Twelve-year-old Jack tells the story of when Joseph comes to live with him and his parents on a farm as a foster child. They offer him a safe home, love, support and loyalty - all things he didn't have before in an abusive household or in prison. But Joseph wants nothing more than to find his baby daughter, which is difficult to do because he's only fourteen.

There was something lacking for me, but I can't figure out what it is. This book dealt with heavy issues even though it's a middle grade book, I guess, so maybe the writing didn't really coincide with what the book was about. Maybe it needed to be longer. Or have a bit more depth. The ending was predictable and convenient. But a sad read nonetheless.

What a wonderful novel, from the beginning pages I knew that Gary Schmidt had created another fantastic story, a story with great energy and significance. Some of his characters are edgy and I loved how some of his sentences are short and direct, they simply want to say what they mean and move on. I was battling many emotions as I read the pages, Joseph was carrying labels from his past and there were individuals, people mature enough to see beneath these labels to who he really was, but they couldn’t and it frustrated me. Joseph knows who he is but it’s hard for him as he’s a teen and he feels alone and he feel the world is against him.   As Joseph finds comfort living with Jack and his parents, his new foster family, he begins to lighten his load. This doesn’t come easy and it’s a slow process, for his journey to this new place living on the farm, has taken him through many different challenges. Joseph has a daughter Jupiter, who is a bright spot in his mind. He fell deeply in love with Jupiter’s mother; it was like a fairy tale encompassing two people from opposite sides of the tracks. Joseph adored Madeline, his love was sincere and as he told his story, my heart broke. Joseph wishes to see his daughter, for he has never laid eyes on her. Chills and shivers snaked down my body as I finished out the novel. I highly recommend this novel, it’s a short read but with great impact.

I'm a huge Gary Schmidt fanboy--I've read literally every novel he's published. Lizzie Bright and The Wednesday Wars each earned a spot on my all-time-favorite books list; Schmidt is one of only two or three authors to have two books on that select list. For my money, he's the best writer working in kidlit today who hasn't won a Newbery.

So to say I was anticipating Orbiting Jupiter is a gross understatement. I scored an advanced reading copy (ARC) from my dealer--thanks Mom! (She owns Kids Ink Children's Bookstore. They get ARCs of everything.)  

It did not disappoint. I think I just read the Newbery winner. I hope I just read the Newbery winner. Please, God, let this be the Newbery winner. It's that good. Simple and spare and elegiac with not a word wasted or misplaced. And Schmidt is due. Past due.

The book asks the question whether Joseph's love for Madeline and their baby, Jupiter, conquer his age, fourteen. And answers it: not really. But the struggle is so beautiful and moving that I found myself choking back tears throughout most of the back half of the book.

MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD

Despite that quibble, Orbiting Jupiter is a brilliant book, and absolutely worthy of your reading time. It releases on October 16th, 2015.

As raw and penetrating as a blustery wind blowing through you on a wicked cold January morning.