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Cover of Orbiting Jupiter

Orbiting Jupiter

Gary D. Schmidt

350 pages

A quiet, devastatingly beautiful story about the fierce, protective love of found family set against a bitter winter.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like walking through a bitter, freezing winter landscape while holding a small, fragile ember in your hands. It is a brisk, deeply absorbing read that doesn't waste a single word, relying on sparse, understated prose to deliver profound emotional gut-punches. The narrative voice is quiet but fiercely loyal, pulling you into a world where the harsh realities of trauma and abuse are met with the unwavering, stubborn compassion of found family. There is a pervasive melancholy that hangs over the pages, yet it is constantly pierced by moments of profound tenderness and grace. It will utterly devastate readers who love character-driven, emotionally raw stories, leaving them heartbroken but ultimately warmed by its enduring message of unconditional love.

Mood
  • wintry
  • melancholic
  • tender
  • heart-wrenching
Tone
  • earnest
  • compassionate
  • understated
  • raw
Pace
brisk
Themes
found family · unconditional loyalty · scars of abuse · loss of innocence · redemption through love
The writing
Sparse, unadorned, and deeply empathetic, relying on what is left unsaid to deliver emotional gut-punches.
The arc
Begins with quiet apprehension and builds into a fiercely protective love before culminating in devastating heartbreak and a bittersweet, hopeful aftermath.
Who it's for
Readers who appreciate quiet, character-driven stories that tackle heavy, real-world trauma with immense heart and respect for their young protagonists.
Content notes
  • child abuse
  • domestic violence
  • death of a teenager
  • teen pregnancy
  • bullying

About the book

I personally (perspective of a 12 y/o) LOVE this book! Starting on page 174 to the end of the book made me cry. This book is written from Jack's POV. (SPOILER)--> Joseph's father intrudes in his new home and threatens to shoot Jack (Joseph's foster brother) if Joseph wouldn't leave with him. Joseph agrees, and leaves with his abusive dad (who sold Jupiter, Joseph's 4 m/o daughter, for money). He speeds in his truck, t-bones Joseph and Jack's teacher, and flip into The Alliance. Keep in mind that it is below 0 degrees in the winter. It takes them 2 days to get the truck out of the water, in which Joseph dies. Joseph has his funeral. After a year, the daughter of his that he was forbidden to see goes to live with Jack and his parents. Joseph called Jack "Jackie", which was sweet in my opinion. Gary D. Schmidt quotes on page 183 "...Jupiter smiled and laughed and she waddled around my parents. And then she stopped, and then she held up her hands, and then she said 'Jackie.' I knelt down and Jupiter got on my back. She closed her little arms around my neck. I stood and hefted her up. She laid her head against me. 'Jackie.' She yawned. 'Jackie.' 'Jupiter.' I whispered back. 'Jupiter. I promise I'll always know where you are.' 'Jackie.' She said again. And I carried her into the house"

Description from Open Library.

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