I am overwhelmed by the beauty of this book. I love the prose, the characters, the setting and the questions posed. In 1969 a seventh grade girl who is half Japanese and half black moves to an all white town in Vermont where her ethnicity  causes quite a stir; add to that her interests are not considered appropriate for a girl. Mimi is a science geek who wants to be an astronaut and take shop classes. Her father is a college professor, an ex-Marine, and has marched with Martin Luther King. Her mother’s family suffered through Japanese internment camps during World War II although these are never even mentioned in the history books at Mimi’s new school. She is wise  for her age having learned from her parents the importance of non-violent civil disobedience but it’s a lot for a kid just turning 13. The Apollo 11 mission and the first steps on the moon echo Mimi’s passion for space and the many first steps she must take to succeed in her new community. Her story is at times heartbreaking, ultimately triumphant and so beautifully told that I couldn’t put it down.