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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
** Books 06 - 2018 **
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2018
3 of 5 stars!
I dunno why but the story is kinda good enough for me and so so. I am not really entertained with this pieces. Somehow Alex too mature for his age and the problem solving about disappearance Carl Sagan is so so. I recommend this one if you love Astronomy and aerospace stuff since so many things related. The books is good enough but it is not memorable one for me.
When i saw this Hardcover edition with only IDR 119.000 i just directly brought into cashier and it makes me happy since i'm member and got more addition Discount 10%. It is so cheap! >_<
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2018
3 of 5 stars!
I dunno why but the story is kinda good enough for me and so so. I am not really entertained with this pieces. Somehow Alex too mature for his age and the problem solving about disappearance Carl Sagan is so so. I recommend this one if you love Astronomy and aerospace stuff since so many things related. The books is good enough but it is not memorable one for me.
When i saw this Hardcover edition with only IDR 119.000 i just directly brought into cashier and it makes me happy since i'm member and got more addition Discount 10%. It is so cheap! >_<
I'm really sad I wasn't able to read this last year, this book is totally worth voting.
I didn't want it to finish, I read few records every day and felt really empty when I was done. The whole time I felt really connected to Alex, like he was recording this for me, and that made me less alone for 11 hard days.
I don't know what to say about the story, but it really has everything; love, family, astronomy, life changing experiences and a main character to fall in love with.
I'm really overwhelmed by the story, it made remember my childhood and how was I at one point inspired by my hobby/passion. It's a different story now, but I'm trying to be brave too.
I didn't want it to finish, I read few records every day and felt really empty when I was done. The whole time I felt really connected to Alex, like he was recording this for me, and that made me less alone for 11 hard days.
I don't know what to say about the story, but it really has everything; love, family, astronomy, life changing experiences and a main character to fall in love with.
I'm really overwhelmed by the story, it made remember my childhood and how was I at one point inspired by my hobby/passion. It's a different story now, but I'm trying to be brave too.
This book was so cool, and my feelings about it are so huge!
Seriously, though. I love Alex. I will do anything to protect him. Anything and everything. *wraps him in a blanket*
I listened to the audiobook, and Kivlighan did such a good job, as did the other cast members. It was so easy to listen to and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The only reason it’s not a full five stars is because of the format. I got used to it, but the repetitiveness of ‘and then he said ... and I said ...’ got annoying at times. The idea of recordings instead of chapters is great, but my favorites were the ones that were recorded live instead of Alex talking about what happened, which just got to be too much at times.
This story definitely went a whole lot darker and deeper than I expected, but I think it was very well handled from the perspective of this 11 year old boy, with some well placed help from the other characters, who were all so very realistic. They were flawed (except perhaps for my precious bean Zed and Carl Sagan) and made bad decisions, but I loved them all. I feel sad having to say goodbye to them; Alex and Terra most of all. And Zed. I need a Zed in my life, just saying.
I related a lot to Alex, in how he viewed the world, and I got some autistic vibes from him, but that might be me projecting, as I don’t know how 11yos think (anymore). Either way, his astronomy jokes (puns) are hilarious and I got some weird looks from my parents when I randomly laughed out loud!
I would definitely recommend this, and will be checking out some more of Chen’s works!
Seriously, though. I love Alex. I will do anything to protect him. Anything and everything. *wraps him in a blanket*
I listened to the audiobook, and Kivlighan did such a good job, as did the other cast members. It was so easy to listen to and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The only reason it’s not a full five stars is because of the format. I got used to it, but the repetitiveness of ‘and then he said ... and I said ...’ got annoying at times. The idea of recordings instead of chapters is great, but my favorites were the ones that were recorded live instead of Alex talking about what happened, which just got to be too much at times.
This story definitely went a whole lot darker and deeper than I expected, but I think it was very well handled from the perspective of this 11 year old boy, with some well placed help from the other characters, who were all so very realistic. They were flawed (except perhaps for my precious bean Zed and Carl Sagan) and made bad decisions, but I loved them all. I feel sad having to say goodbye to them; Alex and Terra most of all. And Zed. I need a Zed in my life, just saying.
I related a lot to Alex, in how he viewed the world, and I got some autistic vibes from him, but that might be me projecting, as I don’t know how 11yos think (anymore). Either way, his astronomy jokes (puns) are hilarious and I got some weird looks from my parents when I randomly laughed out loud!
I would definitely recommend this, and will be checking out some more of Chen’s works!
Aleksam ir 11 gadi, bet atbildības līmenī vismaz 13. Viņš būvē raķeti un cer, ka tā nonāks tik tālu kosmosā, lai satiktos ar citplanētiešiem. Tāpēc viņš veido ierakstus savā iPod, kuros citplanētiešiem stāsta par mūsu pasauli un par savu dzīvi. Lai gan Aleksa intelekts ir gana jaudīgs, lai ļautu viņam būvēt raķetes, citās jomās viņš ir naivs bērns. Un ceļojums uz raķešu entuziastu saietu tuksnesī ir tikai sākums lieliskam piedzīvojumam, kurā viņš mēģinās saprast, kas īsti ir tās netveramās lietas kā mīlestība, drosme un patiesība. Un kas ir tās stulbības, ar kurām nodarbojas pieaugušie.
Alex Petroski loves space and rockets. All he wants is to launch his golden iPod into space the way Carl Sagan launched his Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft in 1977. From Colorado to New Mexico, Las Vegas to L.A., Alex records a journey on his iPod to show other lifeforms what life on earth, his earth, is like.
As soon as I heard about this book, I was intrigued. I loved the concept of a middle-grade novel introducing child readers to the wonders of the universe, and the idea of life beyond Earth. Unfortunately, while Cheng does do an excellent job of instilling that sense of awe in his readers, I was disappointed by the little details of Alex’s story.
See You in the Cosmos wasn’t badly written, but as someone who works with children of all ages Alex’s voice didn’t feel authentic to me for several reasons. Firstly, Alex seemed much, much younger than eleven. Secondly, he didn’t even sound like a real child - instead, he sounded like an adult attempting to write from the perspective of a child. I think adults who read kidlit will enjoy reading Alex’s endless monologue, but I doubt many child readers will be able to identify with him.
Cheng’s portrayal of a child suffering from neglect also didn’t ring true. Neglected children often take on the role of caretaker for their parents, and feel compelled to protect them by lying about the lack of care they receive at home. But although Alex acts as his mother’s caretaker, he is seemingly oblivious of the fact that his home situation isn’t normal, and immediately reveals the extent of his mother’s abuse to all the adults he meets. To me, this came across as a very simplistic and misinformed portrayal of neglect. I’m also tired of the abusive-character-is-secretly-mentally-ill trope. It’s overused and usually distasteful.
Nevertheless, a few things kept me reading See You in the Cosmos. Alex’s enthusiasm for science was wonderful, as was his obsession with the late great Carl Sagan. I also liked that the book was written in the style of voice recordings - and not just any voice recording, but a recording intended to be listened to be alien life forms.
Ultimately, I don’t recommend See You in the Cosmos, but I liked many of the ideas behind this book and I’m open to reading more from Cheng in the future.
Many thanks to Puffin Books for providing a copy of See You in the Cosmos. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. See You in the Cosmos will be released on February 28th in the U.S. and March 2nd in the U.K.
Publisher: Puffin Books
Rating: 2 stars | ★★✰✰✰
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd Reviews
As soon as I heard about this book, I was intrigued. I loved the concept of a middle-grade novel introducing child readers to the wonders of the universe, and the idea of life beyond Earth. Unfortunately, while Cheng does do an excellent job of instilling that sense of awe in his readers, I was disappointed by the little details of Alex’s story.
See You in the Cosmos wasn’t badly written, but as someone who works with children of all ages Alex’s voice didn’t feel authentic to me for several reasons. Firstly, Alex seemed much, much younger than eleven. Secondly, he didn’t even sound like a real child - instead, he sounded like an adult attempting to write from the perspective of a child. I think adults who read kidlit will enjoy reading Alex’s endless monologue, but I doubt many child readers will be able to identify with him.
Cheng’s portrayal of a child suffering from neglect also didn’t ring true. Neglected children often take on the role of caretaker for their parents, and feel compelled to protect them by lying about the lack of care they receive at home. But although Alex acts as his mother’s caretaker, he is seemingly oblivious of the fact that his home situation isn’t normal, and immediately reveals the extent of his mother’s abuse to all the adults he meets. To me, this came across as a very simplistic and misinformed portrayal of neglect. I’m also tired of the abusive-character-is-secretly-mentally-ill trope. It’s overused and usually distasteful.
Nevertheless, a few things kept me reading See You in the Cosmos. Alex’s enthusiasm for science was wonderful, as was his obsession with the late great Carl Sagan. I also liked that the book was written in the style of voice recordings - and not just any voice recording, but a recording intended to be listened to be alien life forms.
Ultimately, I don’t recommend See You in the Cosmos, but I liked many of the ideas behind this book and I’m open to reading more from Cheng in the future.
Many thanks to Puffin Books for providing a copy of See You in the Cosmos. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. See You in the Cosmos will be released on February 28th in the U.S. and March 2nd in the U.K.
Publisher: Puffin Books
Rating: 2 stars | ★★✰✰✰
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd Reviews
Incredibly beautiful stories. A boy —who loves his family and friends and his dog that he named after his hero, Carl Sagan— from planet Earth trying to be brave, trying to find the truth.
I was so amazed by the ideas of Jack Cheng to narrating this stories, through 11 years old boy's recording! So from the beginning we're like listening the recording that Alex was trying to send to the outer space (except that we actually reads it, not listen to it).
Alex was so innocent, and kind, and pure, and he is really brave despite everything he needs to get through. I want to give him a big hugggg
I was so amazed by the ideas of Jack Cheng to narrating this stories, through 11 years old boy's recording! So from the beginning we're like listening the recording that Alex was trying to send to the outer space (except that we actually reads it, not listen to it).
Alex was so innocent, and kind, and pure, and he is really brave despite everything he needs to get through. I want to give him a big hugggg
A very delightful, fast, and emotionally rewarding read. Love the brute honesty and innocence of the 11-year old narrator.
Alex loves space, rockets, and truth, and he idolizes Carl Sagan, which is why he named his dog after him. With the help of an online forum, Alex has built his first rocket and is heading to a rocket festival in New Mexico to launch it and his "golden iPod" (modeled after Sagan's golden record) into space. The story is told through Alex's recordings on the iPod, and we gain insight into his life as he explains what is going on around him. His mother is having some of her "quiet days," and doesn't seem to realize that he is leaving. Fortunately his combination of resourcefulness and naivety helps him get where he wants. He is also lucky enough to meet up with truly helpful people along the way. In the process of describing life on earth to potential aliens, Alex discovers what life really is all about. This is only tangentially about outer space. It is much more about emotional growth. Recommended for thoughtful students in grades 5 and up.
ARC provided by publisher
ARC provided by publisher
The premise sounds totally charming but the narrator didn’t quite work for me. I would like to hear from a kid whether Alex sounded the right age and knew the things he should know. He felt a little bit immature to me, especially when it was convenient for him not to know something.