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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"sometimes the clouds inside my head get big and grey and swirly and then i hurricane through my eyes."
one of the most touching middle grade novels i've ever read - this book is bursting with adoration, genuineness, and hope. what a beautiful story!
alex is a reliable, loveable narrator. his interest in astronomy is both fascinating and impressive (the astronomy theme being the main reason i wanted to read this book - aside from the lovely cover, of course), and his personality is incredibly refreshing. he (and all of the other main characters) are flawed and scarred; but yet, they learn how to push through their troubles, how to look out for another person, the pains and joys of loving and losing.
the storylines are admittedly a bit weak. furthermore, the writing style - while being exceptionally honest - is hard to follow and will likely not resonate with many readers. here's a tip: read the audiobook. it's amazingly well voiced and suits the format very well.
all in all - this is a book about the different facets of family, love, and growing up. thank you for the journey. <3
» 4 stars
one of the most touching middle grade novels i've ever read - this book is bursting with adoration, genuineness, and hope. what a beautiful story!
alex is a reliable, loveable narrator. his interest in astronomy is both fascinating and impressive (the astronomy theme being the main reason i wanted to read this book - aside from the lovely cover, of course), and his personality is incredibly refreshing. he (and all of the other main characters) are flawed and scarred; but yet, they learn how to push through their troubles, how to look out for another person, the pains and joys of loving and losing.
the storylines are admittedly a bit weak. furthermore, the writing style - while being exceptionally honest - is hard to follow and will likely not resonate with many readers. here's a tip: read the audiobook. it's amazingly well voiced and suits the format very well.
all in all - this is a book about the different facets of family, love, and growing up. thank you for the journey. <3
» 4 stars
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A great book, I listened to the audiobook and I’ve never heard a child narrate one before, was really interesting to hear 😊
Read for #PopSugarReadingChallenge2022
Read for #PopSugarReadingChallenge2022
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. The way the story is told and the audiobook is amazing. I am shook and it is amazing. I have no words literally. I can't not process what just happened. I need a day to think this through. When I was reading it a high four stars was the rating. Which is already pretty high for me. From the start to the end the writing is so good. Like the things he says sound like an eleven year old and innocence of his voice but wisdom which makes it captivating. I'm not really a fan of road trips but it was so interesting. I though how it was unrealistic that this kid so young going with theses random strangers but it makes sense. I like how the author does not tell you everything in one go and does it slowly. The main premise of his dad is not shown immediately but is drawn out. It is because they try to hide the truth from him because after all he is a kid. Also Alex is so cute and funny. How he says things that only an eleven year old would say and the honesty. The other characters are great and some you don't know that much about but you feel like you know them. The pacing of it felt natural even with the introduction of new characters like Terra. And the audiobook I cannot even. I think it's one the best audiobooks from the voices and background noise it's just perfect. When he is recording you can hear the record button the sound of a train if he is in a train. Like there was a lot thought and it is really showcase. At first I was kind of over the road trip thing and I was like why are there so many unanswered questions. Why are we swimming in a river with weird romantic tension between Terra and Steve. However, what made me change my mind was recording 46 OH MY GOSH! I was getting a little teary because of how it was just... I like how Ronnie was the one to tell Alex about there dad and the pain he went through and facing that Alex has to know the truth. It is one of the best piece of writing in the book. Which made me realize this book is a five stars. Though the book has some flaws the story is written so well and everything about it is just very unique. This is one of those books that is powerful and highlights the beauty of middle grade novels.
There have been a lot of books written through letters, emails, situation reports - but this is the first I have read that is written in podcasts. Author Jack Cheng says that he loves writing dialogue, so choosing to write the story in this way allowed him to write almost entirely in dialogue. Protagonist Alex is an eleven-year-old (but at least thirteen in responsibility years), who travels to a large rocket festival with hopes to launch a rocket into space carrying a golden iPod (to imitate his hero Carl Sagan's Golden Record). Along the way he meets lots of online friends, makes new friends, and even finds some unexpected things about his own family.
Alex is a very self-sufficient tween. He does the shopping and cooking for himself and his mom, figures out how to travel to the rocket festival, and has even found a small job at a local gas station. Despite all the responsibility of caring for his mom, he hasn't lost his faith in the universe and wants to follow in his hero's footsteps and always search for the truth. Looking at the world from the viewpoint of such a highly intelligent, curious, and affectionate child makes the reader see things in a new way.
Something Alex says really sums up everything he (and we), learn from his journey. "What if the times when we feel love and act brave and tell the truth are all the times when we're four-dimensional, the times we're as big and everywhere as the cosmos, the times when we remember, like, REALLY remember, really KNOW, that we're made of starstuff and we're human beings from the planet Earth..." We can all use a reminder now and then that we are made of starstuff.
Recommended for middle grades and up. Great for readers who enjoy realistic fiction with great characters, humorous moments, and times when your heart feels a direct connection to the action.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Alex is a very self-sufficient tween. He does the shopping and cooking for himself and his mom, figures out how to travel to the rocket festival, and has even found a small job at a local gas station. Despite all the responsibility of caring for his mom, he hasn't lost his faith in the universe and wants to follow in his hero's footsteps and always search for the truth. Looking at the world from the viewpoint of such a highly intelligent, curious, and affectionate child makes the reader see things in a new way.
Something Alex says really sums up everything he (and we), learn from his journey. "What if the times when we feel love and act brave and tell the truth are all the times when we're four-dimensional, the times we're as big and everywhere as the cosmos, the times when we remember, like, REALLY remember, really KNOW, that we're made of starstuff and we're human beings from the planet Earth..." We can all use a reminder now and then that we are made of starstuff.
Recommended for middle grades and up. Great for readers who enjoy realistic fiction with great characters, humorous moments, and times when your heart feels a direct connection to the action.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
I love the idea of this book. I loved space when I was young and I thought this would be a sure winner for me. The audio was so well done, that actually scored this up for me. It has different voices and sounds that I think add to the story.
By what isn’t in this book? A dead parent, mental illness, gay/lesbian discussions, parents with multiple families, and somehow a child who semi-has it all together and loves to learn and functions by himself, with no supervision.
It is so difficult to tell this boys’ age. My son just turned 12 and he was hitting his head at all the things this boy doesn’t know. It seemed like he was 8, but he’s super smart about rockets and clearly likes to learn. For example, I think he would know what a girl’s period is. Most students are taught this in school. I felt like it was trying to teach so many things instead of being focused.
Also, I don’t understand how he goes on this big trip and never checks in with his parents. He is gone for days and ends up on a different journey than he planned and he doesn’t discuss this with anyone. It’s bizarre to me. No matter how much your parents aren’t involved Or have mental issues; I would think he want to know a parent or someone to know what town he is in. I don’t know any family that would let their 11 year old travel between Las Vegas and Los Angeles without supervision or checking in. Regardless if there is a mental condition and not a father.... surely someone would be overseeing a child.... And how does this half-Sister that just finds out he exists, just go on this road trip and take responsibility for him? That isn’t healthy or realistic either. There are children without caretakers, but DHS or someone would know. I just don’t find any of this plausible.
I think this could have been a great novel, I just don’t think it was edited well at all.
By what isn’t in this book? A dead parent, mental illness, gay/lesbian discussions, parents with multiple families, and somehow a child who semi-has it all together and loves to learn and functions by himself, with no supervision.
It is so difficult to tell this boys’ age. My son just turned 12 and he was hitting his head at all the things this boy doesn’t know. It seemed like he was 8, but he’s super smart about rockets and clearly likes to learn. For example, I think he would know what a girl’s period is. Most students are taught this in school. I felt like it was trying to teach so many things instead of being focused.
Also, I don’t understand how he goes on this big trip and never checks in with his parents. He is gone for days and ends up on a different journey than he planned and he doesn’t discuss this with anyone. It’s bizarre to me. No matter how much your parents aren’t involved Or have mental issues; I would think he want to know a parent or someone to know what town he is in. I don’t know any family that would let their 11 year old travel between Las Vegas and Los Angeles without supervision or checking in. Regardless if there is a mental condition and not a father.... surely someone would be overseeing a child.... And how does this half-Sister that just finds out he exists, just go on this road trip and take responsibility for him? That isn’t healthy or realistic either. There are children without caretakers, but DHS or someone would know. I just don’t find any of this plausible.
I think this could have been a great novel, I just don’t think it was edited well at all.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent