it even better. Getting to know both characters slowly through their shared notes was fun and kept things interesting. The book is also very short because there are so little words on each page compared to traditionally formatted books. This made it very easy to binge read, which has been hard for me to do lately. I really needed something to get me out of the reading slump I was in, and this was the perfect cure!!
September 10, 2025
I picked up an arc of this entirely on a whim because I really love astronomy facts and fun formats, and I'm glad that I did because I liked it a lot. The format is, indeed, very cool–I love the way that the pages of the book actually look like an old astronomy textbook the characters are drawing and writing on, which I assume must have been accomplished through collage or photoshop. This is told mostly through sticky-note length snippets, so I was very impressed by how fleshed-out the characters and the story feel: it has a nice evolving friendship at the center, family secrets, lots about astronomy, the pros and cons of living in a rural area, and a satisfying coming of age arc. A nice surprise and I'm glad I gave this one a chance. Also, apparently the finished edition will be in full color which is fun.
October 2, 2025
First of all this has to be one of the coolest formatting options I’ve ever seen for a book. I am such a sucker for mixed media and epistolary novels and honestly this one in its deliverance was brilliant. I devoured it in one quick sitting the day I got approved on NetGalley.
The characters voices were distinct and strong and I love that it’s immediately clear that both girls are just like every other teenager, that they have their flaws and their unique viewpoints. It makes the story a compelling one. I do deeply want to know if there’s going to be a follow up to this one though. The only bad thing I can say is that the story just feels unfinished. I feel like there’s so much more to learn about the girls and their parents!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
The characters voices were distinct and strong and I love that it’s immediately clear that both girls are just like every other teenager, that they have their flaws and their unique viewpoints. It makes the story a compelling one. I do deeply want to know if there’s going to be a follow up to this one though. The only bad thing I can say is that the story just feels unfinished. I feel like there’s so much more to learn about the girls and their parents!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2025
In a novel concept that is beautifully executed, The Secret Astronomers is a story told in drawings, collages, post-its, and taped-in notes within a century-old astronomy textbook found in a West Viriginia high school. Two teens, each unknown to the other, start a correspondence and friendship through these notes. One teen is a California transplant who is grieving the recent death of her mother. The other is an ambitious hometown girl desperate to get into college with a substantial scholarship. They bond over a mystery about what happened in the 1980s when the California teen's mother lived in there. Along the way the two teens discover they have a lot more in common than they first realized. Multi-layered and intriguing.
December 15, 2025
Hmm. The artwork and concept were beautiful. I loved the idea of a book within a book and secret letters being written back and forth. It does seem highly unlikely that with the setting being in such a small town, that these two would not know each other. A new student would be known to everyone (at least, I would imagine). The art was awesome, but the story felt a bit flat somehow. I liked how it was truly like reading notes from two friends, and in that way, it had a realistic tone to these messages, so much so that it just felt like reading notes, and the story/plot/etc. was non-existent. The mystery, underwhelming and predictable. Perhaps some teens will enjoy it. I'm still torn between recommending it because the format is so fun, but the story is not that great...
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