A Remarkably Likable Heroine Carries, (Saves?), This Book

Our heroine, twelve year old Robyn, is a gimlet eyed softy whose deadpan narration is funny, perceptive, charming, and sometimes heartbreaking. Her boy friend, Nickel, is a patient and occasionally confused good guy who keeps Robin grounded. The two of them make for a fine buddy act, although Robyn is the star of the show. And that's essential, because the book has two aspects that would sink it without Robyn and Nickel keeping it all afloat.

First, the gimmick here is that Robin's house's roof "attracts" falling objects. Balls, kites, tree limbs, wayward parachutists. Now, a crippled satellite is falling to Earth and Robin is obsessed with the likelihood that it will crash onto her house. Lots of middle grade books feature characters who are obsessed about something odd or unlikely or unrealistic, and I suppose this is no more of a stretch than other such plot movers, but it does take a high degree of willingness on the part of the reader to go along with it. Again, it is Robyn's charm and commitment to the idea that makes it work as well as it does.

The second odd angle, though, requires even more of a suspension of belief. Robyn lives with her Mom and Grandmother. Dad is gone and has never been present. Robyn doesn't know who he was, where he went, or where he is. The second theme, or plotline, of the book, turns on Robyn's surreptitious attempts to locate her Dad. Mom knows the full history. Grandma knows the full history. The neighbors know the full history. It's a small town. But Robyn knows exactly zero about anything. Robyn is twelve years old and has never learned a single thing about her Dad, ever? From anyone? NO SPOILERS, but the final resolution makes the whole situation even more unbelievable and annoying when you finally do get the answer. I didn't like it and I didn't buy it.

To be fair, this is a book for early middle graders. The magnetic roof bit is odd, but certainly O.K. as a goofy sort of hook and no worse than other odd obsessions that power characters in other fine middle grade books. Along the same lines, lots of similar books deal with questions about an absent parent, and at least this one doesn't try to be a realistic look at PTSD or mental illness or anything else that deals in a serious vein with missing parents who we don't talk about. A younger read might very well take that whole angle in stride.

So, what kept me going was Robyn, simply as a marvelously well written character. Some of her observations and one-liners are brilliant. Just treat everything that happens plotwise as a fantastical or magically realistic excuse to hang out with Robyn and Nickel and you'll be fine.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

I admit, the plot of this story is very unique and unlike anything I had read before for middle grade novel. The whole story had a very quirky, eccentric feel to it, with Robyn searching for her father, to the mother's birthday parties, to the paranoia of having a satellite falling on her roof. While there was a lot going on in this story, sometimes I felt like it was all over the way and going in too many directions. Overall, it was an interesting read but felt too weird and scattered for my liking.

The emotional connection to the characters is strong. Strong enough that it can be hard to keep reading while Robyn embarrasses herself. THe characters are stronger than the plot. THe plot is certainly unique, the idea of being a magnet for disaster. This is an element that is discussed at length but never actually resolved.

For some reasons things land on Robyn's roof - frisbees, laundry, a parachutist. It's no wonder Robyn is afraid that the satellite crashing to earth is going to land on her roof too. So now more than ever, since she may die when the satellite hits, she wants to find her dad. Can she and her best friend figure out who her dad is in time? Will the satellite actually hit her house?

This was a bit quirky. Wasn't my favorite to be honest but I can picture some students to hand it to.

Robyn Goodfellow is raised by her grandmother and her single mother, who is usually dressed up in fairy wings whether or not she is hosting a themed party for young children out of their home. Their home has the misfortune to attract any and all detritus on the roof, so when Robyn hears that a satellite is going to plummet to earth, she's convinced it will crash into their home.

If that wouldn't be consuming enough, Robyn begins a search for her birth father. Being an albino, she suspects the expansive albino family in the neighboring town holds a clue. Without her mother's knowledge or blessing, she investigates with her friend Nickel's help; she learns teachers and neighbors know more about her father than they let on, and Robyn is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Author Jane Baragrey reveals in a closing note that she was inspired by her memories of the coverage surrounding Skylab and speculation on where it would land.

What Goes Up is a pleasant read, bound to entertain children wanting some adventure. 3.5 stars.

(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

The premise of this story sounded good, but I think it’s a little too far fetched, even for kids. Some of the plot components didn’t add up. Middle schoolers still want their fantasy to be believable, but this was not.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Robyn lived in a house, which she claimed had a "magnetic roof". For some reason, projectiles had a tendency to take up residence on her rooftop. Therefore, when she learned of the NASA satellite's return to Earth, she was worried it would also be attracted to her roof and most likely destroy her home. This news, along with seeing a local family filled with people who looked like her, who also had albinism, spurred Robyn to search for the father she never knew.

Robyn was such a fabulous character. It was instalove for me. I loved her voice, and the way she navigated her emotions, as well as the feelings of others. There were a few times, where she put her own interests before other people's, but she would back up, recognize it, and correct herself. I liked seeing that in an almost-12-year-old. Robyn was also determined and tenacious, and I liked her go-get-em attitude. Her need to know more about her father was never more clear, than when Robyn compared how she looked like she doesn't belong in her family, and how "other" she always felt. I know I wanted her to get some answers, because I grew to adore and care for her very much.

Robyn was really lucky to have an awesome best friend (future-husband) named Nickel. Yes, his whole family was named after coins, but that didn't hamper him from supporting Robyn when she needed him most. There are actually a few really, really heartwarming moments shared between the two. One was this heart-to-heart he had with Robyn in the later part of the book, that made me shed some really happy tears, because it was such a precious exchange, and clearly illustrated how much her friendship meant to him.

Not only did Baragrey gift Robyn with Nickel in her life, she packed the town with some fun and eccentric characters. Robyn's mom was obsessed with faeries, and even managed to make a career of it, while her grandmother carried on a friendly-ish feud with the nosy and delusional neighbor. Many other interesting denizens rounded out the cast, and it was a pleasure getting to meet them all.

Overall: A touching and heartwarming story about family, friendship, and belonging, which will make you laugh, cheer, and smile.

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 4.2

Imagine that your house is a magnet for everything to fall on - toys, kites, Frisbees, even people. Now imagine that a NASA satellite is falling out of the sky and Robyn knows that it will fall on her house. She knows death is coming and she doesn't want her name, Robyn Tinkerbell Goodfellow, to be made fun of in the papers. Robyn knows that she must find the father that she has never met in order to get him to change her name legally. She knows her mom will never agree to it so she makes it her mission to find him before the satellite hits. Thank goodness for her best friend, Nickel, who helps her on all of her adventures. Not only is Nickel her best friend, Robyn knows that they will grow up and be married one day, even if Nickel doesn't realize it yet. In the meantime, will Robyn be able to find her father before the satellite crashes down on her house? Will Robyn's obsession to find her father destroy her friendship with Nickel? Will NASA be able to stop the satellite before it lands on Robyn's house? Read this incredible story to find out.

This is probably one of may favorite stories that I've read. Robyn is such a lovable character that draws you into her life and makes you empathize with her struggles to want to find and get to know her dad. As a reader, you will also begin to believe and fear that the satellite really will hit her house. I also love the friendship between Robyn and Nickel. It makes you realize that there is nothing more important than having someone to stick by your side through thick and thin. This book is incredible and a must read for 2018!

Odd little tale. I always like quirky ones best and this one wasn't disappointing. This book does have odd characters,Robyn is albino (though this has nothing to do with the story), and the story revolves around her and her family, friends and neighbors, and a satellite that is going to fall on her home! She's also searching for her father. Her mother has never has never told her about him (and for some odd reason she's never asked?). Anyway, her house attracts junk like a magnet, so it's a given that the space junk is going to hit it. Funny story overall about a loving family and their friends. Kids 4th grade up will likely enjoy it and they should! It's a great and busy read!

I honestly love how quirky this book was at times. Robyns mom is a trip with her tutus and fairy wings; and the fact that she makes a living by hosting toddler fairy parties is the cutest thing ever. The apple didn't fall far from the tree either, because grandma is a bit odd as well. She has a war going on with a neighbor that swears she's FBI. That all goes very well with the fact that the house attracts all kinds of refugee items. I find it hilarious that Robyn wants to seek her dad out for a name change to avoid embarrassment, but also to get to know him before she gets annihilated by space junk, There is definitely a lot going on in this book, especially in less than 250 pages but it doesn't muddle or ruin the book. Pretty enjoyable read. 3.5 stars, but since I can't give it that --> (3 stars on goodreads).

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

Like the author, when I heard about the satellite that was threatening to fall on Robyn's house, I thought of Skylab that was supposed to fall somewhere in Australia in the late 1970s. It is an interesting fear, but when you hear that something like that can fall out of the sky, and in Robyn's case, everything that falls out of the sky lands on her house, it is a valid fear.

But, that is not the only thing that is going on in this story.. Robyn is also thinking, in her fear of being struck by space junk, that she would like to meet her father before she is a goner, so she starts searching for him.

Interesting story. Very real characters. A bit scattered, but real. Mother is eccentric, to say the least, but that adds to the oddness of the house. It did feel as though there was a lot going on for a middle-school book, that there could have been more about how Robyn had wondered about who her father was before she worried about her eminent demise.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.