Shooting for Stars by Christine Webb ~ a Review

by MK French

High schooler Skyler Davidson is determined to finish her late mother's research on neutron stars. Aspiring videographer Cooper helps her film a submission for a NASA internship without telling her father. The two grow closer, but her father also has a new love interest. This makeup influencer will remain silent about Skyler’s NASA plans if she gets to know her. Will her dream collapse, or can Skyler and her father reconcile?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

May 2024; Peachtree Teen; 978-1682636015
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); young adult

Skyler is entirely logical and isn't very feminine, so anyone seeing her mistakes with makeup and lighting to try to make her initial video will understand how she feels. She's out of her depth, and even more so when her father takes her advice to start dating. It's the same makeup influencer whose videos she tried to copy, of course. At the same time, Cooper will help make her video which will also serve as his application for film school. The two talk and Cooper's influence helps her see her emotional side. She bonds with his sister, him, the influencer, and ultimately her father. 

While the video was the driving force for Skyler, ultimately it was the connections she made that mattered to her. She made friends, was able to get in touch with her emotions, and felt life. It was more than grades and statistics, and she realized that the impression she had of science wasn't accurate. I really felt what she was going through as the book progressed, and sections brought me to tears. This is so well done as a look into how she grows and matures, as well as a teen romance. 

Buy Shooting for Stars at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever. 

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