• MY ACCOUNT
Address: 1901 East 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 | Phone: 417-623-7953
Joplin Public Library
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Welcome
  • About
    • LIBRARY
      • Hours & Location
      • Directions
      • Contact Us
      • Policies
    • OUR TEAM
      • Departments & Staff
      • Board of Trustees
      • Employment
      • Volunteers
    • OTHER INFORMATION
      • Post Art Library
      • Makerspace
      • Latest News
      • Book Reviews
      • FAQ
  • What We Offer
    • REFERENCE
      • Online Resources – by Category
      • Online Resources – All Databases
      • Joplin Links
      • Other Reference Services
    • DIGITIZED COLLECTIONS
      • Postcards
      • 1902 Picture Booklet
      • Belden Memoirs
      • Carthage Picture Book
      • Connor Brochure
      • Joplin City of Wealth
      • The Joplin 1971 Tornado
      • The Klondike of Missouri
      • Mining Health Study
      • Old Grubstake Days
    • HOW DO I?
      • Get a Library Card
      • Apply for a Passport
      • Sign Up for Programs
      • Reserve a Meeting Room
      • Request a Tour or Class Visit
      • Other FAQs
  • Events
    • CALENDAR
      • Full Calendar
      • Adults
      • Teens
      • Children
    • SPECIAL EVENTS
      • Winter Reading Challenge
      • Movies
    • ONGOING EVENTS
      • Chat-n-Craft
      • Ongoing Programs
  • Services
    • CHILDREN
      • Children’s Home
      • Children Booklists
      • Ongoing Programs
      • e-Content
      • Schooling at Home
    • TEENS
      • Teens’ Home
      • Teen Booklists
      • Homework Help
      • Teen Links
      • Schooling at Home
    • ADULTS
      • Chat-N-Craft
      • Post Art Library
      • Makerspace
      • Public Computers and Internet
    • HOW DO I?
      • Get a Library Card
      • Apply for a Passport
      • Sign Up for Programs
      • Reserve a Meeting Room
      • Request a Tour or Class Visit
      • Request a Purchase
      • Ask for Assignment Help
  • Website Search

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

April 23, 2018/in Book Reviews /by Discover Identity

This is the story of Virgil, Valencia, Kaori, and Chet, and their journey to friendship.

Erin Entrada Kelly’s 2018 Newbery Medal Winner has given a very important voice to diversity while at the same time disproving stereotypes. This character-driven novel reads like one of the fables, told by Virgil’s grandmother or Lola, interspersed throughout the book.

Virgil is an introvert in a family of extraverts and can’t quite find a way to stand up to bullies, including his own family, who call him by a nickname he despises. Valencia is feeling the weight of parents who are overprotective, she suspects because of her hearing loss. Kaori, who is on her third life, is the reincarnation of an Egyptian and a freedom fighter from Bangladesh. Chet Bullens is the school bully who hasn’t quite figured out what he’s good at in life and so points out perceived flaws in others.

According to Kaori, and her little sister Gen, the four are in the hands of Destiny during the few days in which the story takes place.  Virgil encounters Chet while on his way to seek fortune telling advice from Kaori and fate is set into motion. When Virgil falls down an abandoned well he learns to conquer some of his fears. The author deeply explores the sensory experience of Virgil while in the well, bringing the reader right along into his nightmare.

Virgil’s friends, Kaori and Valencia have to “feel” their way into finding Virgil, whose cell phone fell out of his pocket and shattered during his fall. We are treated to the eccentric Kaori consulting star charts to divine the fate of Virgil. Will the friends rescue Virgil or will his fears be realized when his bones are found in the well, beside the bones of his guinea pig, years into the future?

The funny, feel-good tone of this book compliments the pace. The suspense builds to a climactic, if somewhat predictable ending, which is nonetheless satisfying. What a wonderful breath of fresh air to read about children who are ability diverse as “children” without their differences defining their character.

An important read for children 3rd grade and up. This book is extensively quotable and would make a great classroom read-aloud. Perhaps the plot is best summarized with this quote from Valencia, “Meanness always shows on people’s faces. Sometimes you have to look hard for it. Sometimes it’s just a part of a person’s features.”

Find in Catalog
Tags: tbenham
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Google+
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/hello-universe-1.jpg 303 200 Discover Identity //www.joplinpubliclibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/logo-web.png Discover Identity2018-04-23 11:02:262020-06-16 10:48:49Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
You might also like
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
Picture Books to Introduce Black History Month to Children
Book Cover nine, ten: a September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green

Book Reviewers

Click on reviewer to discover their book reviews.

Jeana Gockley
Director

Lisa Brown
Administrative Assistant

Patty Crane
Reference Librarian

Alyssa Berry
Technical Services Librarian

Beth Snow
Teen Librarian

Jill Sullivan
Director Post Art Library

Christina Matekel-Gibson
Children’s Librarian

Jason Sullivan
Senior Reference Assistant

Latest News

  • Reading for Change: Books by Black AuthorsFebruary 2, 2021 - 4:10 pm
  • black with gold highlights, central image reads "Goodreads Choice Awards 2020. What were the best books of the year?"Best Books of 2020December 17, 2020 - 12:37 pm
  • Joplin LibraryLibrary HoursOctober 20, 2020 - 1:47 pm
  • Hotspots are availableWiFi for all! JPL adds Wireless ServicesOctober 15, 2020 - 10:25 am
  • Binge Box DVD collectionBinge Boxes for DVD-checkoutOctober 6, 2020 - 10:38 am

Upcoming Events

Mar
1
Mon
all-day Dragons in a Bag Chapter Book Cl... @ Joplin Public Library
Dragons in a Bag Chapter Book Cl... @ Joplin Public Library
Mar 1 all-day
Join the Children’s Department for the next book in our Chapter Book Club series! Each week, we will release read aloud videos from the thrilling fantasy novel Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott. We will[...]
Mar
2
Tue
10:00 am Virtual Storytime (Pre-recorded) @ Joplin Public Library-Virtual
Virtual Storytime (Pre-recorded) @ Joplin Public Library-Virtual
Mar 2 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Join your favorite Children’s Department staff for a fun themed storytime video every Tuesday morning! We will share new and old favorite stories, songs, rhymes, and early literacy activities. All videos will be posted on[...]
View Calendar

Facebook

1901 East 20th Street
Joplin, MO 64804

Phone: 417-623-7953

Operating Hours

Monday 10AM-6PM
Tuesday 10AM-6PM
Wednesday 10AM-6PM
Thursday 10AM-6PM
Friday 10AM-6PM
Saturday 10AM-6PM
Sunday 1PM-5PM

Latest News

  • Reading for Change: Books by Black AuthorsFebruary 2, 2021 - 4:10 pm
  • black with gold highlights, central image reads "Goodreads Choice Awards 2020. What were the best books of the year?"Best Books of 2020December 17, 2020 - 12:37 pm
  • Joplin LibraryLibrary HoursOctober 20, 2020 - 1:47 pm
  • Hotspots are availableWiFi for all! JPL adds Wireless ServicesOctober 15, 2020 - 10:25 am
  • Binge Box DVD collectionBinge Boxes for DVD-checkoutOctober 6, 2020 - 10:38 am

Upcoming Events

Mar
1
Mon
all-day Dragons in a Bag Chapter Book Cl... @ Joplin Public Library
Dragons in a Bag Chapter Book Cl... @ Joplin Public Library
Mar 1 all-day
Join the Children’s Department for the next book in our Chapter Book Club series! Each week, we will release read aloud videos from the thrilling fantasy novel Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott. We will[...]
Mar
2
Tue
10:00 am Virtual Storytime (Pre-recorded) @ Joplin Public Library-Virtual
Virtual Storytime (Pre-recorded) @ Joplin Public Library-Virtual
Mar 2 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Join your favorite Children’s Department staff for a fun themed storytime video every Tuesday morning! We will share new and old favorite stories, songs, rhymes, and early literacy activities. All videos will be posted on[...]
Mar
9
Tue
10:00 am Virtual Storytime (Pre-recorded) @ Joplin Public Library-Virtual
Virtual Storytime (Pre-recorded) @ Joplin Public Library-Virtual
Mar 9 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Join your favorite Children’s Department staff for a fun themed storytime video every Tuesday morning! We will share new and old favorite stories, songs, rhymes, and early literacy activities. All videos will be posted on[...]
Mar
16
Tue
10:00 am Virtual Storytime (Pre-recorded) @ Joplin Public Library-Virtual
Virtual Storytime (Pre-recorded) @ Joplin Public Library-Virtual
Mar 16 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Join your favorite Children’s Department staff for a fun themed storytime video every Tuesday morning! We will share new and old favorite stories, songs, rhymes, and early literacy activities. All videos will be posted on[...]
View Calendar
© Copyright - Joplin Public Library | Powered by Identity
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Staff Login
It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree... Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag (Rob Sanders, Illustrated...
Scroll to top