Much of the appeal in Evelyn M. Exley’s The Warm Planet comes from its atmosphere, introspection, and emotional depth, not external action. It’s a rewarding read for those who enjoy character-driven fiction and stories built around memory and personal growth.

Tulsa is such a unique character, but then most of the people in this story are delightfully different from what readers find in most young adult novels. There’s Mookie, the woman who became a mother to two young girls when her sister died. Uncle Alex, the father figure for Tulsa and her sister, Treasure, is someone who has loved Mookie all these years, but she’s declined his every offer of marriage.