Book Review: What Came From The Stars

About two years ago, Diane and I did a deep dive into the works of Gary D. Schmidt, marveling at his ability to truly excel across genres. From the middle-grade brilliance of The Wednesday Wars to the magical fairy tale Straw Into Gold, from thoughtful and lovely picture books like A Long Road on a Short Day to the haunting historical fiction of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Schmidt continually astonished us. Mara’s Stories moved me deeply, and Orbiting Jupiter—written for boys in prison—left us nearly speechless with its raw truth. Schmidt had us convinced that there was little he could not write.

So, I approached his science fiction novel, What Came From the Stars, with high hopes. Yet, despite my love for science fiction, I struggled to enjoy it or even finish it. About half way through, I set the book aside with some regret.

Last month, I saw What Came From the Stars on Hoopla and decided to give it another chance. I’m glad I did.

While I may never cherish What Came From the Stars as much as I do Okay for Now or The Labors of Hercules Beal, this time I found myself genuinely enjoying the novel. Perhaps it was familiarity with the story from my first attempt, or maybe I was just in the right mindset. Either way, the book’s layered storytelling and emotional depth resonated with me.

At its heart, What Came From the Stars is an honest exploration of grief, destiny, familial love, and sacrifice. Schmidt’s talent for portraying grief remains unmatched—each of his stories feels fresh, raw, and powerful.

This novel follows Tommy Pepper, a boy from Plymouth living in a creaky old house by the sea with his father and little sister. Together, they are grappling with the unexpected loss of Tommy’s mother. Their grief is compounded by an unscrupulous real estate developer pressuring them to sell their beloved home.

What made this story confusing to me the first time, but interesting this second time, is its dual narrative. One thread is firmly grounded in Tommy’s world, while the other unfolds in a fantastical realm embroiled in its own struggles. These two worlds collide when Tommy receives a birthday gift from his grandmother—a seemingly ordinary lunchbox with mysterious contents that alter his reality.

Schmidt weaves these threads together with skill, creating a story that is part science fiction, part fantasy, and wholly human. While it may not be my favorite of his works, What Came From the Stars is a testament to Schmidt’s range and his ability to delve into the depths of human emotion, even in the most unexpected genres.

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