I don't know why I didn't read this sooner, because I ADORED IT. I loved everything about it. I ended up listening to the audiobook which is so well-produced and I think that was the best way to go - however I definitely want to get a physical copy of my own just to have on my shelves, because I think I've found a new favourite. It's emotional and mysterious at times, with it being told through the perspective of a mature but naïve 11-year-old, and we find out more about his living situation as the book goes on. But above all, it's filled with hope, and it left me smiling by the end. A book I'd highly recommend for anyone maybe 11+.

Alex, eleven years old, loves his dog called Carl Segan, recording things and rocket launching. His mother struggles with illness and he has to take care of her. When he wants to attend a rocket launch nothing will stand in his way. This was such a beautiful read. I loved it. Thank you to netgalley for this arc I wish I had read sooner.

A great read, great charecters, easy to get to know and love, would highly recommended to my book club

This is a great coming of age story. The hero Alex aged 11 is in search of himself and the universe. He doesn’t understand the adult world and is trying to make sense of it. For younger children this may be complex as a lot of inference is required. While about an 11 year old this more of a young adult secondary school book. It does teach children about following dreams and being brave but definitely aimed more at a 12+ audience.

See You in the Cosmos is a uniquely structured book. Alex, the 11-year-old protagonist, is obsessed with space and is creating a Golden iPod, his version of the Golden Record Carl Sagan sent into space in the 70s. Alex's story is told through his recordings as he leaves his home in Colorado with his dog to go to a gathering of fellow space lovers in New Mexico. I really enjoyed this book- it's not your typical middle grade novel and it covers very tough subjects (parental death, mental illness, child neglect). I wasn't sure I'd like it at first (the format is a little hard to get used to) but I did. The audiobook is fantastic (I listened to it as well as reading it).

I had downloaded this title but did not realise there was a time limit to read this book. I did not send it to my kindle account so could not access this once the eBook expired. I would have liked to have started/continued reading it but could not because it was expired.

Unfortunately, I read this book back in 2017 but completely forgot to upload a review on here, so can't remember exactly what I was going to say about it!

I adored this book. It's aimed at children, but it's written as if Alex is recording the events through his iPod and his voice was lovely and mature for an 11 year old boy. There were times where his innocence came through and that made the story even more endearing.

From the very first page I knew this wasn't the typical space book, it reminded me a little bit of Young Sheldon, but only because it's a about a young boy who loves science. The similarities end there- also, there's a dog. Any book that has a dog is a winner in my eyes.

It's not just about his love of space, it's also about his family. There's a twist later on (after Alex discovers something about his dad through an ancestry website) which I was really worried would turn out for the worst but it didn't and really added to Alex's journey as we follow his narration through different moments in this period of his life.

I also loved the pop culture references throughout the book, it definitely gave it a real-world feel.

It's a book to read and be enjoyed. It can be enjoyed by people of every age because rockets and space travel never age.

It's a truly beautiful story.

5/5 stars.

I didn't really get into this, it was too disjointed for me, even though I liked the main character and the setting. I didn't finish it

I received this book to review awhile back from Netgalley but it’s only recently I read (well, listened to) this book. Why didn’t I read it sooner? This book is heartfelt and emotional. When I say I love middle-grade novels, it’s books like there. If you love books that tear at your heartstrings and make you feel uplifted and inspired - look no further than this book.

I absolutely adore Alex and it was a privilege to read about a character like him. Eleven years old with an extraordinarily big heart, an abundance of courage, and ridiculously smart too. He’s kind and compassionate and caring and an example to all males, young and old. I loved the way the author captured how responsible and intelligent he is whilst still maintaining the innocence and naivety that is integral to a child. His enthusiasm, compassion, and kindness made him a character you will all adore.

I loved the other characters too. Zed was an incredible character. He understood Alex and tried to help him as much as possible. I wasn’t completely sold on Steve for a lot of the time but his character definitely grew throughout the novel. I absolutely adored Terra. I loved how she took Alex’s arrival in her stride and looked out for him and loved him. She was a selfless, caring character who I adored. She had her flaws, albeit minor, which made her a realistic character. There was also Ronnie, Alex’s older brother, who I was incredibly frustrated with for the majority of the novel. His neglect of Alex made me furious, but again, he had extraordinary character development.


I also adored Carl Sagan, Alex's dog. He's a precious, sensitive dog and I adored his and Alex's relationship!

I appreciated the excellent character growth that occurs in this novel. All the characters went through some sort of metamorphosis. It was gradual and it was real. By the end of the book, I felt as if they were all a little bit better than when they started, and I think it was mainly due to the tenacity and tenderness of Alex's personality.

I think we all know by now that I'm a dog person. I love dogs. They are the most precious creatures on this planet and I wholeheartedly believe doggos make the world a better place. That's why I'm going to mention Alex's relationship with his dog. I think you can tell a lot about a person from how they treat their animals. and judging by how Alex takes care of Carl Sagan, you can tell how much he loves him. He even has a special gluten and dairy free diet for him because he has a sensitive digestive system! I loved the friendship between Carl Sagan and Alex, it was adorable.

I loved the relationship between Alex and Terra. I loved how Terra took care of Alex and how she was honest with him about many things. She wasn't always perfect but she tried. I also loved Alex's relationship with his brother Ronnie towards the end of the book. He finally realised the neglect Alex had been through and how that needed to change. Towards the end of the book when I saw the solidarity and care between Ronnie, Terra, and Alex it made my heart burst.

Alex was such an incredible person towards his mother too. He cooked her meals, made sure she was well-cared for, and tried to understand her as much as possible. He is honestly the sweetest bean and I love him a lot.

See You in the Cosmos is a road-trip book. Alex has built a rocket and is making recordings on his golden iPod to launch into space in the hopes that one day it will be discovered by aliens and enlighten them on life on Earth (one of the reasons why the audiobook works so well). I say I love road-trip books but I haven't actually read that many; I suppose I just really like the concept. Alex travels by himself with Carl Sagan to attend S.H.A.R.F., a festival where he'll be able to launch his rockets among many others. Once he is there, he befriends Zed and Steve. A surprising result from Ancestry.com leads him to travelling with Zed and Steve to Las Vegas to find his dad, who he was told died eight years ago. From there on, with his new friends, he travels to several other places until he finally finds his way back home.

I loved the plot. I loved the journey of self-discovery that ensued. I loved the shifting dynamics between the characters and the revelations that dawned on them. I just loved it.

See You in the Cosmos, although it's a middle-grade, tackled some heavy topics that I wasn't quite expecting. Alex is severely neglected by his mother. It's hinted at that she's severely depressed. Alex refers to her as having "quiet days" and going for "long walks". Alex does all the cooking and he basically has free reign. Towards the end of the novel, it's revealed that his mother has a psychological disorder that I wasn't expecting at all. It was handled with grace and sensitivity. Alex's compassion, love, and care for his mom was so beautiful to read. The negligence from the adult figures in his life was quite tough to swallow at times, though.

I loved the writing. You know those middle-grade novels that are filled with emotion, sentiment, and self-discovery that are ultimately expressed through the honest way in which it's written? See You in the Cosmos is like that. I loved the writing. Alex's voice illuminated the book and warmed my heart. The author perfectly captured the voice of an 11-year-old. He captured the naivety and the hopefulness, the realisations of injustice and the harsh reality of life. It was incredibly done.

See You in the Cosmos is a spectacular novel that clutched at my heartstrings. Written with gentleness, sensitivity, and extraordinary emotion, See You in the Cosmos will be appreciated by anyone with an affinity for the stars, family, friendship, and self-discovery. An exceptionally beautiful middle-grade novel.

I give it: 4.5/5 cupcakes

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I know that it was written as a children's book, and I am an adult reading it. However, I feel that a lot of the plot may be missed by a child reader, so I'm really not sure who it is aimed at.
The idea was certainly an interesting one, but I found the second half a lot more interesting than the first. In fact, I had previously tried reading it and gave up a few chapters in. But, as I said, it is an interesting idea and I am sure that the right reader would enjoy it.

This is a unique and touching middle grade book about Alex and his love for space. The book is made up of a series of recording Alex makes to send into the cosmos as he tries to understand the meaning of life and his place in the world. I wasn't expecting this style of writing but I thoroughly enjoyed it and Cheng has written a book that really engages with the reader and you can't help but champion Alex as you go.

Thank you for taking the time to send this book to me. It is not an author that I usually read but I thought I would enjoy.
I don't think it is for me but I wish this author well with their novel.

Every now and again, I pick up a book that is so magical and out of this world that I can't help but fall in love. That definitely applies to Jack Cheng's See You in the Cosmos, a middle grade novel about space, science, rockets and a young explorer called Alex Petroski.

Alex is on a mission. Inspired by Carl Sagan's Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft, he is heading from Colorado to a space festival in New Mexico to launch his golden iPod into space on board his homemade rocket. There is just one problem: Alex is eleven years old and he is travelling alone, unless you count his trustworthy dog named Carl Sagan (named after his hero, of course).

Somehow, against all odds, Alex slips through the net of adult supervision and embarks on a journey that ultimately takes him from Colorado to New Mexico to Las Vegas to L.A. and home again. Along the way, Alex learns the meaning of love and friendship and that family is often a lot closer than we think.

See You in the Cosmos is a wonderfully original and entertaining read that is as interesting for its focus on science and space exploration as it is for dealing with very serious issues including complicated families, unemployment and mental illness. In addition to Alex, Cheng also introduces a host of supporting characters who grow and develop as human beings all while trying to cope with a very precocious yet vulnerable eleven-year-old in what is a very short book.

Despite featuring such a young protagonist, See You in the Cosmos is one of those rare books that will transcend boundaries and appeal as much to teens and adults as it does middle-graders. Alex's earnest view of a confusing and chaotic adult world is refreshing and often hilarious.

See You in the Cosmos is a heart-warming, lovely book. I give it four out of five stars and recommend to fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and R. J. Palacio's Wonder.

See You In the Cosmos really made me feel really emotional. What a beautiful story and I really did not want it to end. I loved Alex and how he just wanted to reach the stars. Even though he is only 11, he is so much wiser than his years show. He practically lives on his own. His brother no longer lives with them and his mother suffers from depression. I absolutely adored the dog too!

A really lovely book to read while wrapped in blankets drinking hot chocolate!

Very recommended middle grade read, science fiction oriented reminds me off Wonder by R.J Palacio and sure its a great read.

Interesting concept.

I think I might enjoy listening to this more especially as it is written as audio recordings.

I didn't fully connect but then I didn't fully connect with A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time either.

In this book, we follow Alex, a young boy obsessed with rockets. He plans to emulate his hero Carl Sagan, and send his “Golden iPod” into space so that alien life can hear what life on Earth is really like. Beginning with a solo trip to a rocket festival, Alex is taken on a journey of self-discovery, all captured through the recordings on his treasured iPod. I’ll be honest, I didn’t particularly enjoy See You in The Cosmos. Whilst the storytelling style was unique, with the story being told in transcripts of “recordings” rather than traditional prose and chapters, there were times during the book that I was bored. I didn’t connect with Alex as a reader, and the idea of him travelling with complete strangers didn’t sit right. I usually love books that feature aspects of STEM, but this one just wasn’t for me.

I Loved this book! Loved it! From page one you realise it's something a bit different, consisting completely of iPod recordings (interesting idea with purpose). The journey of an 11 year old boy and all the things he learns and deals with are all so heartwarming and the characters are really brought to life by the superb writing. The book also deals with some complicated real life issues like mental health and divorce/separation/loss. Overall a lovely read, thoroughly enjoyed it! I'm kinda sad to leave Alex behind in the book now.

I really enjoyed this book. You see the world though an 11 year old's eyes, its complexities and the truly odd things adults do that remain unexplained. This book is very human, funny at times, sad at others. You'll want to hug Alex most of the time.