I adored this book. It’s always so great to read about a thoughtful, curious and kind-hearted young person and Alex is an absolutely delightful character.

Inspired by his hero Carl Sagan, the Voyager Golden Records, and dedicated to truth, Alex is obsessively making recordings that chronicle his life and his thoughts on a spray-painted gold iPod. They are intended for alien life forms and are to be launched into space with the rocket he is building. The book’s narration follows these recordings and we join the independent Alex (and his dog Carl Sagan) as a few days at rocket camp turns into a life-changing journey. Rocket camp becomes an epic road trip and during Alex’s travels he forms many meaningful, unlikely friendships and discovers some very important truths about his own life and family situation.

There are some big themes here, all dealt with compassionately and always comprehensibly; respect is shown to both the subject and the intended youthful audience. Kindness, optimism and honesty triumph and this funny, clever, extraordinarily warm book is a perfect next-read choice for those who loved R.J Palacio’s Wonder.

Kim Gruschow