A hilarious and heartfelt examination of “dadliness” in all its forms. A can’t-miss offering from an author whose latest novel may be his best yet.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[Frank Cottrell Boyce] has created a riveting, affecting, sometimes snortingly funny “what-if” scenario. Liam’s musings on what it takes to be a good, responsible father are dryly comical but also charmingly earnest. A high-levity zero-gravity romp.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A story of human possibility with a lot of adventure, or an adventure with full credit given to human possibility? Either way, it’s a fantastic, funny, and moving novel. Celebrates not only the spirit of exploration but the human connectedness that allows it to flower.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
“Readers will appreciate the sharp, realistic, and very funny dialogue.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“In his latest extravagantly imaginative and marvelously good-natured novel, [Frank Cottrell Boyce has] written one that is bound to win readers’ hearts. This is not only a story about big lads, but also about dads and dadliness!” — Booklist (starred review)
“This superb humorous and inventive “cosmic” adventure celebrated space travel, friendships, and dads.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)
“With echoes of Roald Dahl . . . the novel ends with an elegant punch line, and a touching endorsement of filial love.” — New York Times Book Review
“Cottrell Boyce has a gift for suspending disbelief, for laugh-out-loud comedy. “Cosmic” is Liam’s favorite term of approval. It applies to this book.” — London Times
“His third novel, and his best yet. Hugely funny and utterly gripping.” — The Guardian
“Hilariously inventive. Frank Cottrell Boyce makes you laugh and think about parents and growing up, about the goodness of gravity and the infinite stars.” — Washington Post
This superb humorous and inventive “cosmic” adventure celebrated space travel, friendships, and dads.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)
A story of human possibility with a lot of adventure, or an adventure with full credit given to human possibility? Either way, it’s a fantastic, funny, and moving novel. Celebrates not only the spirit of exploration but the human connectedness that allows it to flower.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
Cottrell Boyce has a gift for suspending disbelief, for laugh-out-loud comedy. “Cosmic” is Liam’s favorite term of approval. It applies to this book.
Hilariously inventive. Frank Cottrell Boyce makes you laugh and think about parents and growing up, about the goodness of gravity and the infinite stars.
…hilariously inventive…As with his acclaimed Millions, author Frank Cottrell Boyce makes you laugh and think about parents and growing up, about the goodness of gravity and the infinite stars.
Twelve-year-old Liam Digby is Completely Doomed. He's lost in outer space, incommunicado, in a Chinese spacecraft called Infinite Possibility. To further complicate matters, he's an imposter: a tall-for-his-age kid with premature facial hair pretending to be a dad so he could participate in the secret civilian space flight in the first place-a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-style contest in which the winning children get to go on the ultimate thrill ride, an actual rocket. The good news is, the view is amazing: "When you're in it, space looks like the biggest firework display ever-except it's on pause . . . . Even if you're Completely Doomed, you've got to be impressed." On the heels of the Carnegie Medal-winning Millions (2004) and Framed (2006), Cottrell Boyce has created a riveting, affecting, sometimes snortingly funny "what-if" scenario that illuminates the realities of space travel as it thoughtfully examines the nature of adulthood. Liam's musings on what it takes to be a good, responsible father are dryly comical but also charmingly earnest. A high-levity zero-gravity romp. (Science fiction. 10-14)
His third novel, and his best yet. Hugely funny and utterly gripping.
Hilariously inventive. Frank Cottrell Boyce makes you laugh and think about parents and growing up, about the goodness of gravity and the infinite stars.
In his latest extravagantly imaginative and marvelously good-natured novel, [Frank Cottrell Boyce has] written one that is bound to win readers’ hearts. This is not only a story about big lads, but also about dads and dadliness!
Booklist (starred review)
With echoes of Roald Dahl . . . the novel ends with an elegant punch line, and a touching endorsement of filial love.
New York Times Book Review
Cottrell Boyce has a gift for suspending disbelief, for laugh-out-loud comedy. “Cosmic” is Liam’s favorite term of approval. It applies to this book.
In his latest extravagantly imaginative and marvelously good-natured novel, [Frank Cottrell Boyce has] written one that is bound to win readers’ hearts...This is not only a story about big lads, but also about dads and dadliness!
"Stunningly original…the concept is immediately booktalkable and the telling is riveting; a book of such wealth—of any kind—is valuable indeed." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review of Millions
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Stunningly original…the concept is immediately booktalkable and the telling is riveting; a book of such wealth—of any kind—is valuable indeed.” — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review of Millions
The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books
Gr 5–8—Twelve-year-old Liam looks like an adult, complete with facial hair, in Frank Cottrell Boyce's novel (Walden Pond Press, 2010). The story evolves slowly, emphasizing Liam's early misadventures and the problems that result based on adults' assumptions and his own immaturity. Kirby Heyborne's first person narration captures both Liam's innocence and delight in the "opportunities" afforded him, and his regret at the later consequences. He also gives realistic performances as Liam's parents, other adults, and children Liam encounters in what becomes, briefly, an outer space adventure when he poses as a Dad and takes a group of kids on the greatest ride ever—a trip to outer space in a rocket ship. When the voyage goes awry, Liam is forced to be "the grown up." Liam's efforts to sound like an adult are mingled with his reflections on computer game strategy (complete with lingo). Liam's views on what makes a good Dad are thoughtfully expressed and memorable. A humorous, moving novel.—Edith Ching, University of Maryland, College Park
This superb humorous and inventive “cosmic” adventure celebrated space travel, friendships, and dads.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
