Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Poetic moments shine through story about loss and race.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE PROBABILITY OF EVERYTHING, 11-year-old Kemi Carter awakens to the possibility that the world will end. An asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, with a very high chance of eliminating life as Kemi knows it. She's good at calculating odds, so she's certain that everything will change forever when AMPLUS-68 crashes. So she decides to find a way to help everyone in her family memorialize their time together. With the help of her siblings and cousins, she organizes a project that will make a difference for them in the face of impending doom. But her dad's contribution is difficult to pin down. Can she help find a way to keep his memory alive after the inevitable apocalypse occurs?
Is It Any Good?
Get to the end of this sometimes messy, grim-premised story to find a real treasure that lies in its graceful closing chapters. It's not a book that neatly sets up an eloquent ending -- some readers may be left wanting a more subtle and artful approach -- but when the ending comes, it's breathtaking. The Probability of Everything delivers impactful messages about family, race, and loss, from the unique lens of the main character's individual experience. "Wait for it..." definitely applies to this novel. This is a brave, creative look into the effects of racism and hatred. Families and children who've experienced loss will want to brace themselves for sad truths that could feel overwhelming. But a ray of hope shines through in the message that a loving family and true friends can pull a person through the darkest of times.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how curiosity drives Kemi to pursue a time-capsule project in The Probability of Everything. What does Kemi hope to accomplish with her project? What does she actually accomplish?
One way to think about the character strength of integrity is to think about holding your head up high -- to love who you are -- no matter what anyone says. How does Kemi's family exhibit integrity? Why is it important to the story?
How does Kemi deal with grief and loss? Is she able to face it head on, or does she need distraction? Why do people need coping mechanisms when things are difficult?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Activism , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , STEM
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Curiosity , Integrity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion Books
- Publication date : June 27, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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