Lani and the Universe by Victoria Carless

Title: Lani and the Universe

Author: Victoria Carless

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: HarperCollins Australia

Published: 3^rd January 2024

Format: Paperback

Pages: 336

Price: $17.99

Synopsis: Lani Scrub has a plan: study hard and become a world-renowned scientist like her hero, Kit Galway, who wrote The Meaning of the Universe.

The plan is ruined when Lani’s mum decides to ‘find herself’ by joining a nature-loving community called Passing Waters.

Lani should have known things were up when they got backyard chickens.

At Passing Waters Lani fails every test thrown her way – despite coaching from nine-year-old nature kid Lentil and a chef/astronomer named Meadow.

Turns out failing is hard, and what’s worse is their tree change is making her question the meaning of the universe …

And when the community’s future is threatened, will Lani Scrub pitch in to save the day?

From the author of Gus and the Starlight comes an inspiring story about opening your mind and sharing your heart.

~*~

Lani Scrub likes school, and she has a plan – study hard so she can go to university and become a world-renowned scientist – just like her hero, astrophysicist Kit Galway, author of her favourite book The Meaning of the Universe. She’s just started year six and is getting ready to work on a project for the Junior Interschool Science Championship. But then, her mum throws a spanner in the works, and drags Lani off to a nature-loving community called Passing Waters to ‘find herself’ – the chooks in the backyard should have been a clue, right?

Lani doesn’t fit in at Passing Waters. The leader, Kevin, who looks like a wizard, thinks her aura is off. She’s used to order and structure at school, not the free for all that Skool at Passing Waters seems to be. Yet amidst this failure, two people trying to help Lani become her friends – Lentil, a nine-year-old nature kid who believes in everything Passing Waters stands for and chef/astronomer Meadow – whose story seems to be more than what she is letting on.

Lani doesn’t like failing, and she wants to go back to the certainty of school and science, Astrid and their plans, even though her dad is not always available. Soon, Lani starts to find a rhythm in her new life – much to her chagrin, and a threat to their community might force her to pitch in and save the day.

What can I say about this novel? Tree changes and sea changes are common as people try to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, especially with working from home set-ups these days. But for Lani, this means a total disconnect from the world – no technology, no hot chips and frozen yoghurt, no school and no Astrid. Passing Waters is a hippie commune – yet its leader, Kevin, was unsettling when I first met him. The way he presented himself and acted felt uneasy, as though he was hiding something or that he was perhaps trying to manipulate the Folk – in some ways it felt like he was very enthusiastic, or over the top about his beliefs – almost like a zealot. Like Lani, I didn’t like him much and I think she had a better read on him than he had on her and her aura, especially as the novel progressed and Lani found out about the threats to the Passing Waters community.

Kevin was just a small part of the story overall, and whilst there was something unsettling about him, the other characters were wonderful. I loved Meadow and Lentil – their patience with Lani, helping her find her way and learn how to be part of a different community, whilst still holding onto her beliefs and interest. It was her relationship with Meadow that I enjoyed the most because I felt they had the strongest connection based on their interest in science and astronomy, and I liked that it shone a light on the creativity and innovativeness within STEM beyond what Lani knows. It shows that there are always ways to do things as well, and how to embrace new ways of thinking and the power of finding friends and a community who really understand you and accept you. I found this aspect worked well – as the majority of the Folk were almost a foil to Kevin, or at least, more accepting than he was. I also think the way Victoria portrayed misunderstandings and coming into a new world was effective – it illustrated the culture shock anyone might feel when suddenly entering a place they’ve got no knowledge of, and the time it takes for people to adjust. I also liked the way she explored the concept of having heroes and the way people can let you down, whilst it is the people you least expect who will be there for you, and she did so in a meaningful way that I think readers will engage with.

Victoria Carless puts heart and soul into her novels, grappling with tough issues that can start a conversation or highlight different ways of living or doing things. This aspect made the book relatable and fun, ensuring that Lani’s world – both her worlds – were represented throughout the book, and I enjoyed this aspect. It also makes science accessible to kids who might just be discovering it, and makes it interesting for those who aren’t a big science fan whilst also reassuring readers that having different interests and goals is a good thing. And this is what I like about children’s books – they approach diversity in so many ways, and feature so many different topics and interests that there is sure to be something for any reader. I loved Lani and the Universe, and hope other readers fall in love with her too.