I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this at all. There were plenty of "awww" moments, a decent story and a hawt lead male :)
I would also be lying if I said I just absolutely loved this. There were plenty of cheese-tastic moments, a love triangle and an immaturity that was difficult to deal with at times. To a point it was hard to read a main character who was so undecided and committed to keeping secrets about herself.

Spoilers ahead:

Annie is a shy girl. She has been with Mark for 2 years now and doesn't really think she is in love with him. She has a deep dark secret.... she wants to write poetry!!! Yep, that's some pretty scary stuff there. She lives in Texas near the NASA headquarters. Her communiy is a space community. She gets to meet Christa McAuliffe, the teacher who is going into space and she inspires Annie to just be the best "you" she can be. Annie talks her dad into taking her to see the launch Christa is in. He just happens to bring along some eye-candy in Tommy. Their car breaks down and Annie and Tommy get a ride to a hotel while the dad stays behind to get the car fixed... yep, you read that right. Quality parenting. Book parents at their best. UGGGHHH.

Anywho, so there is definitely a connection between Tommy and Annie. The Launch keeps getting delayed to they get to spend tons of time together. They go to Disney World and the beach. They eat together, etc. There is a ton of "tension".

Ultimately, Annie gets to see the launch. It is not the joyous occasion she had been hoping for. A deep sadness fills her.
She dumps boyfriend, get's over her grief, writes poems, gets a new boyfriend and decides to go to college.
(and it really bothers me that said boyfriend is going to wind up going to college in Virginia and follow her)

Not sure who I would rec this to. It's not bad, maybe just a little young for me. I can see lots of high-school girls really swooning over this one. I think people who are interested in NASA/Space, who also want a love story that is light and fluffy, not boggled down with NASA details will like this.

3 stars

It's 1985 in Houston, Texas and high school senior Annie has a secret. She wants to be a poet. Only, she's having a hard time admitting that to anyone, even to herself. What kind of living can you make being a poet? It seems an impossible dream. So Annie's stuck. While her best friend is going off to college next year and her boyfriend Mark wants her to stay in town and marry him, Annie is frozen by indecision. And then she meets Christa McCauliffe, an ordinary high school teacher who was chosen from thousands of applicants to go into space on the Challenger. Suddenly, Annie has a glimmer of hope. If this ordinary teacher can reach for her dreams, why can't Annie?

This is a realistic portrayal of a teen facing her senior year of high school and the seemingly impossible future that stretches out beyond. Jenny Moss does a good job of capturing the time period with details and her author's note is a very nice addition. I only wish that there had been more showing of Annie's emotions and reactions, rather than telling.

More on the blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2010/12/taking-off.html ( )