King Arthur Movie Tristan

title: Cosmic

author: Frank Cottrell Boyce

genre: young readers age 8-12

pages: 313

published: 2008

firs line: Mom, Dad-if you're listening-you know said I was going to the South Lakeland Outdoor Activity Center with the school?


rated: 4 out of 5 stars

Liam has always felt a bit like he's stuck between two worlds. This is primarily because he's a twelve-year-old kid who looks like he's about thirty. Sometimes it's not so bad, like when his new principal mistakes him for a teacher on the first day of school or when he convinces a car dealer to let him take a Porsche out on a test drive. But mostly it's just frustrating, being a kid trapped in an adult world. And so he decides to flip things around. Liam cons his way onto the first spaceship to take civilians into space, a special flight for a group of kids and an adult chaperone, and he is going as the adult chaperone. It's not long before Liam, along with his friends, is stuck between two worlds again--only this time he's 239,000 miles from home. Frank Cottrell Boyce, author of MILLIONS and FRAMED, brings us a funny and touching story of the many ways in which grown-upness is truly wasted on grown-ups.

Liam Digby is a 12 year old in the 7th grade who looks like he's a 30 year old adult.
This can be interesting for him since he's a curious kid who tends to get himself into trouble. When adults mistake Liam for an adult himself, he tends to not correct anyone.


When his principal thinks he's the new teacher on the first day of school, Liam doesn't bother correcting her. When he goes to a car dealership with his best friend Florida, and gets mistaken for her father, then is nearly allowed to take a test drive, he doesn't bother correcting the salesman. Liam is usually mistaken for Florida's dad and the two of them just go along with the charade.



Liam always ends up getting caught in the end and drives his parents nuts. But when he somehow gets himself and his friend Florida on a spaceship, there's big trouble and he finds himself in outer space with no way home.



The story is told by Liam as he floats through outer space. He is recording himself on his cellphone on the spaceship and wondering how he will get out of the mess he is in. His dad usually gets him out of trouble, but Liam doubts his father will be showing up in space to rescue him anytime soon. He is aboard the shuttle with five other children, including his friend Florida and they were supposed to land on Earth hours ago. Liam was selected to be the only Dad on the trip. When things go awry, he tries to figure out how to get the spaceship back home safely.




The author captures Liam's voice very well as you see the story through this 12 year olds eyes.

It's supposed to be more fun being a grown-up. That's why I swapped being a kid for being a dad. What's the point in forfeiting your childhood if all you get for it is filling forms?


pp.114 Cosmic

Liam is instantly likable as is his friend Florida. Sometimes it's amusing the way adults think he is an adult, how easily they judge him on a first appearance.
Then again, you feel sad for him. He keeps being told 'You should know better, big lad like you' by adults.



I liked Liam's descriptions of being in space. There's even an appearance by astronaut Alan Bean.

There are more stars than there are people. Billions, Alan had said, and millions of them might have planets just as good as ours. Ever since I can remember, I've felt too big. But now I felt small. Too small. Too small to count.
pp.293 Cosmic

I enjoyed Cosmic. I found this to be a quick read, the writing flows and the story is charming and sweet. There are flashbacks within the story but they weren't distracting.
I'd recommend this one if you're in the mood for a light and sweet read. This is considered a book for children age 8-12, I think it's more for 10 and up.
This is also a great father/son read.