The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole

"So wait,” said Cosmo. “If we go in that door, we might exit on the other side of the galaxy?”' “I don’t know,” I said. “But we currently live in a tub in a black hole, so what do we have to lose?” When eleven-year-old space mad Stella Rodriguez shows up at NASA to request that her recording be included in Carl Sagan's Golden Record, something unexpected happens: A black hole follows her home, and sets out to live in her house as a pet. The black hole swallows everything he touches, which is challenging to say the least – but also turns out to be a convenient way to get rid of those items that Stella doesn't want around. Soon theugly sweaters her aunt has made for her all disappear within the black hole, as does the smelly class hamster she's taking care of, and most important, all the reminders of her dead father that are just too painful to have around. It's not until Stella, her younger brother, Cosmo, the family puppy and even the bathroom tub all get swallowed up by the black hole that Stella realizes she has been letting her own grief consume her. And that's not the only thing she realizes as she attempts to get back home… From the author of ***Confessions of an Imaginary Friend***comes an astonishingly original and funny adventure with a great big heart. Praise for Confessions of an Imaginary Friend: ‘Cuevas’s novel brimming with metaphors, gorgeous imagery, and beautiful turns of phrase considers the fate of devoted but invisible companions. Have tissues on hand for the bittersweet ending.’ Publishers Weekly, starred review ‘Alternately amusing and philosophical, this quirky read will get kids thinking about love, loss, and life’ Booklist