Friday Memes: The Incredible Magic of Being by Kathryn Erskine

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

The Incredible Magic of Being by Kathryn Erskine. 247 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., October 10, 2017. 9781338148527.

Publisher synopsis: Some might say Julian is sheltered. But he lives large, and his eternal optimism allows him to see infinite possibilities wherever he looks.

Despite his optimism, he is anxious about his stressed family falling apart. Even his ability to "uni-sense" what's happening with his sister is gone. If he can make his family focus on the magic in the universe, surely they'll appreciate life again. Now that they are moving from Washington, DC, to rural Maine, Julian can use his beloved telescope without any light pollution. He can discover a comet, name it for himself, and show his family how they're all truly connected.

As Julian searches the night sky, he encounters a force that may drive his plan apart. His neighbor, Mr. X, could bring an end to his parents' dream of opening their B&B. Could one negative force unravel everything? An avid student of science, Julian understands that there is much about the universe that we don't yet know. Who is to say what's possible and what's not?

First Line(s): 1 - Black Holes and Messier Objects

   Magic is all around us, but most people never see it.
   Sometimes even I can't.
   Like right now.
   I'm in the back seat holding my breat, leaning away from the black hole and trying not to get sucked in.
   The black hole is my sister.

Page 56: 
   Mr. X doesn't seem to understand how incredible Mr. Julian was.
   "Don't you see? In spite of everything he left the world a much better place. I want to be like that, too. People say, His legacy lives on. That means we still use the discoveries he made. Even though people don't know his name, they're grateful for all the stuff he did-lots of stuff. Percy Lavon Julian saved people he didn't even know and weren't evn born until after he died! That's magic!"
 i realize I'm standing up now because Mr. X is leaning back in his seat to get away from me.

I became a fan of Ms. Erskine's when I read Mockingbird. The Absolute Value of Mike and Seeing Red are also favorites of mine. I am already smitten by Julian.