How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby

 

Over the weekend, I read How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby. This realistic fiction novel is about Pluto Timoney, an almost-13-year-old girl who loves astronomy and summer. After she is diagnosed with depression and anxiety a month before summer break, Pluto struggles to just get out of bed most days, which leads to conflict when her mom wants to look after her at their family's pizzeria. Then, when Pluto's dad proposes to her mom that she come live with him in the city so he can pay for her to get help there, Pluto decides to come up with a list of things that the old, "normal" Pluto would do so that she can stay with her mom. Although Pluto receives help from a new tutor, a new therapist, and a cute new friend, Fallon, who makes her own list of things to do over the summer, she still struggles to accomplish anything on her list, leading her to wonder if she'll ever be her old self again.

Although I did enjoy this book, it was an intense, challenging read, demonstrating the experience of having depression for a young person. I really liked how Pluto and her mom had bonded over a love of astronomy, so the conflict between them was devastating. It was hard to know what Pluto's mom could do to help make things better for Pluto because I could tell she was trying her best and was scared to leave Pluto on her own after she had locked herself in her bedroom at the beginning of the book. I also loved Pluto's new friendship with Fallon and how they agreed to help each other with their lists over the summer, even if the outcome was surprising. On the other hand, something else that made me sad was how Pluto found it hard to be around her best friend, Meredith, because Meredith knew what she was like before having depression. That's why I was glad that Pluto met Fallon, though. While How to Become a Planet is dark at times, the ending did give me hope for Pluto. Anyone who is going through tough stuff should read this book because it shows you're not alone.