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Thanks a Lot, Universe

by Chad Lucas

Friendship, change, and the courage to reach out

Regular price $12.97 USD
Regular price $21.62 USD Sale price $12.97 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Praise from Nic Stone

    Nic Stone, identified in the metadata as a New York Times bestselling author, praises the book as a glorious ode...

AlbakiReads Editorial

Friendship, change, and the courage to reach out

Brian’s anxiety becomes harder to manage after he and his brother enter foster care, while Ezra tries to make sense of changes among his basketball friends and his growing crush on Brian. Their stories meet when Brian and his brother run away, bringing friendship, family upheaval, and questions of identity into the same middle-grade narrative. The book’s central tension is between keeping parts of oneself hidden and taking the risk of being honest with someone else. Basketball connects the boys’ social worlds, while their different circumstances shape what reaching out means for each of them.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Middle-grade readers interested in stories about friendship and identity
  • Readers looking for fiction that addresses anxiety and foster care
  • Readers interested in LGBTQ+ themes in children’s fiction

Themes

FriendshipAnxietyFoster care and family changeIdentity and self-disclosure

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Chad Lucas's Thanks a Lot, Universe is a moving middle-grade debut for anyone who's ever felt like they don't belong.

Brian has always been anxious, whether at home, or in class, or on the basketball court. His dad tries to get him to stand up for himself and his mom helps as much as she can, but after he and his brother are placed in foster care, Brian starts having panic attacks. And he doesn't know if things will ever be "normal" again . . .

Ezra's always been popular. He's friends with most of the kids on his basketball team--even Brian, who usually keeps to himself. But now, some of his friends have been acting differently, and Brian seems to be pulling away. Ezra wants to help, but he worries if he's too nice to Brian, his friends will realize that he has a crush on him . . .

But when Brian and his brother run away, Ezra has no choice but to take the leap and reach out. Both boys have to decide if they're willing to risk sharing parts of themselves they'd rather hide. But if they can be brave, they might just find the best in themselves--and each other.

"A glorious ode to the beauty of pre-teen friendship and the beginnings of blurred lines and vital questions of identity." --New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone

Also available:
You Owe Me One, Universe
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