Book Recommendations for the Planets in Our Solar System
Maybe it’s all this social distancing, but we’ve been daydreaming about outer space a lot lately. And while we’ve spent most of this quarantine sharing book recommendations with our friends and coworkers, we’ve spent very little time coming up with book recommendations for some of the planets in our solar system. Yes, you read that right.
Saturn: We Are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian
Whenever we think of Saturn, we imagine a teenage gas giant – a planet who’s worth so much more than she gives herself credit for. Which is why we’re recommending she read We Are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian, a coming of age novel about a varsity field hockey team with an arguably toxic coach. Told in multiple perspectives – a phenomenal get for a planet whose rings alone tell multiple stories – this YA novel is beautiful, sharp, and energetic. Just like Saturn.
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Earth: The Big Book of Mars: From Ancient Egypt to The Martian, A Deep-Space Dive into Our Obsession with the Red Planet by Marc Hartzman
If Earth had a collective consciousness, we’re certain it would be one of curiosity, with a touch of paranoia. Which is why we’re recommending The Big Book of Mars: From Ancient Egypt to The Martian, A Deep-Space Dive into Our Obsession with the Red Planet by Marc Hartzman. And “obsession” is right. Earth would want to know everything there is to know about her closest planetary neighbor, and stat. This book dives into the science, the mythology, and the pop culture joy that stems from this dusty red planet. And it’s certain to satisfy the curiosity of any earthling – err, we mean “human.”
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Jupiter: The Ensemble by Aja Gabel
We think of Jupiter as a very musical planet, which is why we’re recommending that she read The Ensemble by Aja Gabel, a novel that spans years in the life of four incredible string ensemble members. It’s nuanced and sprawling, just like this planet. Maybe it will remind her of the time Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 both flew by with The Golden Record, on their way to share the music of the world with intelligent life outside our solar system. Or maybe it’ll just remind her of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.”
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Neptune: For Your Consideration: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson by Tres Dean
We know that Neptune sees himself as a total rock star. And by “total rock star” we mean “total The Rock of the solar system.” (You’re welcome.) And because of all this, we’re recommending For Your Consideration: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson by Tres Dean. We cannot wait for Neptune to discover all the things he has in common with The Rock – their exercise regimen, their filmography, their former career as pro wrestlers. (There’s a lot you don’t know about Neptune, okay.) But the true connection is probably their connection with the ocean. Neptune is named after the sea, while The Rock is affectionately known for playing Maui in Moana. Who knows what else they’ll bond over!
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Pluto: The Planets: Photographs from the Archives of NASA by Nirmala Nataraj
It might not be fair to include Pluto in this blog post, since there’s still so much debate about whether she’s a planet or not. But that’s precisely why we’re recommending she read The Planets: Photographs from the Archives of NASA by Nirmala Nataraj. Not only will it serve as a historical record of all her planetary neighbors, it’ll give her a little more self-assurance about her own place in the universe.
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