{"id":34774,"date":"2018-05-17T22:31:51","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T02:31:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=34774"},"modified":"2018-05-17T22:31:51","modified_gmt":"2018-05-18T02:31:51","slug":"review-of-hello-universe-by-erin-entrada-kelly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=34774","title":{"rendered":"Review of Hello, Universe, by Erin Entrada Kelly"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Hello, Universe<\/em><\/p>\n

by Erin Entrada Kelly
\nperformed by Ramon de Ocampo and Amielynn Abellera<\/p>\n

HarperAudio, 2017. 5 \u00bc hours on 5 discs.
\nStarred Review
\n2018 Newbery Medal Winner<\/p>\n

I was disappointed when I hadn\u2019t read this year\u2019s Newbery Medal Winner before it won \u2013 though not too disappointed, because now I had a good book to read! The only problem: When to read it? I need to be reading books eligible for the 2019 Newbery Medal. <\/p>\n

However, our committee is trying to avoid listening to eligible books, since a good or bad narrator can influence your opinion of a book \u2013 so when the library purchased this book in audio format, I knew what my next commuting book would be.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a quirky story. One thing I like about it is that it stands a writing rule on its head: Don\u2019t use coincidences to move the plot. But in this case, coincidences are used repeatedly \u2013 and it\u2019s perfect for this story. It reminds me of the old book by Edward Eager, Magic Or Not?<\/em> — you aren\u2019t sure if the things happening are coincidences or magic. In Hello, Universe<\/em> you aren\u2019t sure if events are coincidences or fate.<\/p>\n

Among the characters, though, Kaori Tanaka is absolutely sure it\u2019s a fateful day. She says over and over: \u201cThere are no coincidences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kaori Tanaka is a self-proclaimed psychic. Her little sister follows her around and helps, in a gratifying and subservient way. Kaori has one client so far, Vergil Salinas. Vergil is very shy, and he feels like a complete failure because middle school ended, and he never said one word to that nice girl he saw in the resource room every Thursday, Valencia Somerset. Valencia is deaf, and she\u2019s recently learned that the girls she thought were her best friends are tired of making the effort to communicate with her. She\u2019s started having the same nightmare every night.<\/p>\n

But after Kaori asks Vergil to post her card at the grocery store \u2013 with the line \u201cno adults\u201d \u2013 the one who picks it up and makes an appointment is Valencia. She hopes to get help with those bad dreams. But the day that Valencia makes an appointment to see Kaori is the same day that Vergil has not shown up for his appointment. What could have happened to him? And will the Universe help them find him?<\/p>\n

I like the way the apparent coincidences combine to help each character make some changes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fun to get a peek when fate brings people together. But then, I was also pretty sure in the Edward Eager books that magic was involved.<\/p>\n

harperaudio.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/hello_universe.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library audiobook from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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