CONSTELLATION CLUES | Kirkus Reviews

A sharp middle schooler with sky-high aspirations solves a mystery while navigating new friendships, sisterhood, and chronic migraines in Reed’s middle-grade novel.

For 12-year-old budding astrophotographer Quinn Knight, a family move from Ohio to Texas isn’t totally awful. Sure, the weather is a trigger for her migraines, and her older sister, Vivica, has already claimed her throne as eighth grade class president and star of the school musical. But her eldest sister, Georgie, with whom she’s close, has moved out of her college dorm to live with them, and their new town, Hill Springs, has very little light pollution (perfect for stargazing). Her new bedroom has a skylight, a high-powered telescope, and a great view of the star cluster Pleiades. In the early morning before her first day at her new school, Quinn tries to ease her nerves by taking some photos, only to be shocked by two things: The stars appear to her to move “like a swarm of crazed fireflies that inhaled a box of Pop Rocks,” and she sees someone sneaking up to their house and leaving a note; it turns out to be a threatening missive for Vivica—the first of several. Quinn is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and protect her sister. With her new friends Xavier and Tiya, she exercises her passion for scientific reasoning to analyze evidence, look for clues, and compile a list of suspects—all while honing her astrophotography skills, coping with chronic pain, and navigating middle school. Reed’s well-paced mystery is imbued with comedy and heartfelt moments. Quinn is a smart and spirited protagonist and narrator whose wry humor and can-do attitude will make her relatable to young readers. Throughout, Reed depicts Quinn’s struggles with migraines, as well as other characters’ health concerns, including epilepsy, asthma, and food allergies, with honesty and sensitivity. Quinn and her family are depicted as white, and there are numerous supporting characters of color, including Xavier, who’s Latine, and Tiya, who’s South Asian. The novel’s positive portrayal of young, STEM-inclined female characters is refreshing as well.

A clever, uplifting, and entertaining story.