Space Case
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We listened to this book on audio. I found it very enjoyable. Of course you expect there to be a twist in revealing the murderer and know it will be the person you least expect - but then there is a further twist that is fun and leaves the story on a positive note. I was a little concerned in the beginning because the first line is "Life in outer space sucks." (Ironically my fifth grader had just gotten in trouble at school for saying that word and then I started reading the book.) There is also lots of toilet talk (pgs. 10 - 16). Also on page 14 the main character reflects, "...when you're a twelve-year-old boy on the toilet with your pants around your ankles, a sexy female voice can be a bit unnerving." Additionally he talks about the "idiots who designed MBA" on page 20.
On the bottom of page 41 the book started to redeem itself when the parents told the main character, "Dash, you're a smart kid. You're very mature and precocious for your age, and we love that about you. But sometimes that brain of yours works a little too hard to see patterns where there might not be any." I thought that was a very loving response in a difficult situation.
Then the book turned into a mystery with the main character as an unofficial undercover sleuth and it really captured my interest. There were plenty of clues that pointed in all directions but nothing that was obvious so the suspense was enjoyable.
As diversity goes I thought it was interesting on ps. 117 - 118 when Dash said one family was the only pure white people he knows because in 2041 everyone else is a blend. I've often thought along similar lines myself. The author is very imaginative and references all sorts of things that seem rather likely for 2041.
Round 1 Questions
Round 2 Questions