Thanks a Lot, Universe

by Chad Lucas Narrated by Ruffin Prentiss, Mark Sanderlin

Overview

He went silent again, until he asked the question I knew was coming. Why are you doing this? I took a breath before I replied. Because you're my friend.
Brian has always been anxious, whether at home or in class or on the basketball court. His dad tries to get him to stand up for himself, and his mom helps as much as she can, but after he and his brother are placed into foster care,
Brian starts having panic attacks. And he doesn't know if things will ever be “normal” again ...
Ezra's always been popular. He's friends with most of the kids on his basketball team-even Brian, who usually keeps to himself. But now, some of his friends have been acting differently, and Brian seems to be pulling away. Ezra wants to
help, but he worries if he's too nice to Brian, his friends will realize that he has a crush on him ...
But when Brian and his brother run away, Ezra has no choice but to take the leap and reach out. Both boys have to decide if they're willing to risk sharing parts of themselves they'd rather hide. But if they can be brave, they might just find the
best in themselves-and each other.

Editorial Reviews

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Lucas concludes with a welcome touch of realism."

New York Times bestselling author of Clean Getaway Nic Stone

"A glorious ode to the beauty of pre-teen friendship and the beginnings of blurred lines and vital questions of identity. By far my favorite middle grade novel of 2021!"

Edgar-award winning author of OCDaniel Wesley King

I loved this book. It's raw and heartfelt and debut author Chad Lucas has a gift for detail: the way a shirt scrunches up beneath the arms, the dialogue that would fit right into any middle school school hallway, the really poignant descriptions of anxiety and panic attacks...there is a distinctive honesty to the writing. I found myself cheering for our protagonists almost immediately, and their voices drew me along through a story and a message that should be widely shared. This book is going to do a lot of good.

author of From The Desk of Zoe Washington Janae Marks

Thanks a Lot, Universe demonstrates how you don't always know what your peers are going through, and how powerful kindness is. This honest portrayal of family trauma, changing friendships, and big emotions tugged at my heartstrings. Brian and Ezra will stick with me for a long time!

From the Publisher

"A glorious ode to the beauty of pre-teen friendship and the beginnings of blurred lines and vital questions of identity. By far my favorite middle grade novel of 2021!" —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Clean Getaway

“Thanks a Lot, Universe demonstrates how you don't always know what your peers are going through, and how powerful kindness is. This honest portrayal of family trauma, changing friendships, and big emotions tugged at my heartstrings. Brian and Ezra will stick with me for a long time!”—Janae Marks, author of From The Desk of Zoe Washington

“I loved this book. It's raw and heartfelt and debut author Chad Lucas has a gift for detail: the way a shirt scrunches up beneath the arms, the dialogue that would fit right into any middle school school hallway, the really poignant descriptions of anxiety and panic attacks...there is a distinctive honesty to the writing. I found myself cheering for our protagonists almost immediately, and their voices drew me along through a story and a message that should be widely shared. This book is going to do a lot of good.”—Wesley King, Edgar-award winning author of OCDaniel

**STARRED REVIEW**
"Featuring snappy dialogue from earnest tween voices, skillful prose guides this engrossing story from start to finish. The themes and social commentary found here are gentle and organic—never heavy-handed—and the plot’s antagonists are far from two-dimensional, expertly reflecting real-life human complexity for a middle-grade audience." —Kirkus Reviews

**STARRED REVIEW**
"Lucas’s prose is funny and deeply empathetic, respecting readers’ ability to handle heavy topics but lightened with frequent laugh-out-loud moments. . .Perfect for the transition from middle grade to young adult literature." —School Library Journal

"Lucas concludes with a welcome touch of realism." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Janae Marks author of From The Desk of Zoe Washington

Thanks a Lot, Universe demonstrates how you don't always know what your peers are going through, and how powerful kindness is. This honest portrayal of family trauma, changing friendships, and big emotions tugged at my heartstrings. Brian and Ezra will stick with me for a long time!

School Library Journal

★ 07/01/2021

Gr 5–8—Author Lucas scores big with this debut. Readers follow Brian, who is white, and Ezra, who is Trinidadian and Polish, during the last weeks of seventh grade. Brian's family fractures when his father leaves in an attempt to avoid legal repercussions at his job and his mother attempts suicide. As Brian and his little brother find themselves in foster care, Brian's existing anxiety becomes overwhelming. Meanwhile, Ezra navigates rapidly changing friendships and struggles to share his sexuality with folks important to him. As the boys' bond grows, they truly see and uplift each other, illustrating the importance of honest friendships. Lucas's prose is funny and deeply empathetic, respecting readers' ability to handle heavy topics but lightened with frequent laugh-out-loud moments. The diverse cast of characters demonstrates the complexity of friendship and navigating difficult conversations. While similar real-world experiences are likely to be bumpier than portrayed here, the book's hope and positivity are infectious. Readers can learn a great deal from these characters. VERDICT Painfully real and radiantly hopeful, this is a recommended first purchase. Perfect for the transition from middle grade to young adult literature, this title would be at home in both collections, and certainly on middle school shelves.—Taylor Worley, Springfield P.L., OR

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2021-03-25
Two boys in Halifax, Nova Scotia, grow close as they encounter adolescent struggles and life changes.

Chronic overthinker Brian already faces severe social anxiety and isolation from his peers when his 13th birthday starts off about as badly as a birthday can go: His father leaves home, possibly on the run from the police, and his mother attempts suicide in response. Now, left with the responsibility of caring for his younger brother, Richie, and juggling the massive life changes that come in the aftermath, Brian can’t quite keep it all together. Thankfully, he isn’t completely alone: Ezra, an open-hearted fellow member of their school’s basketball team, feels a kinship (and possibly more) with quiet and elusive Brian. Together, the two boys offer support for one another as they come of age and try to find their best selves amid the turbulent times of seventh grade. Featuring snappy dialogue from earnest tween voices, skillful prose guides this engrossing story from start to finish. The themes and social commentary found here are gentle and organic—never heavy-handed—and the plot’s antagonists are far from two-dimensional, expertly reflecting real-life human complexity for a middle-grade audience. Ezra is of Trinidadian and Polish descent, Brian is implied White, and the supporting characters have a broad range of racial backgrounds.

Tenderhearted and bold. (Fiction. 10-13)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176237337
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	06/01/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

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