Shooting for Stars

Gr 8 Up–High school senior Skyler Davidson has her life planned out. She will attend MIT and complete her mother’s research on neutron stars, a shared passion that connects her to her mother, who passed away when Skyler was young. However, her plans are thrown into disarray by low SAT scores and an unexpected opportunity from NASA, which is seeking a teenage intern to send to the International Space Station. Despite her father’s disapproval, Skyler decides to pursue the internship. To strengthen her application, she enlists the help of film student Cooper to create her application video, offering to tutor his sister Bridget in return. As Skyler navigates new friendships and challenges, she faces another unexpected twist: her scientist father is dating a fashion influencer. Skyler’s orderly life is suddenly filled with chaos. Her relationship with her father is fragile, she’s developing feelings for Cooper, and her life plan is on shaky ground. Skyler reads as a friendlier, female version of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory; she has always relied on quantitative research to guide her life, believing emotions only complicate matters. She even analyzes people by comparing them to elements on the periodic table. Webb’s quiet humor permeates the story, adding a light touch to Skyler’s journey of self-discovery and adaptation. The narrative is fun but not frivolous, balancing humor with insights into Sky’s emotional journey. Main characters read as white.