The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers

A short stopover at a small planetary dome is prolonged for three travelers during a communications and travel outage. At least there’s a garden, a friendly host, and her tween child. How strangers from four species cope during their extended stay makes for an enjoyable, heartwarming read. The dome reminds me of a family run motel. All of the travelers are anxious at being delayed and out of contact, worried about missing an important event on their home planet, a rendezvous with a lover, or just their crewmate sibling. Tupo, the child of host Ouloo, steals most of their scenes; enthusiastic, curious, clumsy, and adorable. A sure bet for readers of this award-winning series, and a good entry point for anyone looking for a feel-good science fiction novel, to be published on April 20. Earlier books by Chambers include The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and Records of a Spaceborn Few.

Brenda