This Young Adult book will be enjoyed by adults too,
provided they don't mind the unusual format. Alex is a
space-obsessed kid of eleven who is busy recording a
message to aliens on other planets, and he wants to send a
Golden iPod into space on his own rocket. The book contains
the transcript of his adventures as he records. SEE YOU IN
THE COSMOS, CARL SAGAN tells of bravery, friendship, losing
and finding, being lucky and learning about many adult
issues.
Carl Sagan, aside from being a cosmologist, is also the
name of Alex's dog. At the start Alex from Colorado is
heading off cheerfully to a rocket convention in
Albuquerque, never dreaming that unaccompanied kids might
not be let onto a train. His mom's having one of her quiet
days, and isn't very responsive, so he just leaves her at
home and goes with his dog. Alex is, of course, very lucky
to meet helpful adults along his journey and not come to
any harm, but some parental guidance might be required if
you give the book to a child.
Those who are following Elon Musk's efforts to get SpaceX
achieving reusable spacecraft and a trip to Mars, will
recognise a similar figure in Lander Civet whose company
draws all eyes at the convention. But the quieter figures
like Zed, who meditates and has taken a vow of silence for
part of the tale, are also part of the popular space
effort. Alex is using a genealogy website to dig up any
details about his late father, and a possible match is made
with an address in Las Vegas. Zed and his pal Steve happen
to be headed that way, and while they know it's
irresponsible to take Alex, maybe they can deliver him
safely to his brother who is not too far away. Cue a road
trip all recorded by the kid.
Amid some fun and astronomy jokes, we learn some big
lessons and see more than one hospital; we get genuinely
worried for Alex and rejoice in the kindness of strangers.
Jack Cheng who was born in Shanghai and raised in America,
has worked in advertising and design. I'm tempted to think
that he came up with an idea for an audiobook first and
decided he'd better write the paper version, complete with
sound effects. SEE YOU IN THE COSMOS, CARL SAGAN reminds us
to just get started and work towards a goal. I really
enjoyed the unusual light read.
A space-obsessed boy and his dog, Carl Sagan, take a
journey toward family, love, hope, and awe in this funny and
moving novel for fans of Counting by 7s and Walk
Two Moons.
11-year-old Alex Petroski loves space and rockets, his mom,
his brother, and his dog Carl Sagan—named for his hero, the
real-life astronomer. All he wants is to launch his golden
iPod into space the way Carl Sagan (the man, not the dog)
launched his Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft in
1977. From Colorado to New Mexico, Las Vegas to L.A., Alex
records a journey on his iPod to show other lifeforms what
life on earth, his earth, is like. But his
destination keeps changing. And the funny, lost, remarkable
people he meets along the way can only partially prepare him
for the secrets he’ll uncover—from the truth about his
long-dead dad to the fact that, for a kid with a troubled
mom and a mostly not-around brother, he has way more family
than he ever knew.
For fans of Wonder and The Curious Incident of
the Dog in the Night-Time, Jack Cheng’s debut is full of
joy, optimism, determination, and unbelievable heart. To
read the first page is to fall in love with Alex and his
view of our big, beautiful, complicated world. To read the
last is to know he and his story will stay with you a long,
long time.
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