This was such a sweet and engaging story with lots of depth and emotion. The characters are ones you root for. Recommend to kids and those with kids this age in their life.

What a unique voice for a middle grade novel! Perfect for middle school readers and adults alike, and perfectly balanced the awkwardness of middle school, peer pressure, fitting in, and how a friend can be an absolute lifeline at this age. Loved it!

Brian and Ezra are typical 13 year olds, so why read their story? They are placed in a difficult situation, and their fear and anxiety over how to handle their problems are written in a believable, authentic voice. Brian is a shy introverted basketball player that ends up in foster care. Ezra is confident and has a lot of friends. He's one of the basketball guys, and considers Brian a friend, even though Brian is so shy. Students may see themselves as Brian struggles to take care of his brother while dealing with panic attacks. Other students will relate to Ezra as he goes through that inner battle of showing too much attention to his crush versus helping a friend who needs him. I love that Chad Lucas does not make Ezra's sexual preference a huge part of the plot, just a natural part of who Ezra is. Lucas also creates realistic conversations amongst the boys and their friends that readers can enjoy.

Thanks a Lot, Universe is a unique take on the life of the middle grade boy. I love that Thanks a Lot, Universe features a diverse cast of characters and covers a variety of situations that middle graders find themselves in. A must-read for anyone trying to "get" middle schoolers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Equal parts funny, relatable, and sad, this book will be an excellent character study for grades 7 and 8

I truly enjoyed thanks a lot universe and will always recommend this for my students. Brian is a young student whose dad has just run away and mom has a mental issues. Thus, Brian is placed into a foster home that he absolutely hates with his younger brother. Ezra is a part of a popular social group who just wants to be cool and play basketball. Yes, this young superstar tends to notice right now and takes an interest in the young man. When Brian runs away from foster care. Ezra is one that reaches out and tries to find the young boy. What happens next? Well, you’ll have to find out what the universe has in store for these two young ones.

The theme is touched on in Chad Lucas’s story more relevant and important for any young adult leader. I loved that Lucas did not show away from foster care but yet painted it in a realistic portrait. Readers may see what it feels like to be out casted and tend to want to hang out with a lonely student more. You never know what is going on from another person’s point of you. I enjoyed the character development throughout and the relationship drawn between the two main characters. This is a book that I cannot wait to have on my shelf for the upcoming school year.

I really related to Brian's anxiety, and his struggles to stand up for himself, and I think that a lot of young readers will relate to that too. It was a great read that clipped along and made me fall in love with Brian and Ezra. This was such a great read--heartfelt and sweet with lots of great moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

This book is great for inclusion. A heart warming story, thoroughly enjoyed it

Wonderfully written coming of age Young Adult/Teen novel that tackles topics in a sensitive manner that all middle graders can find some connections within. Also, the point of view that it is written in draws readers in.

3.5 stars

This is a hard-hitting, middle-grade story following Brian - an anxious kid who's faced with a terrible situation when he and his brother are placed in foster care - and Ezra, a popular kid who's feeling the effects of middle school as his best friends drift apart and he deals with a potential crush on Brian. When Brian and his brother run away from their new foster home, Ezra reaches out to help find Brian and to show him that he has a friend in Ezra. As the boys come together, they have to decide if they're willing to risk sharing parts of themselves they'd rather hide.

This was such a sweet and wholesome read! There was a lot to love about this book: the characters were wonderfully realistic and diverse, the writing was polished and easy to follow, and the content struck a precise balance between difficult topics and a tone appropriate for younger audiences. I really enjoyed following both Ezra and Brian. Their voices were so distinct and true to middle-school aged boys. I loved their friendship and the way they were able to support one another.

I don't necessarily have anything negative to say about this story (other than the humor wasn't really my cup of tea, but then again, I'm not a 13-year-old boy), I was just left wanting a bit more. I think, for instance, more could have been done with the plot line where Brian runs away (I didn't really understand how there weren't more consequences for his actions and/or how transferring homes was done so quickly and easily). The ending was also bittersweet as I wanted more happiness for these boys, but at the same time, it was realistic and ultimately satisfying.

Overall, this was an excellent middle grade read and I really enjoyed my time with Brian & Ezra!

Thank you to NetGalley & Amulet Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

On his birthday, Brian wakes up to a note that his father, who is involved in the marijuana industry, has gone on the run due to legal issues again. When his mother finds out, she attempts suicide, sending Brian and his little brother into foster care. Though their foster parents mean well, Brian is miserable. He runs away with his little brother.

Over the past weeks at school, Ezra has slowly formed a friendship with Brian, his basketball teammate. But the friendship means more to Ezra than others know. He has a crush on Brian. Furthermore, Ezra is struggling about how others will treat him regarding his sexuality. For years, he had a crush on his friend Colby. He's over it now, but questions why their friendship is strained. Is it because Colby is hanging out with bullies? Is he jealous of Colby's new relationship with a girl? Ezra's conflicting feelings are extremely compelling and add to the already emotionally tense narrative.

When Ezra finds out Brian has run away, he offers Brian support and is there for him. I loved that this book featured supportive relationships between boy characters. The friendship between Ezra and Brian is so special. Brian is in such a place that he doesn't even realize how close the two boys are. When Ezra does confess his feelings to Brian, though Brian doesn't necessarily feel the same way, he is supportive of Ezra and continues his friendship with him.

This is an emotional rollercoaster of a book. It was so tough to see the adults in Brian's life put him in some seriously iffy situations, but I appreciated that the author neither praises nor villainizes these adults. It's clear that their decisions have hurt Brian and his brother, but they're not described as bad parents.

This was a 4 star read for me that I think any kid who can emotionally handle the content will appreciate.

This was such a wonderfully written story for middle grade readers with laugh out loud moments and very somber moments that will connect them to the amazing characters Chad Lucas brings to life in this story.

Recommended for inclusion in Vancouver Public Library's booklist "Rainbow Selections for the Middle Years".

I was provided a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fantastic. Had me all up in my feelings. My heart broke for Brian and his younger brother, but it was neatly glued back together by Ezra, Gabe, Brittany, and Mrs. Clelland, and even Sergeant States. Honestly, even Ty and Kevan. A lot of people stepping up and being fantastic allies in this book. A great way to spark some discussions with kids about how we stand up for and support others.

Everything felt very realistic from the plot to the characters, but the two main characters/ narrators are definitely on the higher end of the intellect spectrum for middle grades. They reminded me far more of my accelerated students than my on-level students. Not necessarily a bad thing, and it’s even a minor plot point that a side character struggles academically.

This is a fantastic book for book clubs in grades 6-8. It’s true middle grades with just the right amount of edge and grit to make it interesting even for 8th graders without introducing any developmentally inappropriate content. It has enough depth to spark some really good discussions on a variety of timely and important topics. Highly recommend!

This book was so so sweet and such wonderful representation for young readers. I find that so many people come into the store looking for books that talk about mental health and anxiety in accessible ways for middle schoolers and Thanks a Lot, Universe has become a go-to rec for me. I also loved that it was set locally! I didn't realize until I started.

“Thanks a Lot, Universe” is a heart-warming young adult story about two people who come together even though their life is out of sorts.

The author’s style of writing is simple yet effective and moves at a nice pace. You don’t notice the time fly by once you start reading. The author also touches on crucial issues like bullying and anxiety as Brian experiences this. I also liked the inserts like Brian’s preparation lists.

Speaking of whom, I adored Brian. My heart went out to Brian after what happens to him because of his father. There are some scenes where he gets emotional after hearing his dad’s messages that broke my heart. He wants the Universe to owe him a good year for whatever he has gone through, but he still finds it broken. Similarly, Ezra is trying to sort over his feelings and trying to find himself.

The author also wrote the chemistry between Brian and Ezra beautifully. From their ride together as they talk about the library to how guilty Ezra gets when he sees Victor with Brian, there is never a dull moment. The two of them go through many emotions as they become involved in each other’s lives. I adored reading about their story. The story takes quite a few twists and turns, especially when Gabe becomes more prominent. On a side note, I also loved Emma and Brittany and their sassy attitude. Even Kevan, Colby, and Ty were fun in the supporting cast.

Overall, “Thanks a Lot, Universe” is like a breath of fresh air. It stands out for its realistic depiction of characters and their struggling emotions.

What a stunning debut! I will definitely be picking up anything Chad Lucas writes from here on out. This book made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me hopeful. The book is told in dual POV between Brian and Ezra who both attend the same middle school and although not friends, are acquainted though the school's basketball team. Brian's life implodes on the morning of this 13th birthday and he and his brother are put in foster care. When Brian and his brother go missing, Ezra reaches out and a strong friendship is formed. This book deals with A LOT of heavy topics, including suicide attempt, death of parent, arrest of parent, foster care, anxiety disorder, and panic attacks. I felt the book was not too heavy and watching Brian grow throughout the novel was realistic and heart-warming. While he struggles with the situation with his own family, a "found-family" comes to his aid, which includes an older brother-figure who helps him through panic attacks and helps Brian find his voice. I was utterly captivated from beginning to end and read the book in one setting. This was near perfect for me and would give it 4.5 stars.

Hoo boy. I knew there would be some heavy topics from the blurb, but I didn't realize how heavy. Don't go in expecting a fluffy, LGBT Middle Grade read - though the first half of the book felt like a totally different story from the latter half.

Chad Lucas writes a modern day classic that fits well into the Children's Literature LGBTQ+ canon. When Brian's dad suddenly leaving the night before his birthday and his mother overdoses the next morning, his 13th year is already off to a bad start. Add a foster home and school bullying into the mix and his 1st week as a 13 year old just keeps getting worse. Cut off from his family, Brian copes with the stress by shutting himself off from the world and running away with his little brother, making reckless choices for their survival. When Brian doesn't show up for school, classmate Ezra becomes worried and makes it his mission to find Brian wherever he's disappeared to. In the midst of it all, Brian must learn to deal with his situational trauma and the anxiety that stems from it while Ezra comes to terms with his crush on Brian and what his sexuality means in respect to his own circle of friends. Thanks a Lot, Universe is a beautifully written novel whose characters you will want to see thrive.