The Book of Jupiter

by Robin Stevenson

Thirteen-year-old Ara lives in an isolated community called Jupiter Station . Her family abides by the teachings of Father Jupiter, their self-appointed leader, and follows the strict rules laid out in his Book of Jupiter. Ara has always believed what she’s been taught, including Father Jupiter’s prophecy that the family will soon become stardust and Ascend to the planet Jupiter, where they’ll live together forever. But when her older brother Leo reveals his doubts about Father Jupiter and his teachings, Ara must decide who to believe—and what to do.

Delving into the world of a religious cult and the dangers of unquestioning faith, this chilling tale of awakening delivers gripping plot twists and a powerful reminder that the truth is worth fighting for.

Genres: Middle Grade, Cults, Mystery

220 pages, Hardcover

Published June 2, 2026

About the author

Robin Stevenson is the award winning author of over thirty books of fiction and non-fiction for kids and teens. Her books have received starred reviews and have won the Silver Birch Award, the Sheila A. Egoff award and a Stonewall Honor, and been finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Lambda Literary Awards, and many reader’s choice awards. Robin was the Book and Periodical Council of Canada’s Champion of Free Expression for 2022, and received the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence in 2023. She lives on the west coast of Canada.

Reviews

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first YA book I have ever read that deals with the abuse from being in a cult. It was an interesting read bland one that I couldn’t put down. Your students will have a lot of questions about this one, and probably want to know more about cults in real life (since they are not learner in schools or the curriculum).

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of those "did not see it coming and suddenly I can't put it down" reads. I found the story overall to be engaging, with Ara's perspective being very realistic. The first part was a slow unfurling that led to a thrilling second half. There are references to real cults (and their terrible endings) but no graphic details, making it accessible for kids. Though some details are glossed over, I think it works well given the story's relatively short length.

[Read by Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts off slow but ramps up for a climactic second half.

[📚emm📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting it renewed my reading streak. I could NOT put this down. Highly HIGHLY recommend!

[Jennifer Sveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! I am always really impressed by children's books that cover serious topics without downplaying or ignoring the more difficult-to-tackle conversations. This was an engaging story, a super interesting concept to explore, and wrapped up just neatly enough to be satisfying.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceedingly suspenseful.

I read this book in approximately four hours. It was very hard to put down. The story follows Ara, a girl who is growing up in a cult, and her older brother Leo, who has just enough memories of the outside to start to question everything that they have been made to believe in Jupiter Station— the neopagan, planet worshiping cult they have been brought to.

It’s really hard to talk about this book without revealing too many spoilers, but I found it very hard to put this book down because I was so invested in the characters uncovering the truth of their situation. As a reader, you very quickly understand that they are in a cult, and it is so jarring to be reading from their point of view as they navigate the world beyond what they have been made to believe it is.

And at a very slim 200 pages, I think that this would be a great book for any reader, but especially reluctant readers. Short chapters keep it engaging.

There are moments in the book where characters reflect upon real world colts, which introduces a little bit of history, which I appreciated.

Honestly, the only thing I did not like about this book was the cover. Tell me it makes the book seem like more of a tragedy or an emotional book rather than an extremely high stakes suspenseful book.

Highly recommend!

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Ara lives in an isolated religious community called Jupiter Station, which she eventually realizes is a cult. She lives there with her family under the leadership of the man they call Father Jupiter. The community lives by the Book of Jupiter, which says that they’ll “Ascend” to the planet Jupiter to live together forever, rather than dying, but only if they don’t have any “Doubts” about what Father Jupiter says. On her thirteenth birthday, Ara is given a newborn baby to care for because her mother Io has recently Ascended to Jupiter. Ara’s older brother Leo begins having Doubts, which scares Ara - what will happen to Leo if he Doubts Father Jupiter? How can Ara be sure that they’ll Ascend to Jupiter together if Leo is expressing Doubts? Why doesn’t Leo realize that life is safest at Jupiter Station?

I enjoyed this book so much! There were twists and turns that teen readers will find super engaging and made the book difficult to put down! None of the characters are cued as people of color; it seems that Jupiter Station is an all-white community. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎵🎵🎵 Cults for kids! do do doooo, yeah, kids in cults! 🎵🎵🎵

I was really excited for the potential of this one and am still excited to recommend it and see what responses are.
It's fairly ambitious in the way that in about 200 pgs our young teen narrator goes from fully emmeshed into cult life and beliefs to doubts, reality implosion, and then action.
I feel like this type of story has been done before with more mastery; however, I cannot let my own preferences of avoiding some spoon feeding of themes to pass over the timeliness of such a story and the potential for this story to unlock some things or spark and infuse some critical thinking in children/families that have been drinking too much Kool-Aid these days.
In order for this to be better/more believable, it would then very likely become geared at more advanced and/or older readers; again, I'm interested in seeing how it goes over with older elementary and middle school aged audiences.

[Bookworm4Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ara has lived in an isolated community called Jupiter Station her whole life. Her family abides by the teachings of their leader Father Jupiter, a self-proclaimed prophet. They follow his strict teachings found in the Book of Jupiter. Ara has always believed Father Jupiter's teachings, especially the prophecy about them all one day ascending to live as stardust on the planet Jupiter. But when her older brother Leo begins to express doubt about the teachings and goes missing, Ara begins to doubt everything she's been told. Ara must decide who and what she truly believes- and what she must do to protect her family.

An interesting middle grade read that explores growing up in a cult and teaches that finding the truth is always worth fighting for. I finished this book in two days because I was so hooked.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is a Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading nominee for 2027 in the Red Maple section. It is set to be geared towards Grades 7 and 8. It was a very different topic to read about. I thought that it was handled well and I finished it in one evening just to see how it ended. I was a bit disappointed in the ending as I felt that one story line did not quite wrap up.

The story centers around a 13-year-old girl named Ara who lives in an isolated community called Jupiter Station with her 'family'. You quickly realize that it is a cult. How she navigates through this world when she and her brother have doubts drives the story.
I would recommend this for the high school level.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I loved the writing and tension in this middle grade chapter book. Ara and Leo live on Jupiter station with Father Jupiter. They are strong believers in Father Jupiter and the Book of Jupiter. They know it is wrong to question the teachings. They are born in the cosmos and earthly bodies exist to learn the teachings of Father Jupiter. But, Ara does have questions. Asking them leads to danger.

[Connie T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I'm in the minority here but, I feel like I've read better books on the topic. Given the circumstances, I felt the story dragged a bit. Due to what I feel was a lack of character development, all of the adults (with the exception of Dia and Father Jupiter) blended together. Likewise for all the children except Ara, Leo and Nova. This book was a bit disappointing.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am fascinated by middle grade novels that are set in or discuss cults. And this one is a good one! It is well written and contains fully developed characters and discusses cults and control in a very mg friendly way. A solid read I really enjoyed.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic look at cults in a really lovely short read. Definitely a harder topic, but written in an engaging way that would be suitable for reluctant teen readers.
contains cults, attempted mass murder, violence against children, violence, kidnapping

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

So any young people are influenced by the crowd. This story will show them why they need to question some authority, especially when they are uncomfortable. I appreciated the references to the Oklahoma bombing and the Jonestown cult.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Review to come closer to publication date.

[Shelbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic, short little read. Just fine

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a kids book. As a youth librarian, I can't think of anyone I would recommend this book to.

[Erica Larsen · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Quick read, made more interesting by having just read Candace Fleming's Death in the Jungle.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was wild.

[Julie Turgeon Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

2026 Red Maple nominee #2: This book was super interesting and I couldn’t put it down.