It’s not too hard to sell a kid on some fast-paced science fiction a la Star Wars—even in book form—but to get a kid hooked on a novel that involves hard math and science, well that’s a different thing altogether. Award-winning author Christopher Edge has a knack for blending the world of science and fiction into what feels like a whole new genre. The Jamie Drake Equation is his second foray into this field, and it does not disappoint.
Preteen Jamie Drake is proud of his astronaut father, but the time his dad spends away on training and space missions is starting to wear on Jamie and his family. His dad’s latest mission, while exciting, is his most dangerous as he will venture out of the space station to launch signals into faraway galaxies. Jamie isn’t sure there is intelligent life beyond our planet until he accidentally downloads a message from a distant alien race to his phone. As his family starts to drift apart and his dad faces an unforeseen danger, Jamie finds it is up to him to learn what he can from the aliens and help bring his dad home.
Thrilling, smart and surprisingly poignant, The Jamie Drake Equation will leave young readers with a hunger to know more about the universe and our planet’s place in it. Highly recommended for readers of all ages.
Jennifer Bruer Kitchel is the librarian for a Pre-K through 8th level Catholic school.
