“When you come equipped with an Anxiety Hyperdrive, the worst thoughts are like weeds. They spring up quickly and they’re hard to kill.”
Wow, this book completely took my breath away. At first glance, this might seem like your run-of-the-mill middle grade story about bullies and trouble with parents but there was so much more to Thanks A Lot, Universe. We follow two main characters, Ezra and Brian, who know each other through basketball and who lead very different lives. Brian has always been anxious and that only gets worse when his dad disappears to run from the cops and his mom tries to commit suicide, leaving Brian and his brother temporarily homeless. Then we have Ezra, whose best friend has been acting weirder and weirder and who might have a tiny crush on Brian but can’t quite figure out where to go from there. When things turn from bad to worse, Brian and Ezra bond in a way neither of them thought possible.
This sparkling debut had so much going for it. Chad Lucas definitely has the middle-grade voice down and the dialogue between the characters was engaging and felt very authentic. There’s also a great cast of secondary characters that’s delightfully diverse and everyone gets their moment to shine or derail the plot completely—which made for a messy, realistic and fast-paced read. Special shoutout to Gabe and Brittany, two characters that help both Brian and Ezra in accepting help when they need it and two characters that I would read an entire series about if Lucas was inclined to write that.
I wish I could give both Brian and Ezra a hug. They go through so much in this book and I could relate to both their struggles—Brian, who’s always been somewhat of an outsider because he’s awkward and dealing with anxiety, and Ezra who loves his friends but is also wondering whether they would stand by him if they knew he liked boys. Brian’s journey, in particular, stole my heart. Rarely have I seen such empathetic characters like Gabe who help Brian during his panic attacks, and seen such a great system of support for someone who’s dealing with a mental illness. I feel like Gabe is the big brother everyone should grow up with. I also loved how Ezra approached his sexuality and coming out. Especially in middle grade, this representation of what it means to come out to your friends and family, the innate fear that they might reject you even if you’re 90 percent sure that they’re going to be supportive, was fantastically showcased and is so, so important. Ezra’s crush on Brian was so cute and I also appreciated how Ezra slowly came to realise that he has outgrown some of his friendships.
There are so many heavy topics covered in this book, but in a really approachable way—from mental illness (both parental and individual) to racism, sexuality and bullying. I especially appreciated how the whole conflict between Brian and his bully was handled—it showed that violence breeds violence but that sometimes, it feels like there is no other way than to fight back. Especially in middle school, taking the high road isn’t always as easy as everyone makes it seem. This book is never preachy but it does show ways to deal with the uncertainties of growing up. Overall, this book had everything I love in middle grade: fascinating characters, snappy pacing, authentic voices and a focus on hard-hitting topics in an approachable way. Cannot recommend this enough, no matter how young or old you are!
With a balanced mix of lighthearted and serious moments, Thanks a Lot, Universe shows that we never really know what goes on in people’s private lives but that treating them with kindness is always an effort worth making.
Thanks a Lot, Universe is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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 in 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.
I really need to read it, like right now! ♥