From the Publisher
"Clues to the Universe shines with larger-than-life characters, the power of science, and a friendship greater than any force in the universe. Heartwarming, imaginative, timeless!" — Katie Zhao, author of The Dragon Warrior
"An achingly beautiful and thoughtfully written debut that will find its way into the heart of readers seeking heart, hope and a sense of wonder." — Karuna Riazi, author of The Gauntlet
"With an engaging voice and perfectly lovable characters, Clues to the Universe is a heart-filling journey of hope, healing, and friendship." — Cindy Baldwin, author of Where the Watermelons Grow and Beginners Welcome
“Christina Li’s Clues to the Universe is a triumphant story of friendship, loss, and the journey of finding your place in the world (and among the stars). A reminder that we sometimes have to travel great distances to find the secrets of what makes life beautiful. A remarkable debut!” — Pablo Cartaya, award-winning, bestselling author of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
“Charming, poignant, and thoughtfully woven.” — Kirkus Reviews
"It’s impossible not to root for Ro and Benji as they discover the fun of imperfection, the wisdom that comes with failure, and the joy to be found in unexpected friendships." — Booklist
“Alternating first-person chapters provide insight into each character’s fears, worries, and hopes, creating two compelling, relatable protagonists who recognize the strengths in their differences and help each other forge new paths forward.” — Publishers Weekly
“The message of resilience, courage, and friendship will resonate widely with young readers.” — School Library Journal
Katie Zhao
"Clues to the Universe shines with larger-than-life characters, the power of science, and a friendship greater than any force in the universe. Heartwarming, imaginative, timeless!"
Pablo Cartaya
Christina Li’s Clues to the Universe is a triumphant story of friendship, loss, and the journey of finding your place in the world (and among the stars). A reminder that we sometimes have to travel great distances to find the secrets of what makes life beautiful. A remarkable debut!
Booklist
"It’s impossible not to root for Ro and Benji as they discover the fun of imperfection, the wisdom that comes with failure, and the joy to be found in unexpected friendships."
Karuna Riazi
"An achingly beautiful and thoughtfully written debut that will find its way into the heart of readers seeking heart, hope and a sense of wonder."
Cindy Baldwin
"With an engaging voice and perfectly lovable characters, Clues to the Universe is a heart-filling journey of hope, healing, and friendship."
Booklist
"It’s impossible not to root for Ro and Benji as they discover the fun of imperfection, the wisdom that comes with failure, and the joy to be found in unexpected friendships."
Pablo Cartaya
Christina Li’s Clues to the Universe is a triumphant story of friendship, loss, and the journey of finding your place in the world (and among the stars). A reminder that we sometimes have to travel great distances to find the secrets of what makes life beautiful. A remarkable debut!
Kirkus Reviews
2020-10-27
An aspiring scientist and a budding artist become friends and help each other with dream projects.
Unfolding in mid-1980s Sacramento, California, this story stars 12-year-olds Rosalind and Benjamin as first-person narrators in alternating chapters. Ro’s father, a fellow space buff, was killed by a drunk driver; the rocket they were working on together lies unfinished in her closet. As for Benji, not only has his best friend, Amir, moved away, but the comic book holding the clue for locating his dad is also missing. Along with their profound personal losses, the protagonists share a fixation with the universe’s intriguing potential: Ro decides to complete the rocket and hopes to launch mementos of her father into outer space while Benji’s conviction that aliens and UFOs are real compels his imagination and creativity as an artist. An accident in science class triggers a chain of events forcing Benji and Ro, who is new to the school, to interact and unintentionally learn each other’s secrets. They resolve to find Benji’s dad—a famous comic-book artist—and partner to finish Ro’s rocket for the science fair. Together, they overcome technical, scheduling, and geographical challenges. Readers will be drawn in by amusing and fantastical elements in the comic book theme, high emotional stakes that arouse sympathy, and well-drawn character development as the protagonists navigate life lessons around grief, patience, self-advocacy, and standing up for others. Ro is biracial (Chinese/White); Benji is White.
Charming, poignant, and thoughtfully woven. (Fiction. 9-12)
