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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
3.5/5
Definitely go for audio version. Reading this would not have been as fun since they are transcripts of video recordings, and the actors, especially the young man playing Alex, are excellent.
A sweet story, if a bit fantastical in the sense the Alex is 11 (13 in responsibility years) and goes on unsupervised adventures and meets adults who do not seem concerned about this. But hey, it's a story.
Definitely go for audio version. Reading this would not have been as fun since they are transcripts of video recordings, and the actors, especially the young man playing Alex, are excellent.
A sweet story, if a bit fantastical in the sense the Alex is 11 (13 in responsibility years) and goes on unsupervised adventures and meets adults who do not seem concerned about this. But hey, it's a story.
Sucked me in straight away.
Comical, clever author
3.5 stars
Comical, clever author
3.5 stars
Will do boom talk later but initial thoughts is this book is just too cute and too much needed in these times.
https://thequeenreads.wordpress.com/2020/07/02/queens-book-talk-see-you-in-the-cosmos-by-jack-cheng/
https://thequeenreads.wordpress.com/2020/07/02/queens-book-talk-see-you-in-the-cosmos-by-jack-cheng/
I'm wavering between two stars and one....
This was a story that I just wanted to finish so I could move on. While I could appreciate the adventurous nature of the main character, his lack of social awareness was a huge red flag. That lack of awareness just made me sick to my stomach as he ventured into really uncomfortable situations with adults on several different fronts. I mean, he was lucky that all the adults he encountered ended up helping him in some way....but it was just sketchy.
The last-third-of-the-story reveal about Alex's mom just seemed like a filler. I didn't care for most of the secondary characters and I found Alex's stream of consciousness repetition annoying. I found myself wondering if Alex, too, had a diagnosis that someone should be looking into in order to get him some help. Unfortunately for him, there was no competent adults left to help him out.
This was a story that I just wanted to finish so I could move on. While I could appreciate the adventurous nature of the main character, his lack of social awareness was a huge red flag. That lack of awareness just made me sick to my stomach as he ventured into really uncomfortable situations with adults on several different fronts. I mean, he was lucky that all the adults he encountered ended up helping him in some way....but it was just sketchy.
The last-third-of-the-story reveal about Alex's mom just seemed like a filler. I didn't care for most of the secondary characters and I found Alex's stream of consciousness repetition annoying. I found myself wondering if Alex, too, had a diagnosis that someone should be looking into in order to get him some help. Unfortunately for him, there was no competent adults left to help him out.
Adorable, precocious narrator? Check.
Lovable canine companion? Check.
Wacky road trip that takes unexpected turns? Check.
A family secret discovered? Check.
A cast of quirky supporting characters? Check.
I have seen every major element of this middle grade novel's plot before. What sets it apart is the style - the entire book is like a transcript of audio recordings. Ironically, I did not think the audiobook was good. The format required the narrators to not just narrate but act. The main narrator (who sounded like an actual kid) did a good job, but the other narrators... not so much. My theory is that they were never in a room together but recorded their parts separately, so the interactions didn't sound real. The recording won an AudioFile Earphones Award, so I suppose I'm the minority opinion on this. I generally dislike "full cast" style audiobooks. Still, I love the idea of it and I think kids will like it and it could be a great listen for a family road trip.
It's hard for me to let go and enjoy books like this because I find myself keeping a checklist of every cliche. At the same time I recognize that this book has a lot of heart and will connect with a lot of readers. Alex is over-the-top naive for an 11-year-old sometimes, but dang it if he isn't super cute. His singular preoccupation with rocket science (especially Carl Sagan and the Jodie Foster movie Contact) lent the book a nice science hook and provide the conceit for the format: Alex is making a "golden iPod" recording to send to aliens to explain life on Earth. This theme sort of mashes with the family theme. Alex is suddenly inspired to go find his long dead father after he discovers on Ancestry.com that he might be alive after all. It's a bit inelegant, but it makes for a packed story. Even with Alex summing up the story way too many times, it still flies by.
Lovable canine companion? Check.
Wacky road trip that takes unexpected turns? Check.
A family secret discovered? Check.
A cast of quirky supporting characters? Check.
I have seen every major element of this middle grade novel's plot before. What sets it apart is the style - the entire book is like a transcript of audio recordings. Ironically, I did not think the audiobook was good. The format required the narrators to not just narrate but act. The main narrator (who sounded like an actual kid) did a good job, but the other narrators... not so much. My theory is that they were never in a room together but recorded their parts separately, so the interactions didn't sound real. The recording won an AudioFile Earphones Award, so I suppose I'm the minority opinion on this. I generally dislike "full cast" style audiobooks. Still, I love the idea of it and I think kids will like it and it could be a great listen for a family road trip.
It's hard for me to let go and enjoy books like this because I find myself keeping a checklist of every cliche. At the same time I recognize that this book has a lot of heart and will connect with a lot of readers. Alex is over-the-top naive for an 11-year-old sometimes, but dang it if he isn't super cute. His singular preoccupation with rocket science (especially Carl Sagan and the Jodie Foster movie Contact) lent the book a nice science hook and provide the conceit for the format: Alex is making a "golden iPod" recording to send to aliens to explain life on Earth. This theme sort of mashes with the family theme. Alex is suddenly inspired to go find his long dead father after he discovers on Ancestry.com that he might be alive after all. It's a bit inelegant, but it makes for a packed story. Even with Alex summing up the story way too many times, it still flies by.
Great audiobook! This is definitely one to listen to rather than read.
I listen to the audiobook for this and it was fabulous. The story was fairly episodic: a lot happened and I felt like it could have happened more seamlessly. However, I have a huge soft spot for books about kids who love science. And so I love this book!
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Families come in all shapes and sizes, a lesson learned by Alex as he makes his way to a rocket convention with his dog, Carl Sagan. Along the way he finds friends and family that help him as much as he helps them, and he learns that the ties that bind are not always the ones you expect.
I highly recommend this for 7th and up. I wish I could recommend for 6th in the classroom, but there are a few scenes that allude to some mature situations. A 6th grader would certainly be able to read this (and most would enjoy, I think), but as an IR book.
I highly recommend this for 7th and up. I wish I could recommend for 6th in the classroom, but there are a few scenes that allude to some mature situations. A 6th grader would certainly be able to read this (and most would enjoy, I think), but as an IR book.