The author and publisher kindly provided me with a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This #ownvoices debut about losing and finding family, forging unlikely friendships, and searching for answers to big questions will resonate with fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Rebecca Stead.
The only thing Rosalind Ling Geraghty loves more than watching NASA launches with her dad is building rockets with him. When he dies unexpectedly, all Ro has left of him is an unfinished model rocket they had been working on together.
Benjamin Burns doesn’t like science, but he can’t get enough of Spacebound, a popular comic book series. When he finds a sketch that suggests that his dad created the comics, he’s thrilled. Too bad his dad walked out years ago, and Benji has no way to contact him.
Though Ro and Benji were only supposed to be science class partners, the pair become unlikely friends: Benji helps Ro finish her rocket, and Ro figures out a way to reunite Benji and his dad. But Benji hesitates, which infuriates Ro. Doesn’t he realize how much Ro wishes she could be in his place?
As the two face bullying, grief, and their own differences, Benji and Ro must try to piece together clues to some of the biggest questions in the universe.
Clues to the Universe Review
When Christina Li reached out to me about her debut novel, I knew it was going to be a great read. A middle grade book about friendship and space is a perfect match for me. But this book far exceeded my expectations.
Clues to the Universe follows Ro and Benji, two middle grade students who team up to build a rocket for the science fair. They also work together to find Benji’s dad, who left years before. It’s a story about friendship, space exploration and finding yourself.
I really love Ro and Benji because of their determination, loyalty and genuine personalities. Ro is struggling with the death of her father while Benji is struggling with his father’s absence. They form a strong friendship because of this and their shared love for space exploration.
I just absolutely love their dynamic with each other and the way their friendship grows throughout the book. These characters will tug at your heartstrings, make you smile all while giving you heart-wrenching moments.
The plot of Clues to the Universe is just as great. While there are moments of grief, there are also so many moments to cherish. I love that these characters grow as people because of their work on their rocket. And it’s so wonderful to root for them from start to finish.
One of my favourite things about this book is the exploration of grief. It’s real and genuine and is certain to bring out strong emotions in the reader. But it’s the perfect mix of heartfelt moments as well as teaching moments that will be perfect for middle grade readers.
Overall, Clues to the Universe is a fantastic debut novel. It’s a charming and beautiful story with wonderful writing. I highly recommend reading this book and will certainly recommend this book to middle grade readers I know.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Favourite Quote
But sometimes I wondered if some people were meant to walk around with craters on their hearts for the rest of their lives.
About the Author
Christina Li is a student at Stanford University studying Economics. In her spare time, when she is not stressing over her latest stats problem set, she is dreaming up characters and stories for children and young adults. Her debut, Clues to the Universe, is coming out from Quill Tree Books on January 12, 2021.
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