Kepler's Dream

Gr 5–8—Ella's divorced mother has leukemia and her father is busy guiding trips for his fly-fishing-trip business so the 11-year-old is sent to stay with her grandmother. Neither of her parents gets along well with her father's mother, and Ella hasn't ever met her. She joins eccentric Violet Von Stern at her adobe home and names it The House of Mud. Under the brilliant Albuquerque's night sky, she wishes on stars for her mom's recovery. Her grandmother sternly corrects and lectures her, but Ella's stay is full of interesting surprises. One of grandma's books, Kepler's Dream, has been stolen from her extensive library, and it's worth thousands of dollars. Ella puts her detective skills to work to find the missing book while discovering the importance of family. Bell has created a fascinating cast of eclectic characters who are sure to capture and retain readers' attention. Smart and thoughtful, the story sparkles like Kepler's favorite stars in Bell's debut offering for children—Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego