Hot Sale Rayana Johnson’s Giant Leap

A hilarious and heartfelt middle-grade novel about a STEM loving Black girl finding her place in the universe again after news of her parents divorceand her first periodknocks her out of orbit.

Rayana Johnson always thought that turning thirteen would mean being old enough to stay home alone, go on her first date, and attend Galaxy Camp, a sleepaway camp thats all about her true passionspace exploration. But when she learns that her parents on the verge of a divorce, Ray quickly learns there is more to growing up than one thinks.

Instead of having a blast on flight simulators and multi-axis trainers, and learning of what it takes to explore the stars, Rays mind is stuck on Earth, wondering why her parents are keeping their divorce a secret from her. And even worse, puberty throws her the ultimate curveballshe has her first period, and her friends and counselors wont take her pain seriously.

In the span of just a few days, Rays gone from having total certainty in her universe, to barely being able to count on anythingnot her parents marriage, not Galaxy Camp, and not even her own body. Will she ever feel grounded again, or is the rest of her life destined to be as nebulous as the Milky Way?

Jill Tewwas destined for speculative-fiction nerddom from childhood. She grew up watchingFarscapeandXena, and always had the latest copy of Animorphs tucked in her backpack. Now she writes the kinds of stories she loved as a kid, with characters she wanted to see more of Black heroes asking big questions and saving the world (or at least, their little corner of it). A recovering business school graduate, Jill enjoys belting show tunes and baking in her spare time. She lives in Atlanta with her family.

• Publisher: Freedom Fire
• Publish Date: April 21, 2026
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• Type: Hardcover
• EAN/UPC: 9781368104760
• Dimensions: 8.3 X 5.5 X 0.0 inches | 0.75 pounds
• BISAC Categories: Kids