Alex Petroski is eleven years old, and he wants to launch his golden iPod into space the way Carl Sagan the astronomer launched the Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft in 1977. So, Alex is recording EVERYTHING, this book is actually a recording. Alex is a curious kid, and he loves everything about space, from rockets to the stars. He has a dog named Carl Sagan (named after the astronomer) as well. Alex's father is dead, his mother isn't very responsible, and his older brother works out of the state in LA. So, when the Southwest High-Altitude Rocket Festival comes around, Alex packs his duffel, grabs the rocket he's been working on, cooks his mom some meals for while he's gone, and hops on a train. On the train, Alex meets Zed, a guy who has a "Vow Of Silence," so he writes on a chalkboard to talk. Once at the launch site, when it is finally Alex's turn to launch his rocket, it doesn't go very high, and then it plummets to the ground. Alex learns that just because his rocket fell the first time, doesn't mean that he failed for life, he will have another chance. Then, after the launch, Alex learns that a house under his dad's name is in Las Vegas, and that supposedly there was more to Alex's dad's life than he knew. In this amazing book Alex learns that he has more people who care about him than he ever realized. This book pulls you in, and I literally couldn't stop reading it! Alex is funny, curious, thoughtful, caring, and optimistic. This book shows how strong a friendship is, and how important it is to have caring friends. This book is for late elementary and middle school kids. I rate it 5 stars! I hope you like this book as much as I did!

Alex Petroski is eleven years old, and he wants to launch his golden iPod into space the way Carl Sagan the astronomer launched the Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft in 1977. So, Alex is recording EVERYTHING, this book is actually a recording. Alex is a curious kid, and he loves everything about space, from rockets to the stars. He has a dog named Carl Sagan (named after the astronomer) as well. Alex's father is dead, his mother isn't very responsible, and his older brother works out of the state in LA. So, when the Southwest High-Altitude Rocket Festival comes around, Alex packs his duffel, grabs the rocket he's been working on, cooks his mom some meals for while he's gone, and hops on a train. On the train, Alex meets Zed, a guy who has a "Vow Of Silence," so he writes on a chalkboard to talk. Once at the launch site, when it is finally Alex's turn to launch his rocket, it doesn't go very high, and then it plummets to the ground. Alex learns that just because his rocket fell the first time, doesn't mean that he failed for life, he will have another chance. Then, after the launch, Alex learns that a house under his dad's name is in Las Vegas, and that supposedly there was more to Alex's dad's life than he knew. In this amazing book Alex learns that he has more people who care about him than he ever realized. This book pulls you in, and I literally couldn't stop reading it! Alex is funny, curious, thoughtful, caring, and optimistic. This book shows how strong a friendship is, and how important it is to have caring friends. This book is for late elementary and middle school kids. I rate it 5 stars! I hope you like this book as much as I did!

Gracie Grant is fourteen years old and best friends with Sienna Reyes. At school, Gracie hangs out with Sienna, AJ Rojanasopondist, and Emmett Barnaby. In this book, Gracie starts to have a crush on AJ, but when it turns out that AJ actually likes Sienna, not Gracie, Gracie decides to be the #1 best friend. Gracie helps Sienna come up with smart things to text to AJ, and she gets over her crush. Or does she? But there is also Emmett, and Gracie has to decide who she actually likes: AJ, or Emmett? You will love this clever, funny, captivating story that you won't be able to stop reading! Gracie is confident, funny, bright, caring, and she doesn't care what people think of her. My favorite part is when Gracie loses her pet turtle, lightning, and she gets Emmett to help her find him. Emmett is really helpful, and calls over all of their friends to help. With the help, they eventually find Lightning. I recommend this book to middle schoolers. I hope you love this book as much as I did!

Gracie Grant is fourteen years old and best friends with Sienna Reyes. At school, Gracie hangs out with Sienna, AJ Rojanasopondist, and Emmett Barnaby. In this book, Gracie starts to have a crush on AJ, but when it turns out that AJ actually likes Sienna, not Gracie, Gracie decides to be the #1 best friend. Gracie helps Sienna come up with smart things to text to AJ, and she gets over her crush. Or does she? But there is also Emmett, and Gracie has to decide who she actually likes: AJ, or Emmett? You will love this clever, funny, captivating story that you won't be able to stop reading! Gracie is confident, funny, bright, caring, and she doesn't care what people think of her. My favorite part is when Gracie loses her pet turtle, lightning, and she gets Emmett to help her find him. Emmett is really helpful, and calls over all of their friends to help. With the help, they eventually find Lightning. I recommend this book to middle schoolers. I hope you love this book as much as I did!

This is one of my all time favorite books! Julia Marks is very short for her age, and she isn't the best singer, or dancer. When Julia is cast as a Munchkin in a regional theater for a summer production of "The Wizard Of Oz" with her little brother Randy, a new experience opens up for her. Also, three adults with dwarfism are also Munchkins in this show, and Julia becomes great friends with Olive, an adult who is Julia's height, and doesn't want to be judged by it. Then Julia becomes friends with Shawn Barr, the director of the production and someone who inspires Julia to live up to her potential. By the time the summer's over, and "The Wizard Of Oz" production has finished, Julia learns that being short isn't always a bad thing, and that it could be a great thing. Julia is such a brave, responsible, confident person, who wants to be treated like an adult, not a kid. This book inspires you to chase your dreams, and to never give up. I recommend this book to kids in between elementary school and middle school ages. I hope you like this book as much as I did!

This is one of my all time favorite books! Julia Marks is very short for her age, and she isn't the best singer, or dancer. When Julia is cast as a Munchkin in a regional theater for a summer production of "The Wizard Of Oz" with her little brother Randy, a new experience opens up for her. Also, three adults with dwarfism are also Munchkins in this show, and Julia becomes great friends with Olive, an adult who is Julia's height, and doesn't want to be judged by it. Then Julia becomes friends with Shawn Barr, the director of the production and someone who inspires Julia to live up to her potential. By the time the summer's over, and "The Wizard Of Oz" production has finished, Julia learns that being short isn't always a bad thing, and that it could be a great thing. Julia is such a brave, responsible, confident person, who wants to be treated like an adult, not a kid. This book inspires you to chase your dreams, and to never give up. I recommend this book to kids in between elementary school and middle school ages. I hope you like this book as much as I did!