The Incredible Magic of Being

By Kathryn Erskine

A boy's quest to unite his family through cosmic wonders faces an unexpected threat.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 648 ratings

256 pages

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Bookroo's summary

Julian, a boy with a mystical view and love for comets, hopes to reconnect his stressed family by discovering a comet in rural Maine. But his neighbor, Mr. X, threatens his parents' B&B dream. Can Julian's optimism and scientific curiosity overcome this challenge and reveal the universe's magic to his family? As he gazes at the stars, Julian must navigate the unknown forces that could unravel everything he holds dear. Will he find the connection he seeks, or will one negative force change everything?

From the publisher

National Book Award winner Kathryn Erskine delivers a contemporary story about a boy with a mystical worldview and a love of science and comets as he faces questions about what makes him special.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&amp;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?

At a glance

Format
Pages: 256
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 740L

Themes & topics

Books about siblings Books about technology Books about family Books about LGBTQ Books about science and nature

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Potty Humor

This book contains many repeated uses of "FART!" (facts and random thoughts), where a big "FART!" interrupts a page, and then it has the authors random thought or a fact. This occurs every few pages.

For readers who can't stop at one