Winner of the Newbery Medal“A charming, intriguingly plotted novel.”—Washington PostNewbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly’s Hello, Universe is a funny and poignant neighborhood story about unexpected friendships. Told from four intertwining points of view—two boys and two girls—the novel celebrates bravery, being different, and finding your inner bayani (hero). “Readers will be instantly engrossed … bravery, being different, and finding your inner bayani (hero). “Readers will be instantly engrossed in this relatable neighborhood adventure and its eclectic cast of misfits.”—Booklist
In one day, four lives weave together in unexpected ways. Virgil Salinas is shy and kindhearted and feels out of place in his crazy-about-sports family. Valencia Somerset, who is deaf, is smart, brave, and secretly lonely, and she loves everything about nature. Kaori Tanaka is a self-proclaimed psychic, whose little sister, Gen, is always following her around. And Chet Bullens wishes the weird kids would just stop being so different so he can concentrate on basketball.
They aren’t friends, at least not until Chet pulls a prank that traps Virgil and his pet guinea pig at the bottom of a well. This disaster leads Kaori, Gen, and Valencia on an epic quest to find missing Virgil. Through luck, smarts, bravery, and a little help from the universe, a rescue is performed, a bully is put in his place, and friendship blooms.
The acclaimed and award-winning author of Blackbird Fly and The Land of Forgotten Girls writes with an authentic, humorous, and irresistible tween voice that will appeal to fans of Thanhha Lai and Rita Williams-Garcia.
“Readers across the board will flock to this book that has something for nearly everyone—humor, bullying, self-acceptance, cross-generational relationships, and a smartly fateful ending.”—School Library Journal
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I did enjoy this book very much! At first I was a bit confused because we went from one character’s first person point of view to another character’s first person point of view. I easily figured out who was who. I like it that the characters are not like most typical characters- these are special in their own unique ways, and there are even some readers who can relate to these characters, because they have to wear hearing aids, or they get bullied, or both. Other readers can read and learn how other characters feel when they are bullied, so if the reader has never been bullied, they can read from Virgil’s point of view and see how he feels, and what goes through his mind when he is bullied. Excellent book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this fun little adventure book. I loved the characters and the plot and timing are perfect. try it, you will like it! this is a children’s book, but very good. I’m 62 and loved it.
Book Review: Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly (2017) (Fiction) (Middle Grade) 4 Stars ****
Do you believe in synchronicity, the powers of the universe, and psychic abilities? “Grand Failure eleven-year-old Virgil Salinas already regretted the rest of middle school, and he’d only just finished sixth grade. He imagined all those years stretching ahead of him like a long line of hurdles, each of them getting taller, thicker, and heavier, and him standing in front of them on his weak and skinny legs. He was no good at hurdles. He’d found out the hard way: in gym class, where he was the smallest, most forgettable …” But, not to worry! The universe steps in through a young, determined psychic whose mission is to set Virgil’s life on the right path.
Supporting characters: Chet Bullens, bully … Valencia Somerset, deaf girl who reads lips and Virgil’s love interest … young Kaori Tanaka, a psychic who limits her abilities to helping other kids, and her sidekick little sister Gen … Gulliver the guinea pig who plays a surprisingly important role … Lola, Virgil’s unorthodox Filipino grandmother
Plot: Virgil has love problems and can’t find the inner strength to shed his shyness and even say hello to the girl he’s crushing on. No one takes him seriously, not even his family who nicknamed him Turtle (much to Virgil’s dismay) because he never comes out of his shell. Chet throws Virgil’s knapsack down a well, not knowing that Gulliver is in it, forcing Virgil to climb down to retrieve his beloved pet. As bad luck would have it, through no fault of his own, Virgil cannot climb out, leaving Virgil to believe that he and Gulliver are destined to be lost forever and their bodies never found. But, no! Kaori follows her strong instincts and with help from Valencia and Gen, pulls off a timely rescue.
Very cute story. Believable, diverse, relatable characters. Brings in different cultural traditions. Deals realistically with deafness, learning disabilities, and low self-esteem issues experienced by middle grade students.
it was hard to read and sorry but it’s kinda boring
Ever wonder who came up the concept of “friends?” Think about it. One day a person walks up to another person and is just like “Yup, I like this one” and then perceive to just do stuff with them. Who would have thought of it?
Well, it is such a norm now that we don’t even give it a second thought. We just go right along and find that special someone or someones and do stuff together. And it’s always best when you find that special friend when you are at a young age. You are more adventurous at that age and when you find someone that has the same attributes in life then you are golden.
But what if you find people that aren’t quite as in sync as you are about the world? What if they are way too different than you are? Will the “friendship” still work? Or is it all for nothing?
For Virgil Salinas it hasn’t been easy finding friends. Not only is he shy, but he is very different from his own loud family so why would a complete stranger want to be his friend when his own family doesn’t understand him? The only member that truly understands him is his Grandmother but what growing boy wants to admit that his only friend is his Grandmother?
Valencia Somerset is a deaf, strong willed young lady who just wants to be heard in a world that turns deaf to those that are different.
Kaori Tanakais a young psychic along with her young sister Gen try and see into the future to help those who need it the most.
An iconic group that meets under unusual circumstances, who try to help one another not for glory or for money but because it’s the right thing to do. Not only do they help each other during a crisis, but they also help each other get the other out of the shell they all have been hiding in. A very interesting read for all ages.
*****
I really enjoyed this book, and I can see why it won the Newbery Award. In schools today there are more bullying happening every day that it’s getting out of control and there is only so much teachers and counselors can do to help the children either stand up to the bullying and/or knock it off with the bullying. One way to really help those kids out is to find books that have a special meaning to it that might help them understand what is going on and how to stand up for themselves. For me personally I believe this book should be in all schools so kids can see the diversity of kids that are just like them going through the exact same things and the book shows them how it all can be resolved.
Oh, this is a good one. Getting inside all the different kids’ heads was eye-opening. A strong MG book to get in your kids’ hands to help teach empathy.