By: Keri Claiborne Boyle
Illustrated by: Deborah Melmon
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: August 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-53411-152-3
Reviewed by: Katie Specht
Review Date: August 29, 2022
From author Keri Claiborne Boyle comes her fourth children’s book entitled The Black Hole Debacle. Illustrator Deborah Melmon provides the adorable images that accompany the tale. The out-of-this-world story follows Jordie, a young girl who is fascinated with all things related to space, as she encounters her very own black hole in her desk during geography class one day.
Jordie watches with amazement as the black hole gobbles up everything within its reach as she tries to keep it a secret from her classmates and her teacher. Before school concludes for the day, she manages to coax the black hole into her backpack so she can transport it home safely. As the black hole settles into Jordie’s backpack for the ride home, it proceeds to scarf down her water bottle, her library books and her friend’s softball glove. Upon arriving home, Jordie shoves the black hole into her closet, where it promptly continues to scarf down more of Jordie’s belongings, this time including her soccer ball, sweatshirt and favorite hat. The situation escalates as the black hole grows bigger and bigger and continues swallowing items from her room, including all the light that had once been there. When Jordie notices her dog, Neptune’s, empty collar lying on the floor, she knows the black hole has gone too far with its voracious snacking. Jordie decides that she will do whatever is necessary to rescue her beloved Neptune from the ever-expanding black hole, and when Neptune is safe again, she will send her cosmic friend into space where it can freely roam.
The Black Hole Debacle is the whimsical story of a young girl who experiences quite an adventure when a black hole takes up residence in her desk at school one day. The story itself is funny, entertaining and interspersed with facts about black holes. Kids will laugh their way through the story, not even realizing that they are learning along the way. This book would be a perfect addition to an elementary school classroom. The illustrations are simply delightful and accompany the story perfectly. A nice added touch to the story is the alliteration that the author includes throughout the book. The book concludes with a lovely ending that will leave the reader smiling. The author also provides two informational pages at the end of the book so the reader can learn more about characteristics of black holes.
Quill says: Author Keri Claiborne Boyle has penned a true winner in The Black Hole Debacle. Young readers will enjoy the vibrant, colorful illustrations alongside the amusing story, while parents and teachers alike will appreciate the educational aspect of the narrative.
To learn more about The Black Hole Debacle, please visit the author’s website.
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