Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It [Hardcover]

Sundee T. Frazier (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Ten-year-old Tae Kwon Do blue belt and budding rock hound Brendan Buckley keeps a "Confidential" notebook for his top-secret scientific discoveries. And he's found something totally top secret. The grandpa he's never met, who his mom refuses to talk about or see, is an expert mineral collector and lives nearby! Secretly, Brendan visits Ed DeBose, whose skin is pink, not brown like Brendan's, his dad's, or that of Grampa Clem's, who recently died. Brendan sets out to find the reason behind Ed's absence, but what he discovers can't be explained by science, and now he wishes he'd never found him at all. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Mixed-race Brendan Buckley is fascinated by science, and he likes to find the answers to questions that he poses in his notebook. Brendan finds that life isn’t alwaus easily explained, however, after he meets his grandfather for the first time at a rock club meeting. Brendan’s white grandfather has been estranged from Brendan’s mother since her marriage to an African American. Despite Brendan’s mixed parentage, he bonds with his grandfather through their shared interest in rock collecting, and they continue to meet secretly until Brendan’s mother finds out. It takes time and a serious accident for Brendan’s grandfather to come to his senses and reunite with his family. By frequently lightening her tone, Frazier delivers her messages without using an overly heavy hand. Brendan is a real kid with a passion for science and also a willingness to push his parents’ rules; he’s not just a placard for the author’s central message. Grades 4-6. --Todd Morning

Review

"Brendan is an appealing character with a sense of honor...A good, accessible selection to inspire discussion of racism and prejudice." -- Kirkus Reviews (September 15, 2007)

"Frazier writes affectingly about what being biracial means in a 21st century America." -- School Library Journal (September 2007)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (October 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385734395
• ISBN-13: 978-0385734394
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,369,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it...couldn't put it down!!, December 4, 2007

By 

S. Schaupp (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It (Kindle Edition)

I just finished reading this book. I loved it! I felt like I was in the characters' world. It's like they are people I now know. I miss them already. Frazier does a great job developing her characters. My favorite characters are Brendan and Gladys, his grandmother.

I can't wait to read it with my sons or have them read it themselves. I look forward to the good discussions we'll have about it. I could see it being read in a 4th/5th grade classroom to open a discussion about prejudice and racism, which I think is very important to do. Frazier handles the fragile issues of racism and family in a way that you have sympathy for all who are involved.

To balance out the more serious issues, there are many humorous moments that kids would relate to and laugh outloud about. I highly recommend tis book!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm hoping for a sequel, November 13, 2007

By 

S. Welch (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book. Brendan is a terrific character, and I am waiting for the sequel to find out what happens next. I found myself relating to the way he experiences the world, and admiring the decisions and choices he makes. The story is extremely engaging, filled with laugh out loud moments. Its also poignant and heart wrenching, and I shed some tears while reading this on an airplane.

I was at a reading event for this book, and the kids in the audience were extremely interested in the excerpts read aloud. They all laughed at some of the funnier moments, and seemed really interested in Brendan's hobbies - rock collecting and TAE KWON DO.

This was such a rich story, and I recommend it highly.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, October 10, 2007

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It (Hardcover)

Brendan Buckley is into Tae Kwon Do and studying rocks. He would love to be a scientist and faithfully keeps a notebook with important questions and findings. During the summer, Brendan plans on becoming a rock collector. And he is trying to adjust to losing his best fishing buddy, Grandpa Clem.

When looking at a mineral and gemstone exhibit, he meets a man who has awesome rocks and who knows a TON about rocks and minerals. His Grandma Gladys sees the man and yanks Brendan away. Well, what are the odds of this? That man was actually his other grandpa. A man he had never met. And is told to never see again.

Although Brendan doesn't really want to disobey his parents, he wants to know this mystery man. Maybe he could help fill the void left by Grandpa Clem's death. Maybe this other grandpa could teach him about rocks. Maybe he could get to know him and find out why his mom has nothing to do with him.

As Brendan sets out to get to know this man, he has no idea what kind of trouble he may be stirring up.

Sundee T. Frazier has created a likable young boy with unique interests and love for his family. Readers will enjoy his adventures and see past generations with new awareness.

Reviewed by: Dianna Geers