Source: Review copy sent by the publisher – thank you. Then I joined the Random Things blog tour.
Given that I have a minor obsession with books about the Space Race – we’re talking from the 1960s to the present day here, not the realms of SF – I was always going to want to read this novel, which follows one young woman who singlemindedly wants to join NASA and go to the moon – and back of course!
Last year, I read the fabulous Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which has big themes in common with Ramage’s debut. A young woman who will do anything to go into space, a dysfunctional family, and a queer love story. However, despite these similarities, the two novels are as chalk and cheese, as Atmosphere concentrates on Joan’s astronaut training and career, TTMAB is all about Steph’s journey to get to NASA. It’s not spoiling things to say that the NASA section is more of an extended coda to the novel.
In 1987 Steph’s mother Hannah, fled from her abusive husband with her two daughters, Steph, aged five, and her younger sister Kayla,. going to live in a Cherokee community in Oklahoma and embracing their heritage. Hannah meets Brett, who will become a surrogate father to the girls, and especially Steph sharing her love of astronomy and space obsession with her. Steph is determined to become the first Cherokee astronaut from a young age.
Steph narrates the first chapters of the story, until the last one in Part One, which is where we meet Della, who had been removed from her birth father under the Indian Welfare Act and adopted by a white couple – it had made the news big-time.
Part two begins in 2000, and Steph and Della meet at Hollis College in rural Connecticut, falling for each other instantly, and not taking too long to come out there (if not to family yet). They are part of a group of around a dozen Cherokee sponsored students. However, being Steph’s girlfriend is hard work as by now we know how single-minded she is about her ambition. Della, having been brought up in a white Christian family, is keener than Steph at exploring her heritage. Their relationship will have big ups, and big downs.
Meanwhile Kayla comes to visit, and manages to get pregnant at 19 by Jason, a Hawaiian. She is Steph’s total opposite in character, an Earth mother, activist and proud Cherokee, as well as being an influencer (@thatindigenousmama). As Della fades from the narrative, Kayla takes over. The sisters love each other, but Steph is aware that Kayla’s activism could waylay her candidacy for the space programme. There’s a fine line to tread for our would-be astronaut, but Ramage handles the sibling rivalry really well. Although Steph never loses sight of her ambition, Ramage does let her grow and come to terms with her heritage, particularly as Hannah ages and finally tells the repressed truth about how and why they ran.
At 431 pages in hardback, there is a lot to this novel. Twelve years in its gestation, Ramage has thrown everything into it, but blended these big themes well for the most part. There are some slower parts towards the end of the first half, but I was never going to stop reading. I had to follow Steph, as irritating as she can be, to see where she ends up. If you like a long and involved coming of age story you’ll love this book.
See the other stops on the blog tour below, and also reviews by Liz and Eleanor.
Eliana Ramage, To the Moon and Back – Doubleday, March 2026. 439 pages.
