Nova has been anxiously awaiting the launch day of the Challenger- she's a space enthusiast and her older sister Bridget had promised they would watch it together. But Bridget hasn't been around and Nova is being moved to yet another foster home and new school. At 12 years old Nova has been shuttled around, treated like she doesn't understand anything because she has autism and is nonverbal. Only Bridget has ever recognized that Nova is intelligent and has ways of communicating. But as the date nears will Bridget show up?

Planet Earth is Blue is beautifully written and certainly made me teary eyed at points. Panteleakos focuses on Nova's experiences with autism but as a barrier to her communicating with others around her; it is not the defining feature of who Nova is. The same with being in foster care- these are all significant events and situations for Nova but not who she is. 

The inclusion of the Challenger could have been gimmicky but Panteleakos incorporates the space shuttle launch within Nova's story beautifully and subtlety. Two author's notes are included at the end of the book, one on the history of the Challenger explosion and the other on autism.

Planet Earth is Blue is a must read for middle grade students (and above), building empathy and understanding with a strong protagonist with autism.

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