The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole

Gr 4–8—Quirky 11-year-old Stella Rodriguez attempts to get an audience with Carl Sagan in order to send a unique cassette of Earth sounds into space on the Voyager. Instead, a black hole follows her home. She attempts to train it using dog-training manuals and finds it willingly swallows all memories connected with her late father, her annoying brother's talking tub-toy and child-like drawings, and the awful sweaters that her aunt always gives her. When it accidentally swallows the new puppy, she and her brother enter the black hole to retrieve it. Self-discovery combines with adventure to a satisfying conclusion. Stella's knowledge of astronomy serves as a springboard to work through the grieving process. Cuevas's techniques include time disruptions, imaginary creatures, and one-sided conversations with the deceased dad that provide a distinctive story. Only audio listeners are treated to the eerily vacuum-sounding narration when Stella first enters the black hole. Laura Ortiz narrates capably.