Orbiting Jupiter

Orbiting Jupiter begins with dialogue from Mrs. Stroud, who describes Joseph’s unique background to the Hurd family. Her descriptions establish an air of mystery around Joseph that persists for much of the novel.

Throughout the novel, Mrs. Stroud provides exposition about Joseph’s case. Her role in the narrative is necessary due to Joseph’s reticent nature; for many reasons, Joseph is reluctant to speak about himself and his past, and Mrs. Stroud speaks for him.

This early scene also establishes Jack as a passive protagonist. Jack tells the story from his point-of-view, but he consistently focuses on Joseph’s journey rather than his own. As well, Jack is a naïve character, but he can be sparked toward action. For example, on the first page of the novel, Jack receives information that provokes his curiosity about Joseph. All three of the adults in the room—Mrs. Stroud, Mr. Hurd, and Mrs. Hurd—have information that Jack does not, but he soon catches up as he listens to and observes Joseph himself.

When Joseph enters Jack’s world, he is stoic and emotionally distant, but his past traumas are only just under the surface. His guarded manner contrasts with Jack’s family life, which is full of compassion and support. This difference in their temperaments establishes an emotional conflict between the two boys. Jack watches Joseph carefully as if studying him, while Joseph tries to remain an enigma to his new foster family. Rosie the cow facilitates Joseph’s connection with Jack; milking the cows becomes a regular chore for both boys, and they develop their friendship while working together.

Schmidt shows the growing relationship between Jack and Joseph through action rather than dialogue. For example, the connection between Jack and Joseph strengthens after Joseph’s conflict with Mr. Haskell, the bus driver. When Jack departs the bus with Joseph, he demonstrates his support for his foster brother. This gesture is pivotal to the journey of both boys, because Joseph will later admit that he has only ever felt supported by Maddie, the mother of Jupiter. Additionally, after Jack leaves the bus with Joseph, Joseph offers to carry some of Jack’s book on their walk to school. In this way, Joseph shows his fondness for Jack by sharing his load.

Faith is an important theme in Orbiting Jupiter. The physical church building, for example, brings Jack and Joseph closer together. On their walks to school, the boys throw rocks at the bell of the old First Congregational church. In this way, Jack and Joseph play with one another, signaling that Joseph is growing more comfortable with Jack.

As well, Joseph plays an unexpected role in Jack’s faith. As the narrator, Jack talks little about his personal religious views, but he acknowledges that he and his family are churchgoers. Joseph challenges the Hurd Sunday ritual in the first chapter after Jack admits that he has walked past the First Congregational church many times, but “never heard that bell ring before” (16). In other words, the ritual of churchgoing has always been a part of Jack’s life, but the teachings of his church do not resonate with him until Joseph arrives.

Foreshadowing is present in the novel’s first chapter. Schmidt introduces the Alliance River and the broken bridge that traverses the river. Several key scenes later in the novel are set at the river, which is a place of trauma for both Jack and Joseph. As well, the river is the location of Joseph’s death.