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sophiekingo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
thebookwormsfeast's review against another edition
4.0
Some people say everything began with a Big Bang, but for me, that's the last thing I really remember.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this book, truth be told. Endings like that always conflict me, and at the beginning, I wasn't feeling it too much. But this story is so different from anything I've personally read before - and it did keep me guessing as to what had happened.
Maisie wakes up on her 10th birthday to find her house empty, and a gaping black void outside - but also Maisie wakes up on her 10th birthday and everything is like it always was. The two contrasting days play out side by side, often interwoven, as the book marches on to provide you with the answers.
There are bits I liked, and bits I really didn't. But overall, it was a story I wanted to know the ending to and grew on me more and more as I read on.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this book, truth be told. Endings like that always conflict me, and at the beginning, I wasn't feeling it too much. But this story is so different from anything I've personally read before - and it did keep me guessing as to what had happened.
Maisie wakes up on her 10th birthday to find her house empty, and a gaping black void outside - but also Maisie wakes up on her 10th birthday and everything is like it always was. The two contrasting days play out side by side, often interwoven, as the book marches on to provide you with the answers.
There are bits I liked, and bits I really didn't. But overall, it was a story I wanted to know the ending to and grew on me more and more as I read on.
klhtet's review against another edition
3.0
Unexpected twist, but then I don't know what to expect in the first place. Although the first half was pretty boring and uninteresting, I love how the turn of events makes the story more dynamic afterwards. It undeniably makes me question reality or what I thought my reality.
Strongly recommended if you have a curious kid at home. Let them read and understand the universe a little bit more or better yet, read together and create a fun family time.
Strongly recommended if you have a curious kid at home. Let them read and understand the universe a little bit more or better yet, read together and create a fun family time.
lucbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
elanna76's review against another edition
4.0
This short novel triumphantly crosses the line between children', YA and adult literature, placing itself comfortably in the numerous yet selected company of my favourite books. A compelling reading with a powerful ending. I appreciated the treatment of the relationship between the two sisters, two well-rounded and believable characters whose conflict never flattens into tipical clichés of children's and YA literature. I cried my share, I marvelled at the sci-fi element, and I liked a lot the way physics' concepts are introduced, although sometimes I felt the author was stretching and over-simplifying science a bit in order to make the topic palatable to younger readers. I am no scientist myself, however, so I may be wrong. All in all it was a very pleasant read. Now I want to give try to the author's other books.
librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition
2.0
Maisie wakes up on the morning of her 10th birthday to find herself alone and an encroaching black void outside her house. Maisie wakes up on the morning of her 10th birthday to find everything as it should be, with party preparations underway.
Told in alternating chapters, Maisie experiences two different realities & struggles to discover what is going on.
What I loved: having a 10-year-old girl genius as the lead in a story full of math and science. The plot revolves around some complex, mind-bending concepts and also a complex sibling relationship.
What I didn’t love: the random sexual harassment scene about 3/4 of the way in. A nameless boy on a bicycle wolf whistles & demands Maisie’s sister Lily smile, and eventually she smile/grimaces at him to get him to leave, which he does while muttering something at her. Because...why?? It’s just dropped in there with nothing connecting it to the rest of the story. True, every woman I know has a story like that, but we need that crap to STOP HAPPENING. So why put it in a story for tweens when the resolution does nothing to teach girls how to stand up for themselves or boys how to NOT sexually harass anyone?! Did Christopher Edge miss hearing about the #MeToo movement, or did he intend to do something more to develop that subplot but forgot, or...? It’s pissing me off so much, my rating is dropping from 4 to 2 stars.
To be fair, my copy is an ARC I received at ALA Midwinter a year and a half ago & took an insanely long time to get around to reading, so I guess it’s possible the final version that was published is different?? The book is very short, so there isn’t time to develop much of anything.
Told in alternating chapters, Maisie experiences two different realities & struggles to discover what is going on.
What I loved: having a 10-year-old girl genius as the lead in a story full of math and science. The plot revolves around some complex, mind-bending concepts and also a complex sibling relationship.
What I didn’t love: the random sexual harassment scene about 3/4 of the way in. A nameless boy on a bicycle wolf whistles & demands Maisie’s sister Lily smile, and eventually she smile/grimaces at him to get him to leave, which he does while muttering something at her. Because...why?? It’s just dropped in there with nothing connecting it to the rest of the story. True, every woman I know has a story like that, but we need that crap to STOP HAPPENING. So why put it in a story for tweens when the resolution does nothing to teach girls how to stand up for themselves or boys how to NOT sexually harass anyone?! Did Christopher Edge miss hearing about the #MeToo movement, or did he intend to do something more to develop that subplot but forgot, or...? It’s pissing me off so much, my rating is dropping from 4 to 2 stars.
To be fair, my copy is an ARC I received at ALA Midwinter a year and a half ago & took an insanely long time to get around to reading, so I guess it’s possible the final version that was published is different?? The book is very short, so there isn’t time to develop much of anything.
mbenzz's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a crazy little story! When we meet Masie, she's just woken up on the morning of her 10th birthday. However, the chapters alternate between two different realities....one where she's home with her Mom, Dad and sister Lily, and another where she's home alone in a place that LOOKS like her house, but seems to be in the middle of a black abyss.
This book would be perfect for children who enjoy science and the ways of the universe. Kids who have an interest in physics and alternate realities. The ending was satisfying if not just a bit confusing...which reality is real? Is the ending real-life, or is it just another version of what 'could-have been'? I hope it was real life, because Masie deserves a wonderful birthday. Regardless, I really enjoyed this book. Definitely recommend for middle-grade readers.
**I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
This book would be perfect for children who enjoy science and the ways of the universe. Kids who have an interest in physics and alternate realities. The ending was satisfying if not just a bit confusing...which reality is real? Is the ending real-life, or is it just another version of what 'could-have been'? I hope it was real life, because Masie deserves a wonderful birthday. Regardless, I really enjoyed this book. Definitely recommend for middle-grade readers.
**I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Clever logic-bending maths-heavy children's sci-fi... you don't say that very often!
I didn't know what I was in for, and even for much of this, I still didn't appreciate the astuteness of this. This really is a very intelligent science/maths story for children, and one bright children will relish.
Those who aren't keen on maths may lose interest early on, but if it hits a nerve, they are in for a cerebral treat with Maisie, the birthday girl in for a rough day...
Maisie is a very uncommon girl, adroit at mathematics and building a nuclear reactor, she is hoping for parts as birthday gifts. In one plotline, we follow the progress of her day. In another, Maisie wakes up also on her birthday, but is alone in her house and outside of it is literally nothing... blackness.
I was puzzled, intrigued. And not at all disappointed as the plotlines continued towards a great ending. The science/maths of the book is not overly tricky but even if a reader didn't follow it, the main ideas are within reach.
The narrator is a mature female actor, but the voice sounded spot on for a pre-adolescent girl, she was well-suited to the character of Maisie. The only time the audiobook grated on me was in the 'nowhere' storyline as Maisie panics and the shrillness of the voice was a little annoying.
It's very short (only 3 hours to listen to) but like nothing I've read before, and certainly unique amongst children's books. There is juvenile fiction with similar protagonists but not a story like this one. I'll look forward to listening to it with my son (aged 7) when he's older.
I would say ages 9-14 are the ideal age range for this.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
I didn't know what I was in for, and even for much of this, I still didn't appreciate the astuteness of this. This really is a very intelligent science/maths story for children, and one bright children will relish.
Those who aren't keen on maths may lose interest early on, but if it hits a nerve, they are in for a cerebral treat with Maisie, the birthday girl in for a rough day...
Maisie is a very uncommon girl, adroit at mathematics and building a nuclear reactor, she is hoping for parts as birthday gifts. In one plotline, we follow the progress of her day. In another, Maisie wakes up also on her birthday, but is alone in her house and outside of it is literally nothing... blackness.
I was puzzled, intrigued. And not at all disappointed as the plotlines continued towards a great ending. The science/maths of the book is not overly tricky but even if a reader didn't follow it, the main ideas are within reach.
The narrator is a mature female actor, but the voice sounded spot on for a pre-adolescent girl, she was well-suited to the character of Maisie. The only time the audiobook grated on me was in the 'nowhere' storyline as Maisie panics and the shrillness of the voice was a little annoying.
It's very short (only 3 hours to listen to) but like nothing I've read before, and certainly unique amongst children's books. There is juvenile fiction with similar protagonists but not a story like this one. I'll look forward to listening to it with my son (aged 7) when he's older.
I would say ages 9-14 are the ideal age range for this.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
lmn9812's review against another edition
This is a fabulously moving book which is ultimately about the relationship between sisters. Christopher Edge's trademark prose shines through in this beautiful, yet gripping, imagining of a universe which seems to be imploding. With an emotional kick that made me weep, and characters that are multi-layered and interestingly written, this book is a must read for everyone who likes middle grade fiction PARTICULARLY if science is your thing!
vickylovesreading's review against another edition
3.0
This was a compelling and interesting read with themes of physics and parallel universes. It's too old for my current class, though a couple have tried to pick it up. They like the sprayed edges and the fancy cover.