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Watch the Sky
The signs are everywhere, Jory's stepfather, Caleb, says. Red leaves in the springtime. Pages torn from a library book. All the fish in the aquarium facing the same way. A cracked egg with twin yolks. Everywhere and anywhere. And because of them Jory's life is far from ordinary. He must follow a very specific set of rules: don't trust anyone outside the family, have your works at the ready just in case, and always, always watch out for the signs. The end is coming, and they must be prepared.
School is Jory's only escape from Caleb's tight grasp, and with the help of new friends Jory begins to explore a world beyond his family's farm. As Jory's friendships grow, Caleb notifies Jory's mother and siblings that the time has come for final preparations.
They begin an exhausting schedule digging a mysterious tunnel in anticipation of the disaster. But as the hold gets deeper, so does the family's doubt about whether Caleb's prophecy is true. When the stark reality of his stepfather's plans becomes clear, Jory must choose between living his own life or following Caleb, shutting his eyes to the bright world he's just begun to see.
School is Jory's only escape from Caleb's tight grasp, and with the help of new friends Jory begins to explore a world beyond his family's farm. As Jory's friendships grow, Caleb notifies Jory's mother and siblings that the time has come for final preparations.
They begin an exhausting schedule digging a mysterious tunnel in anticipation of the disaster. But as the hold gets deeper, so does the family's doubt about whether Caleb's prophecy is true. When the stark reality of his stepfather's plans becomes clear, Jory must choose between living his own life or following Caleb, shutting his eyes to the bright world he's just begun to see.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2015
37 people are currently reading
3847 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Hubbard
7 books653 followersIn search of transcendent backdrops for her novels, Kirsten Hubbard has hiked ancient ruins in Cambodia, dived with wild dolphins in Belize (one totally looked her in the eye), slept in a Slovenian jail cell, and navigated numerous desert apocalypses (her cult is satirical, she swears). But she always comes home to California.
Kirsten is the author of the young adult novels LIKE MANDARIN and WANDERLOVE (Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books); the middle-grade novels WATCH THE SKY and RACE THE NIGHT (Disney-Hyperion); and co-author of the SECRETS OF TOPSEA series as Kir Fox. She is also author of the picture book DEAR STRAY (Nancy Paulsen/Penguin).
Kirsten is the author of the young adult novels LIKE MANDARIN and WANDERLOVE (Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books); the middle-grade novels WATCH THE SKY and RACE THE NIGHT (Disney-Hyperion); and co-author of the SECRETS OF TOPSEA series as Kir Fox. She is also author of the picture book DEAR STRAY (Nancy Paulsen/Penguin).
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March 11, 2014WATCH THE SKY is my first middle-grade novel. it's about creaky old barns, and silent sisters, and secrets, and danger, and signs in the night sky.
it's also about shovels.
I can't wait to share it with you.
more about WATCH THE SKY soon. for now, check out my pinterest inspiration board.
(photo credit JacquelineBarkla)
June 17, 2015
Honestly, this one felt like it got too unrealistic after about halfway and the ending was way too rushed and abrupt. RTC.
April 21, 2015
I’m normally not one to read middle grade books, but Hubbard’s book I had previously read was full with beautiful writing, and I knew that I’d want to experience something similar again, also who could resist this gorgeous cover?
Watch the Sky was a lot different to what I was expecting it to be, but the main character Jory really impressed me. He had lived a sheltered little life with his family, told to always question things, keep to himself and keep quiet about his family (his family had taken a girl who was wondering around in their garden and they hadn’t told anyone about it). So when his family finally decides that Jory should go to school instead of being home schooled I was happy as I wanted Jory to be able to experience life instead of living under the control of his step father. It did take a while for Jory to trust kids at school, his step dad had really drilled the idea of questioning everything into him, that Jory had a hard time letting people get close to him. But I adored Alice Brooks-Diaz and her attempts to bring Jory out of his shell; she really was such a sweet girl.
Watch the Sky was once again a beautifully written story from Hubbard that I was able to fly through the beautiful passages. And of course this book consisted of three characters that really made this book for me, two of them actually underwent tremendous growth and I’m glad that this other character was there to support them through it. My only complaint is there was this one character in the story who I really hated, hated because he seemed to believe he knew everything and encouraged others to believe his farfetched ideas too. Some of the things he did with no remorse too made me hate him even more. But this character aside, Watch the Sky was a beautiful read, a lot different to what I was expecting, but wonderful never the less.
This review can be found on: The Readers Den
Watch the Sky was a lot different to what I was expecting it to be, but the main character Jory really impressed me. He had lived a sheltered little life with his family, told to always question things, keep to himself and keep quiet about his family (his family had taken a girl who was wondering around in their garden and they hadn’t told anyone about it). So when his family finally decides that Jory should go to school instead of being home schooled I was happy as I wanted Jory to be able to experience life instead of living under the control of his step father. It did take a while for Jory to trust kids at school, his step dad had really drilled the idea of questioning everything into him, that Jory had a hard time letting people get close to him. But I adored Alice Brooks-Diaz and her attempts to bring Jory out of his shell; she really was such a sweet girl.
Watch the Sky was once again a beautifully written story from Hubbard that I was able to fly through the beautiful passages. And of course this book consisted of three characters that really made this book for me, two of them actually underwent tremendous growth and I’m glad that this other character was there to support them through it. My only complaint is there was this one character in the story who I really hated, hated because he seemed to believe he knew everything and encouraged others to believe his farfetched ideas too. Some of the things he did with no remorse too made me hate him even more. But this character aside, Watch the Sky was a beautiful read, a lot different to what I was expecting, but wonderful never the less.
This review can be found on: The Readers Den
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book is really tough to review because I loved it, right up until the very end, when I thought, "Wait? That's it?" Still, I've given myself a little time to ponder it, and I think I'm okay with the abrupt ending - mostly.
The book follows Jory, whose family is preparing for - something. He's never really quite sure what - he just knows that his stepfather is sure that something bad is coming, and that they need to be prepared. So, they begin to dig a shelter in the canyon out behind their house. Every night, for hours, Jory and his family dig. Meanwhile, Jory's family's new schedule allows him a little more freedom - one day a week, Jory has off so that he can catch up with school. He finds himself spending the time that his family is sleeping with a few kids from school, and he is surprised to find that he actually starts to connect with them - and he likes it. This is something new for him. But balancing his family's secrets (both the canyon and Jory's younger sister who I'll talk about more specifically in my review) and his new life and friendships gets to be very tricky. And Jory starts to wonder if his strange but charismatic stepfather might just be wrong.
What I loved:
The concept.
I've watched TV shows about families who are preparing for an apocalypse of some type or another. There were tons of people who thought the world would end in 2012, and there are still plenty of people who are ready for the end to come in one form or another (you can even buy your own zombie-proof shelter). I find it all kind of fascinating. There's a little part of me that thinks it might not be so horrible to be prepared, just in case, but I'd hate to live in constant fear of "something," which is exactly what Jory's family does.
Broken family dynamics.
Since Jory is a kid, his instinct is to trust his stepfather and believe that something very bad is going to happen, even if his stepfather can never really say what it's going to be. Jory loves his stepfather and he wants to believe in him, but it gets more and more difficult as he starts to realize how different his family is from the rest of the world. Jory's mother has her own issues, which make her extremely dependent on Caleb (her husband). She feels like Caleb has saved them in some ways, so she is pretty much willing to go along with anything he says. She doesn't seem to be one hundred percent sure if she believes everything that Caleb says, but she loves him and feels like she should support him. As Jory gets older, I think he starts to realize that people can actually have things wrong with them that cause them to not be able to make decisions properly and he starts to finally doubt. Which brings me to my next point ...
Mental health issues.
While nothing is ever named in the book, it's obvious that pretty much everyone in Jory's family (except for him and his baby brother) have some type of mental health issue. Since the book is told from Jory's POV, we see his parents through his eyes - the good and the bad. It becomes apparent that Caleb probably suffers from some form of PTSD (from his time in the military), which has morphed into this fear of the end of everything and a distrust of authority. Jory's mother obviously suffers from some sort of anxiety - possibly agoraphobia. She can't handle the world around her, which is why she feels like Caleb has saved them by taking them in. Then there's Jory's younger sister, Kit - you find out early on that Jory simply found Kit in their pumpkin patch one day and they took her in. She doesn't speak, so you can only assume that there was some sort of trauma in her past. I actually really appreciated seeing all of these people through the eyes of a child - Jory's POV is a unique insight into mental health issues because he's somewhat naive and doesn't really know what to make of any of it. He knows that his family members are "different,: but he doesn't exactly understand how or to what extent that difference reaches.
Compelling story.
I found myself completely drawn in to this story. I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to unravel the mysteries - what was Caleb so afraid of? What was Kit's story? (For a short period, I almost thought that Kit was somehow supernatural - but, again, the book is told from a child's perspective, so he's not always a reliable narrator.) What would happen once people started to find out their secrets? Unfortunately, while I was completely drawn in to the mysteries and LOVED the journey, I didn't get many answers in the end, which brings me to my negative point ...
The negatives:
Very abrupt ending.
When I got to the last page of the book, I was a bit shocked because it just sort of - ended. I mean, there was a little bit of resolution - you find out what happens with Jory and his family when it comes to the shelter, but it felt very sudden and abrupt. Honestly, I couldn't put this book down because I really wanted to find out what was going to happen and when I got there ... I felt a little let down. Likewise, you never get answers to any of the mysteries surrounding Kit. Where did she come from? Why did she never speak? What happened to her (and the rest of the family) in the end? You're left to draw your own conclusions about all of these things. I prefer a bit more closure to my endings, and most middle grade readers that I know definitely do (my 12-year-old son flat out refused to read this one when he heard that you don't really find out what happens to everyone in the end). So, at the end, this book quickly went from being a book that I adored to a book that I liked.
I loved most of this book. I connected to Jory and absolutely adored his little sister Kit - and I was incredibly intrigued, wondering what would happen to this unstable family. Unfortunately, the ending left me hanging, which negated some (but not all) of my enjoyment of the rest of the book. Overall, I still give it 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book is really tough to review because I loved it, right up until the very end, when I thought, "Wait? That's it?" Still, I've given myself a little time to ponder it, and I think I'm okay with the abrupt ending - mostly.
The book follows Jory, whose family is preparing for - something. He's never really quite sure what - he just knows that his stepfather is sure that something bad is coming, and that they need to be prepared. So, they begin to dig a shelter in the canyon out behind their house. Every night, for hours, Jory and his family dig. Meanwhile, Jory's family's new schedule allows him a little more freedom - one day a week, Jory has off so that he can catch up with school. He finds himself spending the time that his family is sleeping with a few kids from school, and he is surprised to find that he actually starts to connect with them - and he likes it. This is something new for him. But balancing his family's secrets (both the canyon and Jory's younger sister who I'll talk about more specifically in my review) and his new life and friendships gets to be very tricky. And Jory starts to wonder if his strange but charismatic stepfather might just be wrong.
What I loved:
The concept.
I've watched TV shows about families who are preparing for an apocalypse of some type or another. There were tons of people who thought the world would end in 2012, and there are still plenty of people who are ready for the end to come in one form or another (you can even buy your own zombie-proof shelter). I find it all kind of fascinating. There's a little part of me that thinks it might not be so horrible to be prepared, just in case, but I'd hate to live in constant fear of "something," which is exactly what Jory's family does.
Broken family dynamics.
Since Jory is a kid, his instinct is to trust his stepfather and believe that something very bad is going to happen, even if his stepfather can never really say what it's going to be. Jory loves his stepfather and he wants to believe in him, but it gets more and more difficult as he starts to realize how different his family is from the rest of the world. Jory's mother has her own issues, which make her extremely dependent on Caleb (her husband). She feels like Caleb has saved them in some ways, so she is pretty much willing to go along with anything he says. She doesn't seem to be one hundred percent sure if she believes everything that Caleb says, but she loves him and feels like she should support him. As Jory gets older, I think he starts to realize that people can actually have things wrong with them that cause them to not be able to make decisions properly and he starts to finally doubt. Which brings me to my next point ...
Mental health issues.
While nothing is ever named in the book, it's obvious that pretty much everyone in Jory's family (except for him and his baby brother) have some type of mental health issue. Since the book is told from Jory's POV, we see his parents through his eyes - the good and the bad. It becomes apparent that Caleb probably suffers from some form of PTSD (from his time in the military), which has morphed into this fear of the end of everything and a distrust of authority. Jory's mother obviously suffers from some sort of anxiety - possibly agoraphobia. She can't handle the world around her, which is why she feels like Caleb has saved them by taking them in. Then there's Jory's younger sister, Kit - you find out early on that Jory simply found Kit in their pumpkin patch one day and they took her in. She doesn't speak, so you can only assume that there was some sort of trauma in her past. I actually really appreciated seeing all of these people through the eyes of a child - Jory's POV is a unique insight into mental health issues because he's somewhat naive and doesn't really know what to make of any of it. He knows that his family members are "different,: but he doesn't exactly understand how or to what extent that difference reaches.
Compelling story.
I found myself completely drawn in to this story. I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to unravel the mysteries - what was Caleb so afraid of? What was Kit's story? (For a short period, I almost thought that Kit was somehow supernatural - but, again, the book is told from a child's perspective, so he's not always a reliable narrator.) What would happen once people started to find out their secrets? Unfortunately, while I was completely drawn in to the mysteries and LOVED the journey, I didn't get many answers in the end, which brings me to my negative point ...
The negatives:
Very abrupt ending.
When I got to the last page of the book, I was a bit shocked because it just sort of - ended. I mean, there was a little bit of resolution - you find out what happens with Jory and his family when it comes to the shelter, but it felt very sudden and abrupt. Honestly, I couldn't put this book down because I really wanted to find out what was going to happen and when I got there ... I felt a little let down. Likewise, you never get answers to any of the mysteries surrounding Kit. Where did she come from? Why did she never speak? What happened to her (and the rest of the family) in the end? You're left to draw your own conclusions about all of these things. I prefer a bit more closure to my endings, and most middle grade readers that I know definitely do (my 12-year-old son flat out refused to read this one when he heard that you don't really find out what happens to everyone in the end). So, at the end, this book quickly went from being a book that I adored to a book that I liked.
I loved most of this book. I connected to Jory and absolutely adored his little sister Kit - and I was incredibly intrigued, wondering what would happen to this unstable family. Unfortunately, the ending left me hanging, which negated some (but not all) of my enjoyment of the rest of the book. Overall, I still give it 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
January 4, 2015
Kirsten Hubbard is one of my favorites for a reason.
Like her YA titles, this is brimming with heart, with little details that tickle your nose and rest gently on you like warm sunlight through an open window. Every character is real and deep and thought-out.
Particularly a little girl who her brother believes is 98% starlight. And every word makes you believe she is.
I'm already filing this away on my "aggressively recommend to everyone I know who loves middle grade" list. Watch out.
Like her YA titles, this is brimming with heart, with little details that tickle your nose and rest gently on you like warm sunlight through an open window. Every character is real and deep and thought-out.
Particularly a little girl who her brother believes is 98% starlight. And every word makes you believe she is.
I'm already filing this away on my "aggressively recommend to everyone I know who loves middle grade" list. Watch out.
March 26, 2019
I had hoped this would be an interesting middle-grade story with a survivalist theme. Unfortunately, like some other books in this vein, it veered off into unbelievable scenarios and unrealistic characters.
Please, dear author, I want some more...
For me, the best part about this book was its premise. I thought Jory's stepfather sounded intriguing, with all his talk of signs, and I figured he must've had a good reason for believing what he did and convincing his family to go along with it. There was a bit of insight into what made Caleb tick (though perhaps not as much as I'd hoped), and some backstory that partially helped to explain why Jory's mother was so dependent upon her new husband. However, I would have liked to see these parts of the story developed a little better and a little more; had they been, then the conclusion might have seemed more organic and a little less like it came out of nowhere.
It's all a matter of taste...
My main issues with this book were related to the characters. I didn't really like any of them. Jory, even though he's the main character, is kind of blank and boring. I spent the whole book in his head, and yet I still don't feel like I know him that well. That may have been intentional, since he was somewhat stunted by Caleb's demands that he remain isolated, physically and socially. He comes across as bookish and studious, though I thought someone who enjoyed learning as much as he did would not have kept insisting that his family did not live on a farm (despite the fact that they grew copious amounts of cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash in their expansive fields). Jory's foster sister, Kit, is basically just a miniature Manic Pixie Dream Girl (without any of the romantic elements); while she's more interesting than Jory, she seems to be there mostly for the sake of creating conflict, showing what kind of a man Caleb really is. Jory's little half-brother, Ansel, is one of the most unrealistic baby characters I've ever read; despite not being able to talk that well (he's only about a year old), he can apparently count to ten and understand everything that's going on around him. Alice and Erik, Jory's friends from school, are also not very realistic; they use words and turns of phrase that I doubt eleven-year-old kids would ever use in 2015. In fact, all of the child characters in this book are weak, and I was left wondering why the author chose to make this a middle-grade story if she couldn't write child characters.
But there's a reason this book needed to be middle grade and not young adult: teenagers simply would not have gone along with Caleb's nonsense without questioning everything. This is probably why Jory's mother really annoyed me. She comes across as an abused woman, viewing Caleb as her saviour, even knowing what he has planned for her and her family. I was never quite sure if she believed what Caleb was saying was true; some of her comments made me suspect she didn't... but then that just left me wondering why she was meekly going along with her husband's madness.
Caleb himself is a strange character. A former soldier, he may have been suffering from PTSD, though his behaviour suggests something more like a complete disassociation from reality. He seems to relish having control over people, and treats those who don't worship him as unworthy. His treatment of Kit is particularly appalling. He also has some fairly sexist ideas, too.
All of these issues make me question the suitability of this book for middle-grade readers. While Jory does eventually decide to question everything and stand up for himself, it isn't until almost the very last minute. Before that, I felt distinctly uncomfortable while reading this book, and I don't know if I would want actual middle graders to read it without a lot of accompanying discussion. I would hate for anyone to come away from a story like this with the impression that the adults' actions and attitudes were normal or positive.
Let's get technical...
I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. As it is an ARC, there are a few typos throughout the text. Aside from that, the writing is fairly solid and mostly technically correct. There are a few passages that are quite pretty without getting too flowery. All in all, there's not much to complain about from a technical standpoint. The book design itself is also pretty cute; the house on the front is mirrored throughout the text with little house drawings at the beginning of each chapter.
The verdict...
While I did like the overall premise of the story, I thought it could have been handled a little better. I also would have liked to see the characters more developed and the child characters come across as actual children.
Quotable moment:
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing a digital ARC.
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.ca/20...
Please, dear author, I want some more...
For me, the best part about this book was its premise. I thought Jory's stepfather sounded intriguing, with all his talk of signs, and I figured he must've had a good reason for believing what he did and convincing his family to go along with it. There was a bit of insight into what made Caleb tick (though perhaps not as much as I'd hoped), and some backstory that partially helped to explain why Jory's mother was so dependent upon her new husband. However, I would have liked to see these parts of the story developed a little better and a little more; had they been, then the conclusion might have seemed more organic and a little less like it came out of nowhere.
It's all a matter of taste...
My main issues with this book were related to the characters. I didn't really like any of them. Jory, even though he's the main character, is kind of blank and boring. I spent the whole book in his head, and yet I still don't feel like I know him that well. That may have been intentional, since he was somewhat stunted by Caleb's demands that he remain isolated, physically and socially. He comes across as bookish and studious, though I thought someone who enjoyed learning as much as he did would not have kept insisting that his family did not live on a farm (despite the fact that they grew copious amounts of cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash in their expansive fields). Jory's foster sister, Kit, is basically just a miniature Manic Pixie Dream Girl (without any of the romantic elements); while she's more interesting than Jory, she seems to be there mostly for the sake of creating conflict, showing what kind of a man Caleb really is. Jory's little half-brother, Ansel, is one of the most unrealistic baby characters I've ever read; despite not being able to talk that well (he's only about a year old), he can apparently count to ten and understand everything that's going on around him. Alice and Erik, Jory's friends from school, are also not very realistic; they use words and turns of phrase that I doubt eleven-year-old kids would ever use in 2015. In fact, all of the child characters in this book are weak, and I was left wondering why the author chose to make this a middle-grade story if she couldn't write child characters.
But there's a reason this book needed to be middle grade and not young adult: teenagers simply would not have gone along with Caleb's nonsense without questioning everything. This is probably why Jory's mother really annoyed me. She comes across as an abused woman, viewing Caleb as her saviour, even knowing what he has planned for her and her family. I was never quite sure if she believed what Caleb was saying was true; some of her comments made me suspect she didn't... but then that just left me wondering why she was meekly going along with her husband's madness.
Caleb himself is a strange character. A former soldier, he may have been suffering from PTSD, though his behaviour suggests something more like a complete disassociation from reality. He seems to relish having control over people, and treats those who don't worship him as unworthy. His treatment of Kit is particularly appalling. He also has some fairly sexist ideas, too.
All of these issues make me question the suitability of this book for middle-grade readers. While Jory does eventually decide to question everything and stand up for himself, it isn't until almost the very last minute. Before that, I felt distinctly uncomfortable while reading this book, and I don't know if I would want actual middle graders to read it without a lot of accompanying discussion. I would hate for anyone to come away from a story like this with the impression that the adults' actions and attitudes were normal or positive.
Let's get technical...
I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. As it is an ARC, there are a few typos throughout the text. Aside from that, the writing is fairly solid and mostly technically correct. There are a few passages that are quite pretty without getting too flowery. All in all, there's not much to complain about from a technical standpoint. The book design itself is also pretty cute; the house on the front is mirrored throughout the text with little house drawings at the beginning of each chapter.
The verdict...
While I did like the overall premise of the story, I thought it could have been handled a little better. I also would have liked to see the characters more developed and the child characters come across as actual children.
Quotable moment:
Jory followed her inside the house, battling not to glance back. His stomach swarmed with butterflies, angry hornets, miniature dragons with fiery sighs. He felt upset with everybody--Sam and Randall, Erik and Alice, Mom and especially himself.
But he also felt loyal to them. All of them. His family, but also his friends. It wasn't their fault they didn't know any better. It wasn't their fault they had nobody to warn them of the danger.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing a digital ARC.
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.ca/20...
June 26, 2016
Originally posted on Fables Library.
Have you ever read a book and were surprised by it’s genre? Have you ever been blown away by a super great story that you never thought would turn out as AWESOME as it did?
Well the answer for both of these (for me at least) is YES! A whole HECK YES! Watch the Sky is a Middle Grade book, not Young Adult like I thought, yet it still manages to meet my expectations and more. I am a fan of Middle Grade and Young Adult books obviously, I just didn’t know that this was Middle Grade! SO AWESOME! I unintentionally read another MG book :3 Fancy that~
Okay moving on from my blown away mind, and on to my thoughts and love for this book.
What I Liked
I thought this book was going to be about Aliens in hiding. You know, like Aliens disguised as people, waiting to return home. I was wrong people. Wrong! This is NOT about Aliens (I think), it is about a family preparing for disaster, for DANGER! They are on the lookout for signs that the danger is drawing closer, not signs to return home to Mars. Ahhhh well… I DID really like the actual plot of this story. Maybe it’s just me, and I am crazy or something but I have been noticing some newer books are centered around families preparing/prepared for the Apocalypse. I wonder why this didn’t happen sooner with, you know, the end of the world this September *rolls eyes* No man can predict the end of the Earth people
My thoughts on the end of the world XD! But I do enjoy Distopians and all…
If there was a book that I would hug, Watch the Sky would be my first choice (or second, maybe Percy Jackson?). Every single character was beyond adorable, so loveable, so hugable and a bit odd. Jory went to school, the only one in his family to not be home schooled, and he dealt with a lot there. He was bullied for how he dressed, in combat boots and cargo pants because Caleb said they had to always be ready. Yet there were two people who always reached out to him, a scary and exciting thing for Jory, Alice and Erik, both adorable! I really liked Kit as well, I wish we got more back story on her, where she came from but I will deal with it. She is silent and never makes a sound, but she loves Jory! I can’t even begin to describe how entertaining these characters were.
A lot of my favorite books I’m beginning to realize are written in third person. I think I’m in love with third person! Throne of Glass, Lunar Chronicles, Love Fortunes and Other Disasters…and now Watch the Sky! The point of view for this book really works, we get to know Jory in such a wonderful way! Third person rocks, and it rocks in Watch the Sky…. I LOVE Kirsten Hubbard’s writing style, this is the first book by her that I have ever read and I am definitely going to read more
What I Didn’t Like
The ending felt too abrupt, I just really wanted some closure. Now I’m not going to go into detail because this is THE ENDING I am talking about and I do not want to spoil it… That was the only reason this book didn’t make it to 5 stars.
Verdict
Watch the Sky wasn’t what I thought it was, yet it still was a captivating story. From the hugable characters to the strangely wonderful plot, this book was hard to put down and easy to finish. I’d recommend it to any one who likes a short book with a great story.
Have you ever read a book and were surprised by it’s genre? Have you ever been blown away by a super great story that you never thought would turn out as AWESOME as it did?
Well the answer for both of these (for me at least) is YES! A whole HECK YES! Watch the Sky is a Middle Grade book, not Young Adult like I thought, yet it still manages to meet my expectations and more. I am a fan of Middle Grade and Young Adult books obviously, I just didn’t know that this was Middle Grade! SO AWESOME! I unintentionally read another MG book :3 Fancy that~
Okay moving on from my blown away mind, and on to my thoughts and love for this book.
What I Liked
I thought this book was going to be about Aliens in hiding. You know, like Aliens disguised as people, waiting to return home. I was wrong people. Wrong! This is NOT about Aliens (I think), it is about a family preparing for disaster, for DANGER! They are on the lookout for signs that the danger is drawing closer, not signs to return home to Mars. Ahhhh well… I DID really like the actual plot of this story. Maybe it’s just me, and I am crazy or something but I have been noticing some newer books are centered around families preparing/prepared for the Apocalypse. I wonder why this didn’t happen sooner with, you know, the end of the world this September *rolls eyes* No man can predict the end of the Earth people
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
My thoughts on the end of the world XD! But I do enjoy Distopians and all…
If there was a book that I would hug, Watch the Sky would be my first choice (or second, maybe Percy Jackson?). Every single character was beyond adorable, so loveable, so hugable and a bit odd. Jory went to school, the only one in his family to not be home schooled, and he dealt with a lot there. He was bullied for how he dressed, in combat boots and cargo pants because Caleb said they had to always be ready. Yet there were two people who always reached out to him, a scary and exciting thing for Jory, Alice and Erik, both adorable! I really liked Kit as well, I wish we got more back story on her, where she came from but I will deal with it. She is silent and never makes a sound, but she loves Jory! I can’t even begin to describe how entertaining these characters were.
A lot of my favorite books I’m beginning to realize are written in third person. I think I’m in love with third person! Throne of Glass, Lunar Chronicles, Love Fortunes and Other Disasters…and now Watch the Sky! The point of view for this book really works, we get to know Jory in such a wonderful way! Third person rocks, and it rocks in Watch the Sky…. I LOVE Kirsten Hubbard’s writing style, this is the first book by her that I have ever read and I am definitely going to read more
What I Didn’t Like
The ending felt too abrupt, I just really wanted some closure. Now I’m not going to go into detail because this is THE ENDING I am talking about and I do not want to spoil it… That was the only reason this book didn’t make it to 5 stars.
Verdict
Watch the Sky wasn’t what I thought it was, yet it still was a captivating story. From the hugable characters to the strangely wonderful plot, this book was hard to put down and easy to finish. I’d recommend it to any one who likes a short book with a great story.
August 5, 2015
This book was very intriguing and interesting. I really liked the premise and Jory, the main character. I was really interested in Kit's story and background. We really didn't get to know much about her. I did not really like Jory's mother because she I felt like she was so helpless and needed someone to help her and protect her. I can't really blame her because she has been through a lot. Caleb is definitely my least favorite character. I did not trust him at all throughout the book. I found it strange that Jory and his mother trusted him so much but her kept so many secrets from his family himself. I thought Caleb was abusive but in an emotional way. He was also being abusive when he made his wife and children dig a hole in the middle of the night. Since he was a soldier I'm sure he saw some traumatic things. He did save Jory's mother but he felt the need to take control of the family. He treated them not in a bad way but he expected his family to listen to his every word. Jory respected Caleb and listened to him but he feared him as well. He was afraid of disappointing him. Caleb also believes that Jory's mother isn't strong enough to fend for herself. He thinks that in order for them to survive he must be there. Jory, however, knows that his mother is strong but doesn't say so. Jory's mother was falling apart when she worked at a coffee shop. Caleb found her and helped her and thought of her as fragile an helpless. Caleb's theory that danger was coming was really odd and confusing. I didn't really understand why Jory's mom believed him. He claimed he had proof but the danger he was talking about was unclear. I really wanted to learn more about exactly what danger is he talking about. I don't necessarily want a sequel but rather a prequel, possibly on Caleb. Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.
October 23, 2016
When Caleb came into Jory's life, he seemed like the man who could bring happiness security back into Jory's and his mother's lives. They moved out to a farm, took in a girl, Kim, they found out in their fields, had a baby boy, and watched for the signs that the end was coming. When Jory was placed back in school in the sixth grade, after having been homeschooled for a year, he started to make friends and enjoy himself. He loved learning! Soon, though, Caleb told the family that it was time to start digging an underground shelter because the end was nigh. Very slowly, Jory begins to question what "the end" means. Then, his sister disappears and Jory knows his stepdad is behind it. All goes tumbling downward from there, although the end is hopeful. This is a great story with many gripping parts and believable characters. I think students will like it.
October 19, 2017
There are signs everywhere according to Caleb, Jory’s stepfather. All the fish in an aquarium facing the same way, a cracked egg with twin yolks, red leaves in the springtime, pages torn from a library book….what do they all mean? These are signs foretelling that the end is near. They must be prepared. They must always watch the sky. They must wear their work boots or have them at the ready. Food has been pickled and canned. Batteries, flashlights, blankets and supplies are all stocked. The family has undertaken a massive endeavor to dig a tunnel into the earth where they can be safe.
Jory starts to make friends and begins to have doubts about Caleb’s prophecies. Will he follow Caleb’s orders or will Jory fight to break free? Watch the Sky is a quiet novel about Jory’s strength and self-discovery.
Jane Khaytin
Youth and School Services
Vernon Area Public Library
Jory starts to make friends and begins to have doubts about Caleb’s prophecies. Will he follow Caleb’s orders or will Jory fight to break free? Watch the Sky is a quiet novel about Jory’s strength and self-discovery.
Jane Khaytin
Youth and School Services
Vernon Area Public Library
July 21, 2016
I was really disappointed in this book. The main reason was I could not stand the dad. I found him controlling and thought the mother was crazy for following him. The ending was not that great and I felt there was no real ending. I wanted more to be solved.
December 13, 2017
I loved the scenery this book, it felt like a painted picture put into motion!
I loved the feeling it had to it, it wasn't a stiff story but it was smooth and fast, I couldn't put it down!
I loved the feeling it had to it, it wasn't a stiff story but it was smooth and fast, I couldn't put it down!
January 5, 2015
Simply not my cup of tea. I was left feeling unsettled and haunted.
July 29, 2015
A quick, easy read. Review can be found at Ash Reads Stuff.
July 11, 2017
3.5 stars. The ending was not as satisfying as I had hoped.
December 20, 2018
Nice plot overall and the way it slowly unraveled was interesting enough to keep reading.
January 21, 2021
The story was okay, but I was left with so many questions at the end. Probably won’t read again.
July 25, 2023
A compelling but disturbing story. The ending was not satisfying and I still have questions about specific characters and what would happen next.
March 6, 2018
This book is so good. It is about a boy named Jory. His stepfather believes in signs. The signs are for some sort of danger. No one knows what the signs are for but Caleb the stepdad thinks it is a big deal so they start to dig. They are digging a bunker so they can be safe. Then Jory has lots of school trouble after they began to dig. They had one digging schedule but Caleb caught on that Jory needed to catch up on schoolwork. So Caleb gave Jory Tuesday as his day off other then Saturday. Jory became friends with a girl named Alice Brooks-Diaz. Caleb banned anyone from leaving the house. At the time kit began to talk to her brothers a lot. So Jory snuck kit out to meet Alice. But kit did not talk around Alice. So Jory and Alice took kit to the park. She was playing on the swings and fell off scraping her knees. Jory rushed Kit home but the mom found out they were missing and was waiting on the porch. They got in trouble. They finally finished the shelter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2017
Watch the Sky is about twelve-year-old Jory and his family who, following his stepfather Caleb, are looking for signs. None of them are sure what the signs will be or what they mean.
There are times that reading on a kindle is kind of disorientating. I bought Watch the sky a few months ago but hadn’t gotten around to it. It was in the queue and as I started reading it I realized that I had NO earthly idea what it was about what genre it was, what the cover looked like or anything else aside from the title. How often do you go into a book with that sort of blank canvas?
I don’t know if having no prior knowledge made this book more confusing or if it was intentionally written that way. For example Kit. Who is she, where did she come from, why won’t she speak? Is it important? Dunno. She just shows up in the pumpkin field one day and becomes one of the family. Who doesn’t talk. Who can’t go to school because she has to be hidden from the Officials.
I was super uncomfortable with Jory’s family. It didn’t feel like a family preparing for a disaster. It felt like the way a cult might feel at the beginning. Caleb might be well meaning but he was also paranoid as hell and delusional. Jory’s mother wasn’t beaten down or abused but she was frightened of the world before she met Caleb and I think that that fear made his ideas seems more reasonable. Kids being around and influenced by that unstableness did not sit right with me. Which is probably the point of the book. Overall, it was creepy and more than a little horrifying.
I did like the friendship that develops between Jory and Alice. Her persistence and kindness gradually get around his guard and he eventually comes to trust her. The way that her family’s normality and happiness is contrasted with the strange tenseness of Jory’s family was very effective. It was also a catalyst for Jory to start to doubt all that he has been told.
The writing was quite evocative. Hubbard has really mastered the use of details to make you feel that you are really in the book. The imagery, of the pickles, lined up on shelves, Kits two little hair buns, or the roots of trees getting in the way when you dig. The use of language in this book was impressive.
I needed more closure. The ending leaves so many things unknown and I found that frustrating. I am a character and mood book reader but I still need for the plot to resolve itself completely. It felt as if there should have been another chapter. What I was left with was a feeling of incompleteness that made me uncomfortable.
There are times that reading on a kindle is kind of disorientating. I bought Watch the sky a few months ago but hadn’t gotten around to it. It was in the queue and as I started reading it I realized that I had NO earthly idea what it was about what genre it was, what the cover looked like or anything else aside from the title. How often do you go into a book with that sort of blank canvas?
I don’t know if having no prior knowledge made this book more confusing or if it was intentionally written that way. For example Kit. Who is she, where did she come from, why won’t she speak? Is it important? Dunno. She just shows up in the pumpkin field one day and becomes one of the family. Who doesn’t talk. Who can’t go to school because she has to be hidden from the Officials.
I was super uncomfortable with Jory’s family. It didn’t feel like a family preparing for a disaster. It felt like the way a cult might feel at the beginning. Caleb might be well meaning but he was also paranoid as hell and delusional. Jory’s mother wasn’t beaten down or abused but she was frightened of the world before she met Caleb and I think that that fear made his ideas seems more reasonable. Kids being around and influenced by that unstableness did not sit right with me. Which is probably the point of the book. Overall, it was creepy and more than a little horrifying.
I did like the friendship that develops between Jory and Alice. Her persistence and kindness gradually get around his guard and he eventually comes to trust her. The way that her family’s normality and happiness is contrasted with the strange tenseness of Jory’s family was very effective. It was also a catalyst for Jory to start to doubt all that he has been told.
The writing was quite evocative. Hubbard has really mastered the use of details to make you feel that you are really in the book. The imagery, of the pickles, lined up on shelves, Kits two little hair buns, or the roots of trees getting in the way when you dig. The use of language in this book was impressive.
I needed more closure. The ending leaves so many things unknown and I found that frustrating. I am a character and mood book reader but I still need for the plot to resolve itself completely. It felt as if there should have been another chapter. What I was left with was a feeling of incompleteness that made me uncomfortable.
July 19, 2019
I haven't felt so strongly about wanting people to read a book in a very long time. The fact that it is Middle Grade did not diminish my enjoyment of it at all. It was well written, it had beautiful imagery, it was heartfelt, and it kept me hooked until the end. I had strong opinions on Caleb from the start, and though it is never actually clarified, I think it is fairly obvious that he is severely mentally disturbed and has a massive case of PTSD. I want kids to read this and see modern day pre-teens and kids spending their time exploring, playing outside, and engaging in creative play like "Worldbuilding." The only time computers or technology were used in this book was for research purposes for school. That is amazing. I want to live in the town that Jory lives in, with the eucalyptus forest, the Slopes, the wide open farm land with little farm houses dispersed across the landscape. It sounds like heaven. I could ramble on for a lot longer, but for now, I'll just say it is now in my top 3 favorite books, and it was beautiful and lovely and worth the read for people of all ages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2015
I found this book intriguing since it was in our Children's room at the library. I'd love to hear what young kids think about it. Caleb was in, presumed, Afghanistan or Iraq war, and suffered trauma. In the book, he became very paranoid about the government and began seeing signs. The signs could be the end of world or ? At any rate, Caleb had his family dig a bunker for safety. Jory is the protagonist and he really was a well liked character. Poor kid was pretty sheltered. His mom had migraines and developed what seems to be agoraphobia, which fit great with Caleb's anxiety, possibly PTSD. Then there's Kit, a small, little girl found in a pumpkin patch that doesn't speak to adults. She did communicate with Jory. I understand why the adults didn't alert the authorities about Kit but geeze, that's pretty heavy for a kid to keep secret! Then Kit gets removed with no goodbye?! Heartless. Caleb ends up in bunker without Jory, Ansel, or his wife (kids' mom, I forgot her name). It was a super quick read, entertaining but a bit abrupt and heartless at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2015
IS THE FREAKING DANGER REAL OR NOT!?!
Yes, yes, it's good that the family was able to stand up for themselves and realize they don't have to follow what they were told is right (like many of us self-discover as we grow up), but the story feels incomplete. We got the climax, but not a resolution or an ending. Caleb (the stepfather) having Protective Services take away Kit (adopted daughter) was a dick move and led to the family taking their chances without him, but will that even matter if they just end up dead because he was right about the danger? Hell, I'm all for families escaping the control of paranoid or abusive figures, but WHAT HAPPENS? WAS IT EVEN WORTH THE RISK!?!
Towards the middle, I was seriously hoping that it wouldn't go the route of aliens wanting to invade Earth, but we're just left with nothing! We're not even TOLD that nothing happens! At least ALIENS would have given some kind of closure! Stupid closure, but it's SOMETHING!
...And the kids were decent characters.
Yes, yes, it's good that the family was able to stand up for themselves and realize they don't have to follow what they were told is right (like many of us self-discover as we grow up), but the story feels incomplete. We got the climax, but not a resolution or an ending. Caleb (the stepfather) having Protective Services take away Kit (adopted daughter) was a dick move and led to the family taking their chances without him, but will that even matter if they just end up dead because he was right about the danger? Hell, I'm all for families escaping the control of paranoid or abusive figures, but WHAT HAPPENS? WAS IT EVEN WORTH THE RISK!?!
Towards the middle, I was seriously hoping that it wouldn't go the route of aliens wanting to invade Earth, but we're just left with nothing! We're not even TOLD that nothing happens! At least ALIENS would have given some kind of closure! Stupid closure, but it's SOMETHING!
...And the kids were decent characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2025
The story: Jory's family keeps to themselves. His stepfather, Caleb, is sure that something big--and terrible--is coming: he says "the signs are everywhere." Jory isn't quite sure what the signs mean, but he knows Caleb just wants to keep the family safe...so when Caleb has the family start digging a bunker in the canyon behind their farm, Jory helps out even though his grades tank and his friends are starting to get curious. Somehow, Jory has to decide how to deal with the signs (and his stepdad's obsession with them) and figure out his own way to keep the family safe.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (paranoid behavior by a parent); overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: This is a surprisingly suspenseful read about the pressure Jory feels to follow family expectations at the same time he's opening up to a larger world of friends and society. Any kid whose family is into Preparation will relate, and kids whose families aren't may find themselves surprised.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (paranoid behavior by a parent); overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: This is a surprisingly suspenseful read about the pressure Jory feels to follow family expectations at the same time he's opening up to a larger world of friends and society. Any kid whose family is into Preparation will relate, and kids whose families aren't may find themselves surprised.
April 3, 2015
Jory's stepfather Caleb is a war veteran who believes that danger is coming and doesn't trust the officials or anyone else for that matter. Although he lets Jory go to public school he keeps Kit, a mysterious girl who showed up one day and they have "adopted" and Ansel the baby at home and pretty much hidden.
When Caleb feels the signs are getting more ominous he devises a schedule for the family to dig in the canyon. At first Jory doesn't understand what is going on but soon realizes they are building a bunker or "shelter" as Caleb calls it. But Jory starts to realize that maybe the one he shouldn't trust is Caleb and maybe he has more friends than he thought.
I felt that the idea of the book was intriguing and overall I liked it but the ending was so abrupt that it was a bit unsettling. I don't want to give anything away but there were a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions. Hmmm...
When Caleb feels the signs are getting more ominous he devises a schedule for the family to dig in the canyon. At first Jory doesn't understand what is going on but soon realizes they are building a bunker or "shelter" as Caleb calls it. But Jory starts to realize that maybe the one he shouldn't trust is Caleb and maybe he has more friends than he thought.
I felt that the idea of the book was intriguing and overall I liked it but the ending was so abrupt that it was a bit unsettling. I don't want to give anything away but there were a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions. Hmmm...
November 13, 2015
Jory is a boy who lives with a not so normal family. At first it was just Jory and his mom who suffers from frequent migraines. They were barely surviving with money and the terrible job his mom had when they met Caleb (he used to be in the army). Celeb was determined to keep them safe from an great danger that is coming. They move to a fairly secluded farm where they prepare for the disaster that will come. Jory brother named Ansel is born and they find Kit, a little girl who rarely talks.. Celeb is very veg on what the danger is but stresses that they must be prepared for when it comes.
The author did a very good job on keeping my interest. I was driven to keep on reading to find out the secrets the book had to offer. I felt that the ending was a little rushed and could have been a little longer.
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes to read mystery books.
If this was a series, I would read the second book because there was still some questions they left un answered.
The author did a very good job on keeping my interest. I was driven to keep on reading to find out the secrets the book had to offer. I felt that the ending was a little rushed and could have been a little longer.
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes to read mystery books.
If this was a series, I would read the second book because there was still some questions they left un answered.
December 4, 2016
This book had an interesting story line and presented a new perspective upon beliefs and trust. In a way, this book could relate to a totalitarian government, like Hitler and the Nazis or Mussolini and the Fascists. The higher authority presents a belief that they are confident in, therefore you trust it and support it. However, when you see that this brings pain and loss, then you start to question that belief, and without strong evidence or proof about the belief, then you start rebelling. That is what happens in this book, when the authoritative figure is not on the same page as the believer, therefore causing betrayal and a sad ending. In addition, the sense of growing up and independence ties into the relationship between the main character and the authoritative figure. Consequently, making it into an adolescent book and what occurs as a result of school and family relationships. Overall, this book was enjoyable though not the most excitable or adventure filled.
April 14, 2015
WATCH THE SKY by Kirsten Hubbard explores the unsettling story of Jory, whose stepfather is preparing for the end of the world.
Throughout the book, Hubbard keeps readers wondering about the origin of Jory’s odd new sister and the mental state of both his parents. Will the story stick with the gritty realistic fiction tone or switch to an near-apocalyptic alien theme? The suspense holds to the very end of the book.
Readers will share Jory’s frustration with the family’s secrets and distrust of outsiders. Librarians will have a hard time categorizing this unusual novel. It’s likely to be most popular among youth who enjoy school and friendship stories with family conflicts related to mental illness. Those seeking an adventure story with a survivalist theme will be disappointed.
Published by Disney/Hyperion on April 7, 2015.
Throughout the book, Hubbard keeps readers wondering about the origin of Jory’s odd new sister and the mental state of both his parents. Will the story stick with the gritty realistic fiction tone or switch to an near-apocalyptic alien theme? The suspense holds to the very end of the book.
Readers will share Jory’s frustration with the family’s secrets and distrust of outsiders. Librarians will have a hard time categorizing this unusual novel. It’s likely to be most popular among youth who enjoy school and friendship stories with family conflicts related to mental illness. Those seeking an adventure story with a survivalist theme will be disappointed.
Published by Disney/Hyperion on April 7, 2015.
May 20, 2015
Great premise and the style of writing felt like old fashioned story telling which is perfect for a middle grade audience. The only criticism I have is that the step father could have been drawn more artfully, more "crazy" in his behaviors and dialogue and the reason for building a bunker could have been more concrete. The young boy's journey from blind belief to rebellious rage was believable and when he began to feel his isolation from the rest of the world, the writing excelled. The story brought to mind religious fanatics who keep their children in a state of fear. Perhaps the author wanted to remain politically correct and avoid controversial topics but the story would have had far greater impact if she had taken the risk and not hidden behind the benign metaphor of digging a hole to hide in.
October 22, 2015
Jory trusts his step-father Caleb, and believes what he says about the signs he sees everywhere. Jory and his mother are indebted to Caleb -- he saved them when things were really bad. And now Caleb promises to save them again, from a secret Danger that he won't give Jory details about. Instead Jory, his mother, Caleb, his secret sister, and even his baby brother are required to dig a bunker at night in the canyon outside their farmhouse. This is to provide shelter for them when the Danger comes. Caleb has always taught Jory to question authority, except when that authority is him. Now that Jory is re-enrolled in school (he had been home-schooled for many years), he finds that he has more questions than ever. The biggest one of which is whether or not Caleb is really protecting them. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
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