I received an electronic ARC from ABRAMS Kids through NetGalley.
First, I love the cover and the title. It will certainly attract attention from middle grade readers.
The story itself is told in two POVs that switch back and forth. Readers meet Brian and Ezra as they both face junior high challenges. Though Brian's family issues are more obvious, Ezra also has challenges to face. Lucas weaves a variety of concerns facing children into one storyline without feeling the need for an unrealistic happy ending for all involved. His characters face real situations and deal with them as thirteen year old boys. Brian definitely faces decisions we all wish he didn't have to but he steps up to face his own severe social anxiety and to take care of his little brother when his parents can't. Ezra has become aware that he is gay and works through choosing his own timing to share this information with friends and family. Both tackle their fears and make bold steps by the end of the book.
The writing style flows well with two unique voices sharing their lives. The secondary characters are also well developed and readers will relate to their lives also. Nothing happens in a vacuum and Lucas makes this clear through the variety of story connections woven together.
Would love to read a sequel about how these characters face life farther on their journey.

Very heartwarming coming of age story. This is the type of book I wish was around when I was growing up. In school I never heard about anxiety as an ongoing condition, only as a passing feeling. I had no idea why I constantly felt so uptight and on edge. Reading books like this with relatable characters would have helped me understand what was going on with myself. I would highly recommend this book to any teacher looking for classroom bookshelf buys. I thoroughly enjoyed!

There's a LOT going on here - not just two perspectives, but multiple extremely heavy issues overlapping with each other - and for the first quarter or so things felt a bit disconnected, but somehow it does manage to integrate neatly and not feel overwhelming, while also staying at a middle school level. Both stories are given their due (although there is a bit of unevenness to what Ezra and Brian are dealing with, which is acknowledged within the text) and both narrators are complete and relatable; Brian's anxiety and panic attacks felt especially and sometimes painfully well-written. My favorite part, however, was the inclusion of standout side characters, especially Gabe and Brittany.

There's a lot here that's leans into the idea of an "issues book" but this really feels like a solid character story with a hopeful but realistic finish.

Thanks a Lot, Universe is an engaging and well written middle grade novel that will connect with readers dealing with all the ups and downs of the emotions of middle school. Brian’s world comes crashing down on his thirteenth birthday. Already dealing with social anxiety, the dramatic events of the day result in significant changes to the lives of Brian and his younger brother. Ezra, one of his classmates and basketball teammates, is one of the popular kids at school and is friendly with Brian. While Ezra belongs to a tight group of friends, he is realizing that the group is changing. He also recognizes that Brian might need some help and is there to be a supportive friend. Told from the alternating perspectives of Brian and Ezra, this book gives readers insight into both characters. The characters, from Ezra’s group of friends to the teens and adults in their lives are well developed and add to the layered story. The book explores the difficulties of middle school friendship and relationships in a realistic way. It also tackles the challenging topics of mental health, bullying, and race and culture in an age appropriate and authentic way. Readers of middle grade fiction who have ever felt like they do not belong will relate to the characters and feel reassured by the book’s message.

Absolutely fantastic! I was hooked on this book from the first chapter. A family is in turmoil, and it is up to Brian to try to hold everything together. However, Brian is a middle-schooler, with horrible anxiety, who struggles getting through the day. Now, he must face trying to save his mom, navigate foster care, and take care of his brother all at once.

TW: suicide attempt, racism, anxiety, bullying

For Brian, navigating middle school with social anxiety feels like the hardest thing in the world. But when he wakes up on his 13th birthday and his dad is gone and his mom has taken an overdose of medication, his life turns upside down.
Ezra is popular, a part of the basketball team and a great musician. When Brian goes missing, he volunteers to help find him, even if that means finally confronting his confusing feelings for him.

I had tears in my eyes for about 90% of this book. All of the boys in this have such big hearts and honestly deserve the world. Everyone in Ezra’s friend group is the sweetest and I loved all of them.

Thanks A Lot, Universe tackles a lot of really tough topics with a lot of care. I hope some kids are able to see themselves in these amazing characters.

Also, Team Brian all the way.

This book is great for fans of King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amulet Books for this ARC!

Release date: May 11, 2021

Brian is turning thirteen and his day is a nightmare. Upon waking up, he realizes that his father has left home due to some criminal activity. He is avoiding being arrested. his mother has taken an overdose of pills and Brian must get an ambulance to the house to save her life. Brian and his little brother Richie are taken to a foster home.
Brian suffers from some emotional issue, whether it is high anxiety or OCD, I was never quite sure. His friend Ezra (biracial) is gay and crushing on Brian.
Then we are introduced to Gabe and his mother (Brian's science teacher). Gabe's dad was killed in Iraq last year.
So, we have these issues: criminal parents; mental health issues (child and parent), gay adolescents, death of a parent, mixed race and black/white issues. Too many issues for one book.
The writing is clear and some of the characters are likable, but there is just too much going on for this to be a good book.

3.5 stars

Thanks to Chad Lucas, Amulet Books and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Ezra and Brian play together (well, mostly bench) on the school basketball team. Brian is socially anxious and constantly worries what other people think of him. Ezra is wondering why his friend, Colby, is drifting away from the friendship group and also starts to worry about Brian.

Brian's dad goes on the run after the police discover his drug business and his mum takes an overdose when he does so. Brian and his younger brother end up in foster care and Brian's anxiety goes through the roof. Luckily, Ezra is there to help him too.

This was a super cute story! I loved the character development, especially that of Brian, and the supportive network around each of the characters. I also enjoyed the big issues tackled by Lucas in this book. He normalised them and had the characters talk them out which I'm sure will be beneficial to any young readers who are also facing these issues. It was also interesting to see an LGBT romantic interest which wasn't reciprocated. It was acknowledged but no weird tension happened after, which was great!

Whilst this was a lovely story, it didn't have that 'spark' for me, which is why it didn't quite reach 4 stars for me.

Chad Lucas is definitely a middle grade author to watch. He effortlessly weaves together the tale of two boys--Brian and Ezra--in a way that is both heartwarming and meaningful. Kids who struggle with mental health and social awkwardness will definitely relate to Brian's story. Meanwhile, Ezra's journey paints the picture of an ally, and how to stick up for someone even if your friends might not like them as much as you do. The side characters are also really compelling, and LGBTQIA themes are presented in a way that is both engaging and approachable. Overall, Lucas does a great job of showing that even if everyone carries their mental loads wherever they go, they don't necessarily have to be burdened by them. Highly recommended.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review**

A sweet coming-of-age story covering many important topics like bullying, friendship, mental health / anxiety and sexuality through the eyes of Brian and Ezra. I did find the switching between POVs a little confusing at first but I soon got to know the 2 boys better and found it much easier to follow their storylines.

The adult characters were well represented too, they felt real with their own struggles. They were far from perfect and very believable.

All in all, a very good book and one that I would recommend to secondary-age students.

Like a good Pixar movie, this book will appeal to all ages. I absolutely adored it.

My favourite things about this book are Brian and Ezra and their dual perspective. Brian is outwardly shy and closed off but is a quick, sarcastic narrator. While Ezra's narration is charismatic, deeply funny and filled with optimism. Their unique and authentic voices are what make Thanks A Lot, Universe such a incredible, dynamic read.
I definitely relate to Brian the most. He deals with anxiety which affects almost everything he does, especially socially. Anxiety is woven into his narrative so seamlessly and I can see it being a very accessible introduction for people who don't experience anxiety themselves.
Ezra is an extrovert who thrives in the company of others and the differences between him and Brian are what draw them together. They're so curious, so willing to understand each other and it's just gorgeous.
Simply reading about Ezra and Brian's growing friendship is about as heartwarming as it gets, so combine that with the themes of belonging, found family and self-acceptance and you're just bound to be happy-crying by the end.
This brings me to the plot, which is also immaculate. It's a delicious mix of contemporary, a bit of drama, some thrilling elements, and a sweet friendship and family theme throughout. Lighter, witty relief is sprinkled throughout the heavier plotline, leaving the reader (me) feeling like I've learned a lot and had a great time doing it. The pAcINg is also brilliant, propelled forward by the dual perspectives, each chapter more compelling than the last.
I would recommend Thanks A Lot, Universe for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson and Jason Reynolds (yes I do think this debut author deserves a place among these legends). Having said that, this is one of the best middle grade books I've ever read so I'm not going to be picky about who I recommend it to.

A huge thank you to Amulet Books for this e-arc, I'm so grateful!

Before I get into the review, I would just like to mention how absolutely stunning the cover is. Just look at this beauty!

First let's talk about the plot. It seemed like an average middle school coming of age. You've got the bullies, the awkward and quiet kid, and that one parent who loves sports. With that said, I'm happy to report that the plot was executed in a very intriguing and unique fashion. It tackled issues that I haven't encountered all that much in other middle grade novels. My only complaint is that I feel as though the synopsis made me assume that Brian and Ezra would help each other out more than they actually did. Fortunately though, it was something pretty easy to overlook.

The main characters, thirteen year old Brian and Ezra, where so lovable! They were such interesting characters! Brian is socially awkward and has a hard time talking to the 'popular kids.' When I was their age, I could totally relate! Ezra was such a cool character! He loves old music, told hilarious jokes, and had great fashion sense! The only thing I found to be a little infuriating was when Brian talked so much about having trouble speaking to people, but then a couple pages later he swears at a teacher. I felt as though he went from zero to a hundred a bit too quickly. His parents also talked about how he was such a responsible kid, even though some of his actions in the book were rather questionable. Then again, I can only imagine how hard it is to be in the foster care system. My heart goes out to all of the children in these systems. Overall, our main characters are put into such heartbreaking situations that I was happy to see represented in a middle grade novel.

The side characters where also very diverse and intriguing. Thanks A Lot, Universe gave adults diverse narratives, and it really worked well in the story. It was also interesting to see Ezra lose touch with his supposed best friend. Friendship was widely explored throughout the book, and I absolutely adored that aspect of it! Moreover, I liked how although there are a lot of side characters, each character plays a significant role in Brian's life. Whether it be positive, negative, or neutral. My only complaint is that the police officer associated with Brian wasn't talked about that much, and we never really got to know his true intentions.

Furthermore, the dialogue was a lovely mix of lighthearted and serious. Brian's conversations with his dad, Katie, and the police officer, seemed rather mysterious. While the conversations he had with Gabe, Brittany, his teacher, and Ezra, seemed more lighthearted. In addition, it was interesting to see how Brian explained their family situation to his little brother. Overall, the dialogue in Thanks A Lot, Universe was superb!

Unfortunately, the writing style felt repetitive at times, which was a bit of a turn off. At certain times in the story, the pacing escalated and de-escalated very quickly. For example, sometimes Brian's mindset would change from I-am-so-shy-and-responsible to edgy-bad-boy-has-been-unlocked in almost an instant. However, I love when books have no swearing in them, so I'm so glad Thanks A Lot, Universe didn't have any! There's just something so refreshing about books like this one. I also liked how there wasn't necessary any romance. The main characters aren't even fourteen yet, so it makes sense for there not be any romance. One aspect of the book that I really enjoyed reading about was the setting! It takes place in (I believe) Nova Scotia, which is a maritime province in Canada. It was very fascinating to read about a place I've never been to before.

The overall enjoyment level was very high. The plot was gripping, the characters where intriguing, and the story is fast paced. Must I say more? 😆

---Overall----
Age Rating: 11 and up
TW: bullying, displacement of homes, running away, some violence
Final Rating: 8.25/10 or 4.25 stars

Ugh, my heart. My soul. This was so cute.

I wish I would have access to these sorts of stories when I was growing up. I relate so heavily to Brian and his crush on popular Ezra. I really just felt that this relationship and these characters were so realized and raw and real.

If you like cute stories about coming to terms with your sexuality, pick this up.

Brian and Ezra. A story told from two points of view. Brian’s story grabs the reader by the collar within the first page and doesn’t let go. Ezra’s story is sweeter, but at first parallel. When both stories intertwine, both boys grow. It made me cry and it made me laugh. I would heartily recommend this book. My thanks to the author and the publisher for allowing me a review copy of this work.

Thank you to Amulet Books and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review!

I loved "Thanks A Lot, Universe" so much! This riveting debut novel that touches upon so many important things, such as middle school drama, being an outsider looking in, friendship, mental health, sexual identity, and navigating complicated feelings.

I loved the adults in this book. Their varying approaches on what would be best for Brian and his younger brother, Richie, were interesting. I loved Sergeant Oliver States, Mrs. Clelland, and Gabe (though he’s a high schooler) the most. They weren’t patronizing to Brian nor lectured him. Instead, they gave him the space to work through his jumbled feelings while, which seemed more valuable and productive towards handling the overall situation.

Mental health is a huge part of this novel. The author does a great job showing the causes and signs of social anxiety, panic attacks, and depression in both children and adults. The book aptly details and expresses how someone with them feels, thinks, and behaves.

Brian was easy to connect to. Middle school is rough, especially if you have social anxiety, which Brian refers to as SAWS (Super Awkward Weirdo Syndrome). The acronym made how he experiences life and how he sees the world more personable. I could feel his inner turmoil throughout the story. On his 13th birthday, he is dealt such a shocking, heavy blow that puts him in a precarious position that no kid should have to go through. It was heartbreaking.

Ezra was a great main character as well. It’s not often I connect with all the main characters of a story, adding to my amazement. Middle school is such a chaotic time full of physical, mental and emotional changes. Ezra feels this greatly with his circle of friends, who he is as a person, and his relationship to Brian.

I think readers will be able to relate to Brian and Ezra on multiple levels. Making friends is hard. Change is hard. Growing up is hard. It’s hard not to feel lost and unsure. One thing that I was glad to see pointed out was when Brian reflected on guidance his sister once gave him about how he will eventually find “his people.” It’s an incredibly important bit of wisdom that is sometimes years in the making. You can easily see how “not fitting in” affects Ezra and Brian differently.

Chad Lucas has crafted a successful debut. "Thanks A Lot, Universe" was a fantastic read and welcome inclusion in the middle grade genre! It’s perfect for school summer reading and classroom libraries. The story is as enjoyable as it is emotional, providing beneficial and relevant lessons and experiences for this age group and beyond. There’s so much more I want to say about this poignant book, but can’t because of spoilers. Definitely worth the read though!

I really liked this middle grade. I think the depiction of foster care is good for the age group. One of the characters also comes out as gay and I think the way that it was handled was great.

Brian has anxiety at the best of times. He manages at school, and was on the basketball team, but he craves quiet and finds navigating the hallways of middle school difficult. It doesn't help when jerks like Victor call him "Ghost" and poke fun at his quiet ways. Ezra doesn't have these problems. He was also on the basketball team, and has a core group of friends. Some of them, like Caleb, often make sexist or racist comments, but others like Kev and Ty are generally a good bunch. When Brian's life implodes and he and his younger brother end up in foster care, Brian's anxiety causes him to act out in school. His father, who is in danger of being arrested, contacts him through a friend and tells Brian that there is $10,000 in an account for him. His social worker is less than understanding, but his teachers go to bat for him. One, Ms. McClelland, even takes him and his brother in. Ms. McClelland's husband was killed in the army, and their son Gabe, who is in high school, is very supportive of Brian. Gabe helps him through panic attacks, sleepless nights, and accepting the help that therapy provides. Ezra continues to be friends with Brian, even after he is suspended for punching his tormentor. Ezra knows that he is supportive in part because he has a crush on Brian, and is wary about letting him know lest it hurt their friendship. Will Brian's family be able to pull together enough to get the boys out of foster care, and will Ezra's newly announced identity affect his friendship with Brian?
Strengths: This is exactly the type of "sad" that my students crave: catastrophic family events that cause the children to get by on their own. Brian's emotions are understandable, and informative, especially for teachers who might have students who are in similar family circumstances. The teachers are exceptionally understanding, and model good behavior. Brian has to be punished, but it is in a thoughtful way. Ezra's emotions are well portrayed, and I liked that he had good support from his sister and from most of his friends. Even his friend who was a bit jerky treated him reasonably. The inclusion of basketball is always good.
Weaknesses: This is perhaps a difference because of the current trend in books to explore race more thoroughly-- I sometimes was not sure what race a character was. Race was not much of an issue in the book, although there were some insensitive comments, and there were plenty of other things going on. Perhaps I was expecting the issue of race to be more involved because this was set in Canada, and I wasn't quite sure what the levels of diversity was. In my community, there are a wide variety of backgrounds.
What I really think: This jumped right in to the family problems, which will firmly keep student interest well into the book, and Ezra's crush isn't discussed at length until about half way through the book. At that point, readers will be invested in what happens to both him and Brian. This is, sadly, really important when it comes to gay characters. I still have boys who will use the term "gay" negatively, and have to be instructed about how hurtful this is. They often have no idea what they are really saying. Perhaps for this reason, while the girls in my school frequently ask for LGBTQIA+ titles, the boys are reluctant to pick them up. This was similar to Pancholy's The Best at It, in that the main character's coming out wasn't central to the story, but just part of the emerging story line. The readers who don't want to read about gay characters are the ones who should be reading about them, and this is an excellent book to promote positive behaviors and understanding. A good companion to Jung's Boys in the Back Row.

Brian Day’s 13th birthday does not go well. His father goes on the run, his mother is hospitalized following a suicide attempt, and Brian and his younger brother end up in foster care. Though Brian has always experienced social anxiety, this experience leads to his first experience with panic attacks. In an alternating perspective, Ezra is renegotiating his friendships, dealing with microaggressions from peers, and discovering his sexuality. When Ezra realizes he has a crush on Brian, things get a little more complicated.

Thanks A Lot, Universe, Chad Lucas’ debut middle grade novel, is phenomenal. In this novel, Lucas deftly handles a number of really difficult topics including anxiety, panic attacks, parental abandonment, parental criminality, a suicide attempt, foster care, running away, racism, homophobia, bullying, coming out, and grief/loss of a parent. With this number of content warnings, it’s odd to find myself pretty much universally endorsing this book, but Lucas’ handling of these topics makes them suitable for most readers: they aren’t presented in ways that are frightening.

I’m a therapist, and I’ve spent most of my career working primarily with children who have experienced trauma and/or disrupted attachment. As a result, I’ve worked a lot with children and families in the foster care/adoption kinship network. Brian’s storyline in Thanks A Lot, Universe is the most honest, heartfelt, and realistic portrayal of a child’s perspective of foster care that I’ve read to date. There were little nuances that seemed a bit convenient for the sake of the plot, but I also don’t know if they may be attributed to differences in foster care systems (the book takes place in Canada and I’m US-based). Unlike other books I’ve read about foster care, this one was always focused on the idea of reunification. Foster parents and social workers were problematic in completely realistic ways, and the underlying thoughts and feelings for Brian’s behavior were portrayed in a wonderfully trauma-informed way. When Brian experienced his first panic attack, it was so realistic that it brought tears to my eyes.

Ezra’s storyline was similarly impactful, important, and positive. Though Ezra experiences both racism and homophobia throughout the course of the story, the way that these issues were dealt with was fantastic. It’s also worth noting that while Ezra experiences some internal conflict about how/when to come out, his experience in doing so is met with overall support from all characters, creating safety for young readers who are experiencing similar journeys with their sexuality.

The adult characters in this book are flawed as people, but generally presented as trying their best. The teenage secondary characters are stellar, and are such great supports to Brian and Ezra.

I think this book should be mandatory reading for educators and potential foster parents, and I also think that it will be appropriate for most middle grade readers. For readers who share experiences with the main characters, I might suggest that an adult also read the book in order to be able to answer questions or provide support.

I don't think words can express how much I loved this book. I see myself using it a lot in my own work, and plan to discuss it widely with friends and colleagues closer to its publication in May.

This book handles some pretty deep topics in a very kid friendly way. I think this is a great book for young readers to learn about and hopefully open discussions about sexuality and mental health. I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I didnt expect anything from this book. And it blew me away! It was such a fun read, at least for me. And the characters were so adorable!