Thursday, July 13, 2017

The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge


The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge
  • Age Range: 9 - 12 years
  • ISBN-10: 1524713570 - Hardcover  $16.99
  • Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (May 30, 2017), 176 pages.


The blurb:
Stephen Albie Bright leads a happy, normal life.  Well, as normal as it gets with two astrophysicist parents who named their son after their favorite scientists, Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein.

But then Albie's mother dies of cancer, and his world is shattered.  When his father explains that she might be alive in a parallel universe, Albie knows he has to find her. So, armed with a box, a laptop, and a banana, Albie sets out to do just that.

Of course, when you're universe-hopping for the very first time, it's difficult to find the one you want.  As Albie searches, he discovers some pretty big surprises about himself and our universe(s), and stumbles upon the answers to life's most challenging questions.

Review:
The Many Worlds of Albie Bright is the story of middle schooler Stephen Albie Bright, the son of two astrophyscists who named their sone after their favorite scientists, Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein.


When we meet Albie, his mother has just died. After the funeral, he overhears his grandfather blaming his mother's cancer on her research.  Albie hadn't spent much time alone with his father; his father was busy with his research on cold fusion, on his popular television series on science, and his bestselling books.  Albie had always spent much of his day with his mother. Another chance conversation about quantum physics leads Albie to the theory that parallel universes exist -- Albie hopes that he can find the parallel universe where his mother is still alive and well.

The school librarian, more a "book doctor who can prescribe the right book to anybody" steers Albie to one of his father's books.  With research, his mom's laptop and research journals, Albie somehow pieces together a contraption that takes him to new worlds.  Albie's adventures in these worlds hat are surprisingly similar but with small important differences helps him find a solution of sorts.

The Many Worlds of Albie Bright reminded me of one of my favorite books, A Wrinkle in Time.I loved that Christopher Edge incorporated science into the meat of the story and that he gave us awkward and believable Albie.  The story is told with humor, kindness and delivers a unique adventure.

About the Author:

CHRISTOPHER EDGE grew up in Manchester, England, where he spent most of his childhood in the local library dreaming up stories. He now lives in Gloucestershire, where he spends most of his time in the local library dreaming up stories. Before becoming a writer, he worked as an English teacher, an editor, and a publisher—any job that let him keep a book close at hand. He has written about encouraging children to read. When not writing, he also works as a freelance publisher and an education consultant.  Visit him at christopheredge.co.uk.