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In Houston, NASA's mission to Mars brought "Astrokids" Cal and Leon together. Back in New York one year later, Cal is excited to show his boyfriend the city and finally introduce him to his best friend Deb, but everything feels different, from the ads posted in Times Square to the location of Cal's favorite falafel cart. Deb has new friends, a new apartment—a new life—and Cal isn't sure of his place in it anymore. Though all Cal wanted a year ago was to come back to Brooklyn, he no longer feels like he belongs.
Phil Stamper brings his signature heart, wisdom, and romance to this touching THE GRAVITY OF US short story.
Includes the first chapter of Phil Stamper's sophomore novel, AS FAR AS YOU'LL TAKE ME.
Praise for THE GRAVITY OF US:
YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Nominee
"From the insider knowledge and space facts to the frank discussions about family, sexuality, and mental health, Stamper's debut was truly out of this world (I'm sorry, I had to)."—Audible Editor's Pick
"Michael Crouch carries the performance here, brilliantly capturing all of Cal's ups and downs, but additional narrators add depth and interest the story. From the host of the reality show 'Shooting Stars' that follows the astronauts and their families, to the show's many guests, the full cast makes this near-future world feel absolutely plausible."—BookRiot, "20 Must-Read New Full-Cast Audiobooks"
"Phil Stamper's The Gravity of Us is so interesting and well crafted that it's hard to believe it's his first novel. . . . Readers will root for Cal and Leon, their budding romance, their astronaut families and, of course, the prospect of life among the stars."—BookPage, starred review
"Phil Stamper's The Gravity of Us is the first love, first launch, astronaut story I didn't know I needed. I'm so starry-eyed for this wise, romantic gem of a book."—Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA
"A big-hearted, witty, and intensely relatable debut about reaching for your dreams without losing what grounds you."—Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of ONE OF US IS LYING and TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
March 9, 2021 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593412756
- File size: 20515 KB
- Duration: 00:42:44
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Narrator Michael Crouch's expressive, youthful voice is pitch-perfect for Cal Lewis, an ambitious teen journalist and social media influencer who is uprooted from Brooklyn and dropped into suburban Texas when his dad joins NASA's mission to Mars. The Mars mission has captured America's imagination, thanks to "Shooting Stars," a reality show that is realistically presented to listeners in highly produced segments that feature upbeat musical cues and a stunning full cast of narrators. Jonathan Davis's poised performance as a duplicitous reality show host--whom Cal plans to expose--is an absolute standout. Even with the full cast, Crouch is never overshadowed, and his singular performance is filled with the emotional highs and lows the NASA families face as they look to the stars in this unique audio production. J.E.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine -
December 23, 2019
Cal is a young queer man with a plan, building a following on social media and preparing for a future as a journalist, but his whole life turns upside down when his pilot father is chosen as an astronaut candidate for NASA’s Mars mission. After his white family relocates from Brooklyn to a small town near Houston, Cal determines to adapt to his new life as best he can, tweaking his reporting to work alongside NASA’s publicity department, necessarily appearing on the reality television show that follows the astronauts and their families, and making friends—and more than friends—with fellow “Astrokid” Leon, a brown-skinned gymnast. Stamper thoughtfully handles Cal’s struggles to fit in with the other astronauts’ “perfect families, fancy parties, and petty gossip,” the stress of the mission, Leon’s depression, and the spotlight of public attention. Despite the dramatic backdrop, this quiet debut is a openhearted novel that shows a realistic, imperfect queer relationship and a young man growing to know and to be true to himself even when everything is shifting around him. Ages 13–up. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. -
One year after an abrupt move to Texas for a life-changing NASA mission, 18-year-old social media reporter Cal Lewis is back on his home turf in New York City, playing tour guide for his boyfriend, Leon. Narrator Michael Crouch wears Cal's signature edgy tenor like a comfortable jacket. As portrayed by Crouch, Leon, starstruck by the sights and sounds of the Big Apple, maintains a warm, rich tone. This makes for a delightful contrast with the bright and bubbly enthusiasm of Deb, Cal's longtime best friend and former girlfriend, whom Leon is meeting for the first time. Wistfully, the trio reflect over vegan pizza, a successful launch to Mars, the takedown of the oppressive StarWatch TV network, and their own personal metamorphoses. A splendid coda to a love story blooming in adversity. E.E. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
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