This Place Has No Atmosphere [Paperback]

Paula Danziger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1989

It is the year 2057, and people take classes in ESP, live in malls, and inhabit a colony on the moon. Aurora is devastated when her parents obtain jobs on the moon and the family has to move. Life there is bound to be miserable--how many teenage boys could there be in a colony of only 750 people?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9 A mischievous spoof of a science fiction novel as well as a warm and funny saga about a teen of the future who is having severe difficulty adjusting to a family move. Aurora's parents are overjoyed to have been invited to inhabit a colony on the moon, but like any teen, Aurora is devastated by the thought of leaving her boyfriend and a school where she feels important. Her trip in the space shuttle is as unhappy as her arrival on the moon, which has No Atmosphere , at least not for Aurora. At the low point of her depression, she suggests to 16-year-old Hal that they produce a play and involve all the kids in the tiny moon colony. Eventually Aurora's parents become more involved with her, she finds she actually likes little kids, and she listens when a teacher tells her that we are "not always the center," but rather a "part of the Universe." This is a good family story with characters that have believable faults. Danziger has a keen ear for teenage jokes and chatter; puns, some witty and some corny, punctuate the realistic dialogue. Aurora's story suggests to middle school readers that the teens of 2057 will suffer the same bittersweet emotions as those of today, and that caring friends, a loving family, and a sense of humor are important anywhere. Phyllis Graves, Creekwood Middle School, Kingwood, Tex.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

This new novel by the popular Danziger features a heroine who lives in the year 2057 but whose problems will seem familiar to today's teens. Aurora Williams, 15 and a sophomore, is in the right crowd with the right best friend, and even has a date for the big dance with the right boy. When her parents announce that they are joining a colony on the moon, she is devastated and considers every option, from pregnancy to being nice to her sister to escape. Dragged sulkily to her new home, having wrung from her parents the promise of a return to earth after a year, she begins a reluctant adjustment and, of course, finds that the kids on the moon are not as bad as she thought they'd be, that there are values beyond the ones she's held so dear, and that she'd like to stay after all. An understanding friendship with a boy helps. A Danziger book is rarely distinguished by plot, characterization or literary style. She does hone in, unerringly, on the concerns of her audience, using a style that rat-tats out wisecracks - not great, but funny and on the mark. Her audiences will not be disappointed. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: A Book Yearling/Bantam Doubleday Dekk (July 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440402050
• ISBN-13: 978-0440402053
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,674,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in New York, Paula Danziger knew since second grade that she wanted to be a writer. Beginning her career as a teacher, Danziger taught at the junior high, high school, college levels. She received her Masters Degree in reading and during that time she wrote her first bestselling novel, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit. She returned to teaching, but the success of her book encouraged her to become a full-time writer. It was non-stop for Danziger since then. Among her titles are: the enormously popular Amber Brown books as well as Remember Me To Harold Square, The Divorce Express, and Can You Sue Your Parents For Malpractice?Danziger received numerous honors, including: Parent's Choice Awards, International Reading Association - Children's Book Council Awards, a IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award and many nominations for state reading and library association awards. Known as a flamboyantly funny and deeply honest writer and speaker, Paula Danziger knew how to relate to young readers at their level. She was vital, funny, and compassionate. She knew how kids felt, what made them laugh, what they wore, collected, read, and played with. From collecting novelty toys that would make any teacher cringe, to wearing jangly earrings, funky glasses and shoes covered with beads and sequins, Paula Danziger had a direct line into kids' hearts and funnybones. She will be missed always.In Paula's memory, The Amber Brown Fund has been established to bring authors and illustrators to schools and libraries which otherwise could not afford them. Donations may be sent to The Amber Brown Fund/ SCBWI Museum of Children's Books, 8271 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. "I want people who want to become writers to read lots, write and rewrite lots, take acting lessons to learn about character development, observe people and not to be afraid of not being perfect. As for those people who don't want to be writers, I hope that you will always continue to read and also not be afraid of not being perfect." "I have two sets of heroes: One--bright, creative teachers, who manage to stay in the classroom. And, two--people who have difficult childhoods and manage to use the experiences to grow into caring, understanding adults."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Blast from the past..., November 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: This Place Has No Atmosphere (Mass Market Paperback)

Whenever I think of the Thornton Wilder play "Our Town," I am reminded of Paula Danziger's book "This Place Has No Atmosphere." It was already a little dated in the mid-90s when I read it in middle school, but the characters rang true and I enjoyed it immensely. I don't remember the story itself so much as I remember that it was one of the first books that made me stop and think about new ideas every once in a while. How would people live on the moon? What does it mean to REALLY move away?

In short: if I remember this book after nearly ten years and hundreds of books in between, there's got to be something sepecial about it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lot Of Readers Seem To Miss The Point.., June 28, 2001

By 

Queen Cobra, Goddess of Truth and Justice (Altamont Springs, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Place Has No Atmosphere (Mass Market Paperback)

Aurora Williams seems to have everything; she's a member of the 'in-group' at her school, she's best friends with a rich celebrity and best of all the cutest boy in school just asked her out. Teen heaven right? But Aurora isn't really happy. Her parents don't understand her, or she them, and she isn't really like the other kids in her group though she's good at acting like she is. In short Aurora is pretending to be somebody she's not in order to be accepted. What this book is really about is Aurora discovering who Aurora is and getting the courage to be herself. Along the way she learns hanging out and having boyfriends isn't all there is to life, that people she used to dismiss as 'barfburgers' might be worth knowing after all, and maybe her parents understand her better than she thought. She even learns to appreciate her kid sister! None of which would have happened if she hadn't been forced to move to the Moon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Place Does Not Have Atmosphere but The Book Does!, March 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: This Place Has No Atmosphere (Mass Market Paperback)

If you think your life couldn't get any worse, you should share a day in the life of Aurora Williams. The book This Place Has No Atmosphere by Paula Danziger is a classic. In the year 2057, 14-year old Aurora and her friends do all the regular teenage activities. They get in trouble, buy CD's, and watch models in mood clothes. One day Aurora's life is shattered with news from her mother that she and her family are moving to the Moon. Aurora prepares for the worst and the beginning of a new life on the Moon. After about a year on the moon, Aurora's fears have gradually disappeared as she makes new friends, and found the finer things on the moon. Danziger surely has pointed out every teens nightmare in this science fiction-comedy. It sure will make children and adults laugh from years 2000 to 2060!