The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole

by Michelle Cuevas (Author)

The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

A girl's friendship with a lonely black hole leads her to face her own sadness in this original, funny, and touching middle grade novel for fans of Crenshaw and Flora & Ulysses.

When eleven-year-old Stella Rodriguez shows up at NASA to request that her recording be included in Carl Sagan's Golden Record, something unexpected happens: A black hole follows her home, and sets out to live in her house as a pet. The black hole swallows everything he touches, which is challenging to say the least--but also turns out to be a convenient way to get rid of those items that Stella doesn't want around. Soon the ugly sweaters her aunt has made for her all disappear within the black hole, as does the smelly class hamster she's taking care of, and most important, all the reminders of her dead father that are just too painful to have around. It's not until Stella, her younger brother, Cosmo, the family puppy, and even the bathroom tub all get swallowed up by the black hole that Stella comes to realize she has been letting her own grief consume her. And that's not the only thing she realizes as she attempts to get back home.

This is an astonishingly original and funny adventure with a great big heart.

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Review quotes

Praise for The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole

"An original tale of family love, scientific passion, and a truly epic journey of self-discovery." —Kirkus

"As much a journey of grief and healing as a literal adventure, Cuevas's story is both touching and funny." —Booklist
Michelle Cuevas
Michelle Cuevas is the author of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Erin E. Stead, among others. Visit michellecuevas.com.

Catia Chien is an avid painter and has produced work for the children's book market, film and animation industries, comic book anthologies, and galleries. Visit catiachien.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780399539145
Lexile Measure
710
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Rocky Pond Books
Publication date
September 11, 2018
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV039030 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Death & Dying
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV016000 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | General
Library of Congress categories
-
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 09/01/17

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