Into Thin Air

When Luna's dad leaves home in the middle of the night, no one else seems to be worried about him. But as the days pass, Luna, her best friend, Casey, and her younger sister, Jade, try to work out what has happened to him. As the clues mount, they uncover secrets and lies . . . but will they find their father?

Into Thin Air is a compelling, satisfying mystery, with family love and friendship at its heart. Luna is a very relatable character. Numbers help her to feel grounded when she becomes anxious and recently, life has been challenging for her and her family. Her parents have lost their business, a cafe called The Centre of the Universe, meaning that money is tight.

Whilst her little sister seems oblivious to everything, seeing life in a very different way, Luna notices everything, her worries building. The relationship between the two is beautifully captured. Very different the siblings might be, often leading to feelings of frustration, but their bond is solid - and develops as the story unfolds, with Luna discovering that Jade (like most of us) has her own coping mechanisms, her own ways of facing challenging situations. Her experiences also help Luna to become a better friend, learning more about Casey, and other classmates, deepening understanding between them.

Tense writing and sectioned chapters help the mystery to develop at a pleasing pace, keeping readers desperate to discover what happens next. The girls, with Casey's help, are determined to find their father, showing great courage, determination and resourcefulness as they overcome various problems. The reasons behind their father's disappearance offer plenty to think about, perfect for sparking discussions about standing up for what you believe in and think is right. Perfect for those looking for a challenging, though-provoking read!

256 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

In Into Thin Air, Luna's family is going through a tough time; money is short and her parents have had to close the family café and find work elsewhere. They are clearly unhappy and this is beginning to impact upon Luna and her sister, Jade.

Luna dreams of becoming an astronaut and exploring the galaxy beyond the sky above us. Astrology and the stars is an interest that she shares with her father and they have been tracking the path of the International Space Station. This interest is woven throughout the story, with a paragraph about an astronaut on the space station at the start of each chapter.

I was sure this would eventually tie directly to the main storyline; however, sadly it didn't. When her father mysteriously leaves home in the middle of the night Luna soon realises that something is not right. Her Mum is struggling to support Luna and her sister, and she is not being honest with them when they ask where their dad is. Luna is determined to find her dad and, more importantly, find out what is going on. With the support of her best friend Casey, Luna and Jade try to piece together the clues of her dad's disappearance and make some sense of all that is going on.

Without wanting to give away too many spoilers, I have to say that although the idea of this story is good it is rather short of plot details; Luna's dad is missing, his boss is cross, money is short and there are a couple of strange people who knock at the door. A lot is left to the imagination, whether this is to shield the reader from the harsher realities of life is unclear, but I wanted to know more.

The bond between Luna and her sister is obviously strong and they care for each other deeply, even though they are very different, Luna worries about almost everything and Jade is far more positive. The way they look out for each other, and try so hard to support and protect their Mum, is at the centre of this story.

While the title of this book may refer to the sudden disappearance of Luna's dad and/or her interest in space and beyond, this story is so much more about friends, family, dreams, resilience, and the lengths you'd go to for the ones you love.

Into Thin Air would make a great class read, although teachers will need to be sensitive to individual children's situations and circumstance before selecting this book. Opportunities for discussion are plentiful; looking at the situation Luna's family find themselves in, how she handled things at home, who she could have spoken to at school and whether what she did was right. The story's resolution also opens up many other points for discussion that could be linked to wider curriculum areas. Into Thin Air would make a good read for children in upper KS2 / ages 9+.

256 pages / Reviewed by Sam, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+