"The Universe vx Alex Woods" - what did you think?

[PacificDogwood]

I started a thread about this in Children's Books wondering whether to encourage DS1(almost 11) to read it - which I have done in the meantime .

I finished reading it a good few days ago and it is staying with me; powerful stuff about organic brain injury, bullying, the universe and assisted suicide - all very well handled and well-written I thought.

Ds at age 12 brought this home from school and I read a third or so of it to him and he loved it up to the bullies on the bus bit but then lost interest totally. I have since read it again from the start and loved it, but on balance I don't think it's a children's book really. I'm not sure the whole PSP/Dignitas thing is something they need to know about just yet. I really liked it though from the astronomy to neurology to bigger questions stuff.
Similarly in have just read The Fault in Our Stars, which seems to be billed as a teen and adult read. Yes the protagonists are both 16 but I'm not rushing to recommend it to ds, now 13yrs. Have you read it?

Also, coincidentally went to Glastonbury over Christmas and the white and red wells are both there, which I had not noticed before, along with many shops of the type owned by Alex's mother.

I loved it! I don't think its a children's book though - not that they shouldn't read it just that I didn't think it was aimed specifically at kids.

Really thought provoking and I loved alex!

No, but that sounds interesting - I shall look out for it, thanks.

I am struggling a bit with DS because his reading age is 'older' that his actual age, but emotionally he is very much a child.
He is currently reading Mr Gum - intellectual NOT, but clearly great fun.

Yes, I find 'The Universe...' difficult to place too - I would never go out of my way to specifically read a book about assisted suicide, but I thought it was well handled and described sensitively.
There was of course the 'C' word - and I don't mean the cannabis farming .

Oh yes I forgot about the cannabis farming - priceless how Alex dedicated himself to it as an academic exercise in order to help Mr P!
Do read The Fault in Our Stars - I loved it.

Ds loved Mr Gum too!
He is currently reading and loving the Gone series by Michael Grant which I would recommend for your ds Dogwood if he hasn't readread already.
Recent hits with him also include Wonder (R.J.Palacio), Maggot Moon (Sally Gardner) and The Machine Gunners (Robert West all)

Oh, goodie, lots of suggestions, thanks .

Keep'em coming!

I loved the character of Ellie too - so many people in the book who had to struggle with some kind of adversity but did so with dignity and aplomb.

Interesting about the water taps at Glastonbury - lovely to know they are real.

I quite liked it, but wouldn't give it to a 10 year old.

I loved this book. probably not really a children's book although dd (14) has just read fault in our stars so she may like it and is mature enough for it.
I absolutely loved "fault in our stars" too. I cried buckets!

He's decided he's reading the 2nd book in the Mr Gum series just now .
Just because his reading age is a bit ahead does not make him any older than his years.

I think I need to read Fault in our Stars .

I loved it. Was sad to finish it.

I find its often worth having a trawl in 2nd hand bookshops for older children's books, more 'dense' without being too heavy, IYKWIM.

I just picked up a copy of the first Kevin & Sadie book 'The Twelfth day of July' by Joan Lingard for dd - she liked it, and I thought it was interesting that something that was very much a live issue when I was that age is now much more of a historical novel if that makes sense. (If you don't know it, its set in Belfast around the start of the Troubles.)

Other books she's enjoyed recently that might suit your DS are A Little History of Philosophy and A Little History of Science, both v. well written & a good level.