Review: Hello, Universe ✭✭✭✭✭

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's no surprise that this book recently won the 2018 John Newbery Medal ("for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.") This is a wondrous story about four children with very different backgrounds who cross paths in a unique way. Virgil, the lead character, is a sweet, sensitive boy who doesn't seem to quite fit in with his athletic family. However, he does seem to share a very special bond with his grandmother. As Virgil is walking to a friend's house, a bully causes him to become tangled up in a very dangerous situation. Will the other quirky characters be able to come to his rescue in time? The writing of this original story has a satisfying way of achieveing balance between breathtaking suspense and reflective calm. Hello, Universe should appeal to just about any young reader; it would also make a great read aloud or book club book.

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The Family Romanov ✩✩✩✩✩

This book gives the reader a fascinating glimpse into the times of the last Tsar of Russia in the early 1900s. Candace Fleming keeps readers on the edge of their seats as she follows the slow descent of the Romanov family from their opulent mansions to their final forced imprisonment in the mountains of Siberia. The reader will also learn about the deplorable conditions for the working class and peasants at the time. Finally, they will understand what precipitated the downfall of Russian royalty and why Lenin and Stalin came into power. This is a terrific non-fiction read for a 11-year old and up reader who is a fan of history. There is a great book trailer for the book on Candace Fleming's web page.