Walking Off Pluto

by Natalie Blank

Seventeen-year-old Lynn refuses to grieve for her dying father. She’s more concerned about Pluto losing its status in the solar system. Snubbing her dysfunctional family, Lynn spends most of her time with her telescope, trying to find the rejected planet. Then she meets Peter in the hospital the same night her father passes away. Peter is an actor pretending to be sick. Or a cancer patient. Or he has an eating disorder. Bottom line, he’s not well physically, and mentally he’s off the charts. He speaks his mind, yet lies constantly. The only time Lynn feels remotely alive is when she is with Peter who has a few secrets of his own. When Peter opens up about the tragedies of his past, Lynn realizes that if she doesn’t face her father’s death and the resentment she holds against him, she’ll never be able to love anyone.

235 pages, Paperback

First published July 13, 2014

About the author

Natalie Blank holds a BFA in Acting and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies in Dance and Culture from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a teaching certificate from Moreland University. Natalie primarily writes fiction, exploring mental health and family relationships. She is the author of THE MASS (2024), THE TANGIBLES (2022), and WALKING OFF PLUTO (2014). Her novel THE TANGIBLES received the In the Margins Book Award in 2023.

Natalie lives in Maryland with her husband and their three children. In her free time, she enjoys working out, baking, and exploring new places.


Twitter/X:
Natalie Blank@NBlankWriter

Facebook:
@NBlankAuthor

Instagram:
@AuthorNatalieBlank

NOVELS:

The Mass: 2024
Published by Evernight Teen

The Tangibles: 2022
Published by Fire & Ice

Walking Off Pluto: 2014
Independently Published

To Catch A Rainbow Butterly: Not available - rewriting for a YA audience

Reviews

[Kathi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love supporting local authors and new authors, so when Natalie asked for a review, I quickly said yes. Unfortunately, I did not promptly read this one -- it's been on my TBR stack for over a year.

This one just wasn't for me. I'm not sure what point the author was trying to make: what Pluto was a metaphor for.

So many broken characters -- not one redeemable person in the Walker family, and Peter, too. I might have liked it better if it didn't take so long to get to the reason Lynn was so upset with her dad. It was almost anti-climactic when it was finally revealed.

[Kristen Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really pulls at the heartstrings and makes you think, while holding the characters accountable. Great character development! I can't wait to read more from this author!