From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…

Hello, Universe

Erin Entrada Kelly,

Isabel Roxas (Illustrator)

Start date: February 16, 2018

Finish date: March 31, 2018

Discussion: Newbery 2018

Why we're reading this: Winner of the 2018 Newbery award
[close] Winner of the 2018 Newbery award

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Newbery 2018

* Our 2018 Mock Newbery Award Winner is:
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last updated Feb 14, 2018 10:53AM

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What Members Thought

Mar 16, 2017 Monica Edinger rated it it was amazing

My blog review:
There is a certain kind of book that can be tricky for me, a quiet, but emotionally powerful book. I see such books as teetering on tightropes --- balancing just right the heartstrings-tugging, the poignancy, the tenderness, the provoking-of-tears. Too much and I feel manipulated, too little and I just don't care. It is for this reason I was wary when beginning Erin Entrada Kelly's Hello, Universe, but I needn't have been. It is to my mind an exemplar of this sort of book ---- qui My blog review:
There is a certain kind of book that can be tricky for me, a quiet, but emotionally powerful book. I see such books as teetering on tightropes --- balancing just right the heartstrings-tugging, the poignancy, the tenderness, the provoking-of-tears. Too much and I feel manipulated, too little and I just don't care. It is for this reason I was wary when beginning Erin Entrada Kelly's Hello, Universe, but I needn't have been. It is to my mind an exemplar of this sort of book ---- quiet, introspective, moving, witty, and emotional in all the right ways. I liked it so much, in fact, that I've added it to my goodread's Newbery list. Yes indeed, I think it is that good.

The novel takes place in a single day featuring four middle schoolers. In the center is Virgil Salinas, a highly introverted member of a large extrovert family who call him Turtle "Because he wouldn't 'come out of his shell,' Every time they said it, a piece of him broke." The exception is his Filipina grandmother Lola who calls him Virgilio, gets him completely, and tells him folk tales to bolster him through life's challenges. Virgil has a crush on deaf and confident Valencia Somerset, but is too shy to let her know. And so he has become a client of the young physic Kaori Tanaka who, with her younger sister Gen, intends to help him. Last of all there is Chet Bullens who has bullied Virgil unceasingly.

An encounter in the woods with Chet leaves Virgil in a life-threatening situation. Readers are firmly with him as he reacts to this, tries to figure out what to do, and considers some of Lola's tales as a way to build strength in a dire moment. Here is where my admiration for Kelly's writing really takes hold as she masterfully balances the emotionally of Virgil's circumstances on that tightrope without a misstep. The threads of the other characters move in and out of Virgil's difficulty. We get in Chet's head and, while we learn more about what may have turned him so mean, we don't forgive him for it. Kaori's adult-like serene style is delightfully balanced with her little sister Gen's humorously typical second-grader behavior. Interestingly, while these character storylines are all in third person, Valencia's is in first person; from her tolerance of her father calling her an endearment she could do without to her forthright response to Chet, we easily see how crush-worthy she is.

There is suspense as we hold our breath wondering how Virgil will be saved, there is humor (especially from little Gen), and there is the slow evolution of different personalities, and of what will be, we can be certain, a warm friendship between Virgil, Valencia, and Kaori beyond the book's ending. It may be this is a book for introverts? I can't say, but it provided all that I want in a book for children --- an intriguing plot, beautifully articulated characters, tight and elegant sentences, wit, and opportunity for thought. Hello, Universe is one quiet, emotional book that I recommend highly. ...more

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May 21, 2017 Shari (Shira) rated it liked it

Shelves: childrensbooks

This book takes on a few issues: bullying, deafness, and shyness. It had a slow start which might lose some kids. While the ending was satisfying, the bully character was flat and cliche. I also got bogged down in the Filipino folktales.

3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 25, 2018 Dan rated it it was amazing

There was a lot to love in this Newbery Medal Winner, Hello Universe. It reminded me a fair amount of Margi Preus' West of the Moon. I loved the characters and folktales mixed together! ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2017 Dest marked it as to-read

Shelves: newbery

I have started this book twice (once audio, once in print) and never got past the fourth chapter. Now that it has won the Newbery, I guess I have to try again. I think the reason I didn't get into this is that it appeared to have no plot (kinda like Piecing Me Together). But I just read a review that says the plot gets going in chapter eight! Better late than never? ...more

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Jan 08, 2018 Adriel rated it liked it

Shelves: j-fiction, j-diverse, seba

I found this book to be strange, boring, but not unreadable. I realize middle-grade realistic fiction is probably one of my least favorite genre's, so I know I have a bias. The characters did not feel compelling or rich they seemed more like caricatures. ...more

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May 18, 2017 Mary Lee rated it really liked it

Shelves: bully, 2017, identity, characters, realistic-fiction

This book reminded me a bit of The Girl Who Drank the Moon -- you learn about each character, and eventually the author brings them all to the forest for different reasons. There's even an evil character (not a witch...a very believable bully). ...more

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Mar 19, 2018 Leslie rated it really liked it

Shelves: middlegrade, newbery

Newbery winner, 2018. Great characterizations! I loved that the kids saved Virgil with no adult help. I loved the idea of the Lola’s Filipino stories, but they felt tacked on to me and I think the appearance of Ruby will be confusing for young readers.

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Jun 10, 2017 Jess rated it really liked it

Shelves: juv, newbery

A really lovely slice-of-life story, following four kids in the same neighborhood. Definitely recommended, especially for kids looking for stories about friendship, being who you want to be, and realistic stories in general.

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