See You in the Cosmos

Alex Petroski, an 11-year-old aspiring astronomer, embarks on a solo journey from Colorado to a rocket festival in New Mexico, and eventually to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He records his journey on a golden iPod, intended for extraterrestrials. Along the way, he gathers a makeshift family of strangers: a silent Buddhist, a heartbroken young man, and a half-sister he never knew existed. The adventure culminates in Alex discovering the truth about his deceased father and his mother's severe mental health struggles. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book depicts the challenges of living with a parent who has schizophrenia, including periods of instability and Alex's resulting feelings of confusion and neglect. It also deals with the loss of Alex's father, but through the filtered, innocent perspective of an 11-year-old. The approach is secular, focusing on science, human connection, and psychological reality. The resolution is realistic rather than a fairy-tale ending: Alex's mother receives medical help, and Alex finds stability through an expanded support network. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with high-energy whimsy and curiosity. As the road trip progresses, the tone shifts toward vulnerability and weight as the adult world encroaches on Alex's optimism. It ends on a profoundly hopeful note of resilience and found family. IDEAL READER: A 10 to 12-year-old who feels a bit like an outsider, perhaps a science-minded child or one who has had to grow up a little too fast due to family circumstances. PARENT TRIGGER: The moment Alex's mother goes missing and Alex is hospitalized after a fall is particularly stressful. It highlights the neglect Alex has been living with, which he was too young to identify. PARENT PREP: Parents should be prepared to discuss schizophrenia, its impact on Alex's life, and the reasons Alex's older brother might have kept the truth about their mother's condition from him. The book is best read alongside the child or discussed immediately after, as the revelation of the mother's illness can be jarring. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger readers will focus on the adventure and the dog; older readers will pick up on the 'dramatic irony' of Alex's unreliable narration regarding his mother's 'quiet days.' DIFFERENTIATOR: The epistolary format (audio transcripts) creates an intimate, immediate connection to Alex's unique voice, making the heavy themes feel personal rather than clinical. ```