My Night in the Planetarium

Gr 2–5—Nagara recounts what happened the night he and his mother stayed in a planetarium after a performance by his father's acting troupe. Nagara's father was an actor, playwright, and activist who often used his art as a means of peaceful protest against the oppressive government of Indonesia. Anticipating a clash with authorities after a final performance, his father escaped with the departing audience while Nagara and his mother hid out for the night in the planetarium, under the stars, so to speak. Nagara does provide some brief historical background of Indonesia: its colonization by the Dutch, its eventual independence, and the rise of a military-run government. The narrative is intimate and occasionally casual, which softens the impact of some of the scarier moments of the story but still engages readers and manages to explain colonization to young listeners. The pacing feels uneven at times, but overall this is a solid read. Collage and mixed-media illustrations are full of vibrant colors and lush detail. A brief epilogue gives further information about Nagara's father and his work.