Number seven is exploring a strange New World. They fall into a gem cave awaken two weeks later. A new astronomer has been sent to that location as Astronmer 7 was not “found”. Now seven and eight are there trying to figure out what happened and where seven was for 2 1/2 weeks. They eventually figure out that it’s stress and that a crystal found by seven sends someone into the “oatmeal”. The oatmeal is between space-time, so it feels like instant. Like a warm hug. But it’s actually taking you through time. Eventually the astronomer, seven and eight end up with as many as 16 astronomers in a quest to put the crystal back, and discover more about the planet, in which they are inhabiting. This was a fun, middle grade book. There are a few extra stories in the end, each done with different illustrators, and writers that give a different feel to the main story. Overall I did like this but it was a tad long.