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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Okay, this book was super charming and the audio edition is very well done. Definitely recommend!
The full cast audio of this book is really well done! I loved Alex’s story and his love for his dog, his passion for all things space and Carl Sagan (also the name of his dog), his love for his mom and his friends. Alex’s story is tough, but he’s so lovable that people can’t help but help him out.
Sometimes I felt like Alex was a bit too young for this story. And the format of the voice memos was not my favorite.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
This book broke my heart in so many ways. I love how Alex sees the world. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
"I wonder what you're going to think when you listen to these recordings, when you hear the sounds of a boy from planet Earth trying to be brave and a boy trying to find the truth and a boy who loves his family and his friends and his dog that he named after his hero.”
Okay, this book was adorable. It's written so wonderfully, and in such a unique way that it catches your attention and sucks you in. The author wrote it so that Alex, an eleven-year-old (and eight months) has made voice recordings on his iPod and each chapter is the transcript of that recording, even going as far as to ay how long the recording is. Naming the chapters as "New recording 1 6M 19S" which is also very adorable.
I can't tell you guys how much I love Carl Sagan, he's such a cry baby and I couldn't help but picture him as the dog from Up but less brave. He was such a beautiful character and I was so upset when he went missing, I literally despised Steve for losing him. I couldn't shake the feeling that he had done it on purpose, but he turned out to be a loyal friend which is good. Alex was such an adorably innocent character, you couldn't help but love him. He was so confused about periods, and he would explain things for any aliens that might be listening to his recordings, and overall he was just a small boy with a dream and I really love the character. He's so innocent looking after his mother and his dog and himself and I don't know, he's just pure.
This was such a quick and fun read, I'm probably going to end up rereading it. I really enjoyed it.
Okay, this book was adorable. It's written so wonderfully, and in such a unique way that it catches your attention and sucks you in. The author wrote it so that Alex, an eleven-year-old (and eight months) has made voice recordings on his iPod and each chapter is the transcript of that recording, even going as far as to ay how long the recording is. Naming the chapters as "New recording 1 6M 19S" which is also very adorable.
I can't tell you guys how much I love Carl Sagan, he's such a cry baby and I couldn't help but picture him as the dog from Up but less brave. He was such a beautiful character and I was so upset when he went missing, I literally despised Steve for losing him. I couldn't shake the feeling that he had done it on purpose, but he turned out to be a loyal friend which is good. Alex was such an adorably innocent character, you couldn't help but love him. He was so confused about periods, and he would explain things for any aliens that might be listening to his recordings, and overall he was just a small boy with a dream and I really love the character. He's so innocent looking after his mother and his dog and himself and I don't know, he's just pure.
This was such a quick and fun read, I'm probably going to end up rereading it. I really enjoyed it.
An interesting take on the journal/diary format, Alex records his journey on a golden iPod to a rocket convention with his dog, Carl Sagan. Making interesting friends along the way he takes a detour on his trip back home after the convention when he thinks his supposedly deceased dad is living in Las Vegas.
I definitely felt like this was just a three star for me, but the last 2/3rds were filled with so much heart. The first 100 pages were a little bit of a drag and as cute as Alex is overall as a character, it was hard to read the rambling commentary of an 11-year-old boy. The story picked up once Alex and the gang head to Las Vegas. Overall this was a solid debut and sweet story that dealt with more than I thought this little spacey adventure would.
I definitely felt like this was just a three star for me, but the last 2/3rds were filled with so much heart. The first 100 pages were a little bit of a drag and as cute as Alex is overall as a character, it was hard to read the rambling commentary of an 11-year-old boy. The story picked up once Alex and the gang head to Las Vegas. Overall this was a solid debut and sweet story that dealt with more than I thought this little spacey adventure would.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
I loved this book so much. I love that the main character was biracial. I love that it was incredibly geeky and STEM-positive. I love the epistolary format of the novel, which is one of my favorite storytelling techniques. I love that the book tackled some really adult issues, trusting that the target audience is mature enough to understand things like mental illness and infidelity.
But most of all, I love Alex, the precocious and charming 11-year-old (but 13 in responsibility years!) protagonist. He sets off with the goal of firing a homemade rocket into space, and has been recording messages to aliens on his iPod, which he plans on attaching to the rocket. After his rocket fails, he continues using his iPod to record messages. Alex is optimistic, resourceful, independent, and frighteningly naive. His best friend is his dog, Carl Sagan, who he named after his hero.
The book spans his trip from Colorado to Albuquerque for the Southwest High-Altitude Rocket Festival (SHARF), and then to Las Vegas, and then Los Angeles, before returning home to Colorado. He makes friends and finds out family secrets along the way, and in the end is forced to confront some hard truths about his life.
I won't lie -- I was crying by the end of the book. I wanted to give Alex (all the characters, really, but especially Alex) the biggest hug -- what he would call a "real hug".
This book reminded me of <i>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</i> because of the young unreliable narrator, and having to read between the lines to figure out just what was going on.
But most of all, I love Alex, the precocious and charming 11-year-old (but 13 in responsibility years!) protagonist. He sets off with the goal of firing a homemade rocket into space, and has been recording messages to aliens on his iPod, which he plans on attaching to the rocket. After his rocket fails, he continues using his iPod to record messages. Alex is optimistic, resourceful, independent, and frighteningly naive. His best friend is his dog, Carl Sagan, who he named after his hero.
The book spans his trip from Colorado to Albuquerque for the Southwest High-Altitude Rocket Festival (SHARF), and then to Las Vegas, and then Los Angeles, before returning home to Colorado. He makes friends and finds out family secrets along the way, and in the end is forced to confront some hard truths about his life.
I won't lie -- I was crying by the end of the book. I wanted to give Alex (all the characters, really, but especially Alex) the biggest hug -- what he would call a "real hug".
This book reminded me of <i>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</i> because of the young unreliable narrator, and having to read between the lines to figure out just what was going on.
A good book with great narration. I really enjoyed the science involved.
4.5
Alex, the resiliency at the age is unmatched. For being in such difficult circumstances, mentally he manage to dissociate from that. His love for space really was a coping mechanism from the life he was living at home. A beautiful read.
Alex, the resiliency at the age is unmatched. For being in such difficult circumstances, mentally he manage to dissociate from that. His love for space really was a coping mechanism from the life he was living at home. A beautiful read.