"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir

This week's pick actually comes from my oldest daughter, Hayden. We admit that we are a little bit late to the party, but "Project Hail Mary" has been the hyperfixation of the summer in our house. We watched the movie – and then watched it at least ten more times – before we moved into the book together.  I am so happy we did because it really is such a special story and will have you hooked from the first page to the last.

If you love sci-fi packed with big ideas, quick-witted humor, and high-stakes survival, Andy Weir’s "Project Hail Mary" is an absolute treat. The story kicks off with a classic, heart-pounding premise: a man wakes up from a long coma inside a tiny spaceship with no idea who he is, where he is, or how he got there. To make matters worse, his two crewmates didn’t survive the journey. As his memories slowly drift back in hazy fragments, he remembers his name - Ryland Grace - and realizes the terrifying weight resting entirely on his shoulders. Back home, Earth is facing a total environmental collapse. A microscopic, space-faring organism is multiplying at an alarming rate and consuming the Sun’s energy. If someone does not figure out how to stop it, humanity is looking at an inevitable ice age and complete extinction within a few decades.

​Ryland, a former junior high school science teacher who was unexpectedly recruited for this wild mission, turns out to be Earth’s very last hope. He has been sent light-years away to the Tau Ceti star system, the only nearby star that somehow seems completely immune to this solar parasite. Working all by himself in the cold vacuum of space, Ryland has to use pure scientific reasoning, creative guesswork, and trial-and-error experimentation to figure out the mystery behind Tau Ceti’s resistance. The stakes could not possibly be higher, but what makes the story so much fun is Ryland’s unyielding optimism, nerdy enthusiasm, and relentless determination to solve one mind-bending problem after another.

​As he gradually pieces together his forgotten past and navigates the terrifying, unpredictable reality of deep space, he soon realizes that surviving this desperate solo suicide mission might require a whole lot more than just his own human ingenuity. Without giving away any of the unbelievable twists, thrilling discoveries, or incredible character dynamics that truly make this book so special, it is safe to say that his journey takes some deeply unexpected and heartwarming turns. Packed with authentic scientific problem-solving, genuine warmth, incredible heart, and constant suspense, "Project Hail Mary" is ultimately an inspiring celebration of human curiosity, resilience, friendship, and the extreme lengths we will go to save our planet. It is an unforgettable ride that keeps you completely hooked from the very first page all the way to the very last.

I know you'll enjoy this book, which is pictured here with Hayden's "Project Hail Mary" LEGO set, complete with a tiny Ryland Grace. Don't forget to check out my Instagram, @allison.the.reader, for more book-related fun.