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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
What a sweet book to start off 2018! I picked up See You in the Cosmos on a whim while browsing a bookstore and I'm glad I did. See You in the Cosmos is primarily a character-driven novel, but unlike most character-driven novels, this one is also a quick and easy read - I finished it in one afternoon. The humour is spot on, the characters are so lovable, and all in all a sweet premise. Although it echoes Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (what a compliment that is!) it is a little less serious and I think an interesting modern take on similar problems. Would recommend for any reader with a young heart and sense of humour.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A story rich in genuine characters if sometimes the events strain credibility. The audio is excellent. Normally, I don't go for clever gadgetry in audio books, but the text of the book, solely written as audio files, all in dialogue, allowed for a captivating radio drama.
A great middle grades read. A young boy with great enthusiasm for anything space related struggles with big questions, how can I be brave? What is the truth? What is family? He has a lot to deal with for an 11 year old (responsibility age of 13) which he does with such a happy outlook. What a charming book, just loved this little guy.
This is a different type of story told from Alex’s recordings from the golden iPod that is destined for space. As the reality of mental health issues and a family struggles to survive.
5 stars for the audiobook, 3 stars for the story thus the only logical solution is 4 stars overall! stunning
I'm sorry to everyone who loved this, but the writing style was atrocious. It was also depressing, and much heavier than I expected from a middle grade novel (alcohol, sexual innuendos, domestic violence, mental illness, child abandonment). This was almost a DNF, but the switch to Terra's perspective after Alex's accident was enough of a refresh to keep me interested.
What messages would you send to life outside our planet? Eleven year old Alex is making a recording on his "golden ipod" of things to share with life on other planets. His golden ipod is fashioned after Alex's hero Carl Sagan's golden record that was sent out on a Voyager space mission. Alex's story is told through his recordings. Some of Alex's wonderings include how many senses the extraterrestrial life may have - could it be more than 5 like we have?
Alex wants to launch his golden ipod with a rocket he built. He take a train and travels to New Mexico to launch his rocket at the SHARF - the Southwest High-Altitude Rocket Festival. Little does he know that his adventure will take him beyond New Mexico. He makes friends along the way who help him discover more about himself and the world around him. You'll laugh as you read silly space riddles (such as How does an astronaut cut his hair on the moon? ...Eclipse it), wonder about the world (such as what do words really mean - like the word dad, love, truth, and bravery), and cry along with Alex's disappointments.
5th grade, middle school - some tough topics - parents' depression/mental illness, - pair with the Train I Ride
Alex wants to launch his golden ipod with a rocket he built. He take a train and travels to New Mexico to launch his rocket at the SHARF - the Southwest High-Altitude Rocket Festival. Little does he know that his adventure will take him beyond New Mexico. He makes friends along the way who help him discover more about himself and the world around him. You'll laugh as you read silly space riddles (such as How does an astronaut cut his hair on the moon? ...Eclipse it), wonder about the world (such as what do words really mean - like the word dad, love, truth, and bravery), and cry along with Alex's disappointments.
5th grade, middle school - some tough topics - parents' depression/mental illness, - pair with the Train I Ride
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
I had this audiobook on my radar for awhile but I kept putting it off for one reason or another. But, once I started it, I mean really early on even, I knew that this one was gonna hurt me all the good and horrible ways a great book does.
So, I did the audio book and I'd be interested to see how the tangible book is set up style wise. For the audiobook, it's more like a full production. You have different people for different characters, sure, but you also get some background noise, like sounds of cooking in the kitchen or raining in the desert etc. It's very cool how involved the whole thing is.
Our MC is Alex and he is super into science and space. He's actually working on building a rocket ship that can reach Mars and he wants to attach his golden iPod to it full of voice memos he's created for other life forms. Which, is how our story gets started. Each chapter is a voice recording for the iPod. In the beginning Alex and his dog, Carl Sagan, are on their way to New Mexico for a rocket festival in the desert but they end up finding a lot more than expected. We end up with a quirky cast of characters that all come together to help Alex, not just with his rocket but with life itself because Alex has found his 'Maybe Dad' and maybe he can answer some questions for Alex too.
There is a ton of layering happening in this book. Stuff that are clearly flags, but Alex only being 11- isn't picking up on it all. His home life isn't perfect. He's mom has a lot of "quiet" days and it seems like Alex takes care of her more than she takes care of him. His older brother Ronnie left home years ago and went to LA. Ronnie sends money home to his mom and brother but he is super detached from them both and what's actually going on with his family.We also find Terra, who is Alexs' half sister. And at first while she'll working through her own feelings about finding a brother she didn't know she had she asks Alex not to use the word sister and for a large chunk of the book he refers to her instead as 'My Terra' and honestly it's so fucking sweet.
Zedd and Steve are two other characters we meet along the way. Zedd is wonderful. Steve is okay. Often icky, but eventually finds his way to being a decent guy/character. When Alex meets Zedd, he has taken a vow of silence so when Alex talks to him you can hear the chalk scratching on the portable blackboard Zedd carries. And though he doesn't talk for some time, he laughs and Alex and his childhood innocence makes him laugh a lot. And, that's wonderful too.
I know, that Ronnie made a lot of development in his character arch, but by the end of the book I still still wasn't completely won over. And, I was a little bummed that Terra didn't get to stay with them either, but I understand why.
Also, I loved the writing in general. Like, how Alex says he's looking for a man and woman who are in love to record for his recordings for outer space but seeing as it's the 21st century he should also find a man in love with a man and a woman in love with a woman. And, "Steve, do you know any lesbians?" 😂 I love it. It's not something that we ever double back to or dig into deeper it is simply the fact that we recognize it's the 21st freaking century and it's a normal thing.
So, I did the audio book and I'd be interested to see how the tangible book is set up style wise. For the audiobook, it's more like a full production. You have different people for different characters, sure, but you also get some background noise, like sounds of cooking in the kitchen or raining in the desert etc. It's very cool how involved the whole thing is.
Our MC is Alex and he is super into science and space. He's actually working on building a rocket ship that can reach Mars and he wants to attach his golden iPod to it full of voice memos he's created for other life forms. Which, is how our story gets started. Each chapter is a voice recording for the iPod. In the beginning Alex and his dog, Carl Sagan, are on their way to New Mexico for a rocket festival in the desert but they end up finding a lot more than expected. We end up with a quirky cast of characters that all come together to help Alex, not just with his rocket but with life itself because Alex has found his 'Maybe Dad' and maybe he can answer some questions for Alex too.
There is a ton of layering happening in this book. Stuff that are clearly flags, but Alex only being 11- isn't picking up on it all. His home life isn't perfect. He's mom has a lot of "quiet" days and it seems like Alex takes care of her more than she takes care of him. His older brother Ronnie left home years ago and went to LA. Ronnie sends money home to his mom and brother but he is super detached from them both and what's actually going on with his family.
Zedd and Steve are two other characters we meet along the way. Zedd is wonderful. Steve is okay. Often icky, but eventually finds his way to being a decent guy/character. When Alex meets Zedd, he has taken a vow of silence so when Alex talks to him you can hear the chalk scratching on the portable blackboard Zedd carries. And though he doesn't talk for some time, he laughs and Alex and his childhood innocence makes him laugh a lot. And, that's wonderful too.
I know, that Ronnie made a lot of development in his character arch, but by the end of the book I still still wasn't completely won over. And, I was a little bummed that Terra didn't get to stay with them either, but I understand why.
Also, I loved the writing in general. Like, how Alex says he's looking for a man and woman who are in love to record for his recordings for outer space but seeing as it's the 21st century he should also find a man in love with a man and a woman in love with a woman. And, "Steve, do you know any lesbians?" 😂 I love it. It's not something that we ever double back to or dig into deeper it is simply the fact that we recognize it's the 21st freaking century and it's a normal thing.