The Calculating Stars

This is a remarkably well-researched book. Reading it, I was deeply impressed by how it remains a character-driven narrative with (to my layman's eyes at least) spot-on science that never breaks the flow of the narrative. I feel like occasionally the marginalization of women and people of color got a little heavy-handed, but never inaccurate. It might be because it was told through the lens of a white woman that sometimes issues of race feel a little less natural, but Kowal does a good job of having Elma check her privilege often in a way that does feel mostly natural. Elma is a good example of a character who is not racist, who genuinely believes people are equal, but was raised in such a way that she forgets to consider other perspectives regularly. It happens a lot, which I think is accurate, but I'm not used to reading it which is why it maybe felt preachy to me.

I would also add that Elma and Nathaniel are maybe one of the best couples I've every read. Smart, supportive, open and understanding. Relationships don't have to be the drama!

I will probably continue on in this series because it is such a dramatic balance of science and story-telling.