Title: Hello Universe
Author: Erin Entrada Kelly
Hello, Universe is a fantastic read! I usually go for fantasy or high fantasy middle-grade books, but I was looking for something different to mix things up a bit. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it. I wondered, “Without the high fantasy, will I be hooked?”
Then, I noticed that we see the story from the perspective of the four main characters. So, there was changing of the point-of-view. That made me nervous as I really enjoy connecting with the main character. I again wondered if I’d be hooked or interested in the story.
The answer is YES, YES, and again, YES! There weren’t all the “cool fantasy” things going on in the book, but I cared about the characters and what was going on with them. The author did a beautiful job of weaving together all of the characters, their perspectives, and how they were brought together.
An incident happens with poor Virgil in the woods and I just wanted to run in and help him. Valencia is a sweet girl, who happens to be deaf, but “listens with my eyes”. Kaori is a creative character who believes she has the power of foresight. Her perspective adds a bit of fun in every instance. My least favorite character is Chet, the bully, of course. However, every character that we meet has a real uniqueness to them which springs them to life.
The short chapters, unique storytelling, and enthralling characters make this a well-crafted book that I could read again and again. I highly recommend Hello, Universe.
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚
Jennifer Gladen 