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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
The truth-I really enjoyed this book. I would have given it five stars for sure if only Chet, the bully had leaned a valuable lesson at the end. What does happen to him is pretty satisfying, but you just know he's still going to be a big jerk, probably just to different kids now. Anyhow, I still liked it, especially Gen, who is the best.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Review from C, age 9:. I liked how the author used an interesting background for this story about 5 different kids. There was a girl who is good at divination and her sister, a deaf girl who loved animals, a bully named Chet, and a quiet boy with a hamster. It is a very good book that takes place mostly in a forest.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-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 solid 4 star read by a new to me author. I picked this book as a leap of faith as I haven’t heard anyone really talk about it or recommend it to me. The cover was nice and premise sounded fine enough so I picked it up. In truth, I didn’t start reading it right away as I was in a weird reading funk where nothing seemed to interest me. It was by a “why not?” decision that I finally started this book and boy am I glad I did.
I really like the variety of characters in this book. Wish this kind of diversity had been around when I was a kid. There was diversity of nationalities, disabilities, and beliefs throughout the book. You would think with young kids this would lead to arguments but they mostly accepted everything and asked questions when unsure about something. There were sprinkles of Filipino folklore throughout the book that were delightful to hear/read about too. The ending is open ended, which some readers may like or dislike depending on how they prefer things wrapped up. I personally liked it because everyone can move on with their adventures.
This book reignited my desire to read and I’m so happy for that. It’s a quick read especially if you listen to the audiobook. The two narrators do a good job reading for the different characters as well. If you’re looking for an enjoyable read that has relatable characters and experiences then this is a book I recommend.
I really like the variety of characters in this book. Wish this kind of diversity had been around when I was a kid. There was diversity of nationalities, disabilities, and beliefs throughout the book. You would think with young kids this would lead to arguments but they mostly accepted everything and asked questions when unsure about something. There were sprinkles of Filipino folklore throughout the book that were delightful to hear/read about too. The ending is open ended, which some readers may like or dislike depending on how they prefer things wrapped up. I personally liked it because everyone can move on with their adventures.
This book reignited my desire to read and I’m so happy for that. It’s a quick read especially if you listen to the audiobook. The two narrators do a good job reading for the different characters as well. If you’re looking for an enjoyable read that has relatable characters and experiences then this is a book I recommend.
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Novel Ink
Well, this was a bucket full of wonderfullness. (Ssshh that's totally a word.) When I decided to read some Middle Grade books, I knew I was going to come across a book that just knows how to put a goofy smile on my face at the end of it. Hello, Universe was that book. Middle Grade Contemporary is so different from YA contemporary in that it seems almost magical. Every book in this genre has something completely innocent and pure about it that it just always puts a smile on my face. And I wish a lot more people would read it because it's absolutely beautiful.
Hello, Universe tells the story of five kids. Virgil, Kaori and her sister Gen, Valencia and the bully Chet. Each of those characters are unique and well-developed and so very diverse! All the rep here is so on point that it makes my heart so very happy. These five kids though, they're the real magic in this story. So let me talk about each of them real quick.
Virgil is the one the story revolves around. He's a Filipino-American boy who's called Turtle by his family because he won't come out of his shell. He's shy and quiet and insecure. Virgil is probably the most relatable kid in the book for me. He's being bullied by Chet and those scenes just made my heart ache so very much. It's also no coincidence that the turtle is my totem animal. As Kaori would say, there are no coincidences. Virgil basically needs to be wrapped up in a warm blanket and protected from evil. I also loved Virgil's grandmother Lola. Hands down one of the best grandmothers in books ever.
Valencia is a very brave and strong deaf girl that I kind of really adored. I admire her so much for being herself and not caring what others think. She's smart and caring and also kind of lonely. I want all the good things for her.
Kaori and Gen are so very precious. Gen is the youngest of the group and occasionally switched obsessions. Now it's jumproping. She loves pink and might seem naive but she's actually very clever and so very cute. Kaori on the other hand is a tad more serious and believes she's a psychic. She's quirky and smart and intuitive. I adore her! She's also not afraid to be herself and yay for that!
Chet is just an awful boy. He's a very mean bully who very much looks up to his dad and copies his behaviour. I really didn't like him but I love how things ended with him.
Next to the characters, this book also has some magical, beautiful writing. It hooked me right from the start and I couldn't get enough of this story, this writing and the characters. Erin managed to tell a story full of heart, weave in a tough subject so perfectly and make everything feel real and alive at the same time. I applaud her for that. And I can't wait to see what she writes next.
Also as a side note, I love how every chapter had a drawing to show which POV we would get. Virgil had a guinea pig, Valencia a bird in a nest, Chet a snake and Kaori had a star chart with the signs of the zodiac on it. It's a really clever and easy way of marking which POV we can expect in the coming chapter.
Hello, Universe is a beautiful book and deserves it's Newbery medal. With magical writing and wonderfully real characters, Erin Entrada Kelly weaves an honest, diverse story full of heart about friendship, being yourself and standing up to the bullies in your life. I would absolutely recommend it to everyone that loves contemporary.
Well, this was a bucket full of wonderfullness. (Ssshh that's totally a word.) When I decided to read some Middle Grade books, I knew I was going to come across a book that just knows how to put a goofy smile on my face at the end of it. Hello, Universe was that book. Middle Grade Contemporary is so different from YA contemporary in that it seems almost magical. Every book in this genre has something completely innocent and pure about it that it just always puts a smile on my face. And I wish a lot more people would read it because it's absolutely beautiful.
Hello, Universe tells the story of five kids. Virgil, Kaori and her sister Gen, Valencia and the bully Chet. Each of those characters are unique and well-developed and so very diverse! All the rep here is so on point that it makes my heart so very happy. These five kids though, they're the real magic in this story. So let me talk about each of them real quick.
Virgil is the one the story revolves around. He's a Filipino-American boy who's called Turtle by his family because he won't come out of his shell. He's shy and quiet and insecure. Virgil is probably the most relatable kid in the book for me. He's being bullied by Chet and those scenes just made my heart ache so very much. It's also no coincidence that the turtle is my totem animal. As Kaori would say, there are no coincidences. Virgil basically needs to be wrapped up in a warm blanket and protected from evil. I also loved Virgil's grandmother Lola. Hands down one of the best grandmothers in books ever.
Valencia is a very brave and strong deaf girl that I kind of really adored. I admire her so much for being herself and not caring what others think. She's smart and caring and also kind of lonely. I want all the good things for her.
Kaori and Gen are so very precious. Gen is the youngest of the group and occasionally switched obsessions. Now it's jumproping. She loves pink and might seem naive but she's actually very clever and so very cute. Kaori on the other hand is a tad more serious and believes she's a psychic. She's quirky and smart and intuitive. I adore her! She's also not afraid to be herself and yay for that!
Chet is just an awful boy. He's a very mean bully who very much looks up to his dad and copies his behaviour. I really didn't like him but I love how things ended with him.
Next to the characters, this book also has some magical, beautiful writing. It hooked me right from the start and I couldn't get enough of this story, this writing and the characters. Erin managed to tell a story full of heart, weave in a tough subject so perfectly and make everything feel real and alive at the same time. I applaud her for that. And I can't wait to see what she writes next.
Also as a side note, I love how every chapter had a drawing to show which POV we would get. Virgil had a guinea pig, Valencia a bird in a nest, Chet a snake and Kaori had a star chart with the signs of the zodiac on it. It's a really clever and easy way of marking which POV we can expect in the coming chapter.
Hello, Universe is a beautiful book and deserves it's Newbery medal. With magical writing and wonderfully real characters, Erin Entrada Kelly weaves an honest, diverse story full of heart about friendship, being yourself and standing up to the bullies in your life. I would absolutely recommend it to everyone that loves contemporary.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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