I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. This is a really interesting book that really makes you think. I highly recommend.

A weird little Scifi book that reads like Middle Grade/Lower YA or as an anthology story. It's a cute story but not long enough to flesh it out much.

Arthur Slade gives readers another wonderful opportunity to visit an alternative universe in fiction. I loved the way Slade crafted characters in a science fiction approach. Perfect for young adult readers and middle grades fans, this is the kind of book that would have grabbed me as a young reader...and one I would gladly share with others now.

Mr. Universe
Arthur Slade
Orca Books
ISBN 9781459826885

I have been a big fan of Arthur Slade’s works for years. This is one of two that are due out in January 2021. It is very different than anything else of his. And I have read all his published novels. Some of his books I have read many times over. And I have got to say I absolutely loved this one! I have now read it 3 times. Well actually, I read it once, I used text to speech to listen to it once, and my son read it to me for his reading challenge time.

My son is a very reluctant reader. He reads below grade level, and he struggles. However, he loves books. He loves being read to in person or using adaptive technology and listening to books while following the text. He could not put this book down. His reading goal is 20 minutes at least 5 days a week. The first day he read this to be he read for just over an hour, and only stopped because of family movie night. And as soon as the movie was over wanted to read more. He has already asked for mook books from Slade to read and next up is, Death by Airship. I too struggled with reading when younger and have a dual form of dyslexia, and I also love Slade’s books. I have read all of them at least once. And I loved this one. I was raving about this book after my second read through, and my son asked if we could skip to it, and am I ever glad I let him put the book he was reading on hold for this volume. The description of this book is:

“Seventeen-year-old Michael goes to visit his eccentric mad-scientist uncle who, busy working on yet another time-travel experiment in his cluttered lab, barely notices him. He keeps muttering things like “quantum multiverse transporter” and Michael has to entertain himself. Which is how Michael accidentally ends up in an alternate universe. Everything looks remarkably similar to his own world but with a few key differences, like lizard men dressed in gray suits and three-wheeled vehicles. And then there's Emily, a sassy, confident girl who needs Michael's help before he can find his way back to his own dimension.”

The characters are awesome. You will instantly love Michael and Emily. And his Aunt\Uncle Henry (depending on which version of earth you are on. And the pace is nonstop breakneck action. The whole story takes place during a single day. A little quantum theory, a strange new earth. Finding some differences and that somethings are the same. And of course, the best turkey sandwich ever. When a scientist only trusts two Doctors, Pepper and Who, you know you are in for some fun.

I got to be honest and state I kind of hope that this books is like C.S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew, in that it is the beginning of a whole series of adventures involving Henry(s), Michael and Emily. This story was so much fun. Even after reading it three times I keep thinking about it and smiling. And am even debating going back for a fourth serving.

Another amazing read from the masterful pen of Arthur Slade. And what I truly hope is the beginning of a new series.

(Note: review will post on publication date.)

i had a lot of fun reading this, I loved the premise of the nephew getting transported to an alternate universe, it has always fascinated me. The storyline was well done and I enjoyed the characters.

Mr. Universe is a fun, accessible book with a sci-fi twist that will appeal to teenage reluctant readers. There's lots of action and intrigue to keep readers engaged right until they reach the satisfying end. School librarians and public librarians would do well to include this in their offerings.

If you’re looking for a read about the multiverse and time-traveling for an interested tween or teen, this is one for them. This is another one from Orca to hand to teens who may not be as interested in reading usually or may just avoid those books that are super long. This is a nice length and pulls the reader right along with its action. I didn’t like some parts of the ending of the book, but that’s just me. I don’t want to spoiler anything, but I feel like they should have been a little more concerned for the fate of a character.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Mr. Universe in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a sucker for anything and everything multi-universe theory and Mr. Universe did not disappoint. Comedic from beginning to end, Mr. Universe is a brief but unique novel about high schooler Michael who accidentally ends up in another universe and his attempts to try and save his hopefully-girlfriend from getting erased from existence by gray lizard people. Slade writes all of his characters in this with with and charm and it was really easy to get into the story which is super important while working with such a low page count.

Mr. Universe is part of Orca Sounding's line of high-interest, teen targeted books meant to be consumable by readers who for whatever reason, struggle with reading. I've read quite a few of these now and this is definitely the best I've seen it done. Slade avoids using ultra-complex words or phrasing while also never once talking down to the reader and I can see this being really enjoyable with a wide audience.

First sentence: It was just my luck that my girlfriend lived in another universe. And, to make matters worse, mysterious gray men were trying to erase her. My name is Michael, and I’m the last guy you’d think would end up jumping from one world to another.

Premise/plot: Michael, our protagonist, goes to visit his Uncle Harry, a scientist, and accidentally ends up in another universe. The good news? He meets a girl, Emily, and they definitely like like each other. The bad news? Well, there are lizard-men in grey suits after them--and only them???--can these two escape? Will Michael find a way back to his own universe? Can he find a way to bring Emily with him?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about multiverses or alternate realities. It has a little romance as a sub-plot, but it's more science fiction than romance. What I enjoyed most was how quick a read it was. I really like to be able to sit down and read a book in one sitting.