Hello, Universe
Written by: Erin Entrada Kelly
Book design by: Sylvie Le Floc’h
The world looks different through newly opened eyes, Virgilio. It’s the trick of time. What you believe today, you may not believe tomorrow. Things change when you’re not looking. And then you open your eyes, and you see —
There is so much that I love about this book. The clear voice of its main characters, interwoven with Filipino folklore makes Hello, Universe a fast and engaging read. Kelly thoughtfully writes Virgil, Valencia, Kaori, and Chet to the effect that most readers will see themselves within a character’s eccentricities or how these individuals see themselves through their parent’s eyes.
In an interview with Publisher’s Weekly, Kelly shares “one of the common threads in my books is they’re about kids who have secrets. All of us have something, whether we’re kids or grown-ups, things that we feel ashamed about or we don’t want other people to know about or we’re self-conscious about. One of the ways to celebrate that is to recognize that it can be a strength, but also to show kindness because you never know what other people’s secrets are.”
While all of the main characters had their secrets, I felt Virgil’s story spoke to me as the lead role and how his journey that day brought this group of kids together. I found the use of folklore interwoven throughout to be the backbone that holds these characters up and gives them strength as they work through their fears. Words have power and Lola’s stories of Bayani, Ruby San Salvador, and Pah awoke the strength inside Virgil, that brought about new friendships and the ability to speak for himself.
Kelly is very much connected to what readers at this age are searching for: a voice and somebody or a group of friends to understand and share your secrets with. Pick up this Newbery Award winning book and get started.
Enjoy!
“It’s not being brave if you're not scared” - Ruby San Salvador
More About This Author: Erin Entrada Kelly
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