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7th out of 41 books
—
7 voters
Cosmic
Liam is too big for his boots. And his football strip. And his school blazer. But being super-sized height-wise has its advantages: he's the only eleven-year-old to ever ride the G-force defying Cosmic rollercoaster - or be offered the chance to drive a Porsche. Long-legged Liam makes a giant leap for boy-kind by competing with a group of adults for the chance to go into s...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
July 30th 2008
by MacMillan UK
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Jun 23, 2008
Monica Edinger
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Monica by:
Kelly
Shelves:
finished-listening
Here's my blog post:
A few years ago I fell hard for Millions, Frank Cotrell Boyce’s first book for children. The outlandish situation (two boys feverishly spending large amounts of money), the characterizations (particularly of the two boys and their father), the subtle handling of the big emotional and theological themes (of grief and faith), the laugh-out-loud humorous moments (my favorite being the playground economy), and the remarkable voice of narrator Damian (the younger of the two boys)...more
A few years ago I fell hard for Millions, Frank Cotrell Boyce’s first book for children. The outlandish situation (two boys feverishly spending large amounts of money), the characterizations (particularly of the two boys and their father), the subtle handling of the big emotional and theological themes (of grief and faith), the laugh-out-loud humorous moments (my favorite being the playground economy), and the remarkable voice of narrator Damian (the younger of the two boys)...more
This story is truly cosmic. Cottrell really has a great sense of humor and writes in a way that made me laugh out loud. The main character Liam is easy to relate to, even if you're not a 12 year old bearded boy. Even though it is not likely that a middle school boy can pose as an adult and get launched into space on a crazy mission, I was so absorbed in the story that I believed it could happen!
Good reads book Review- cosmic
In my high school American literature class we were asked to do a book review at the end of the marking period on Good reads. So this quarter I was having a little trouble getting a good book to read, but my brother was reading a book called Cosmic. At first I did not think that this would be a good book for me because it was about science and I’m not that good in science. But after reading this book it showed me a lot about myself, it also showed me how much we ca...more
In my high school American literature class we were asked to do a book review at the end of the marking period on Good reads. So this quarter I was having a little trouble getting a good book to read, but my brother was reading a book called Cosmic. At first I did not think that this would be a good book for me because it was about science and I’m not that good in science. But after reading this book it showed me a lot about myself, it also showed me how much we ca...more
Cosmic
By Frank Cottrell Boyce
Cottrell Boyce , F. (2010). Cosmic. New York, NY: Walden Pond Press.
1. Science Fiction Junior Book
2. This story is about Liam who is a 12 year old boy who has all the same interests, fear, and dreams as an average 12 year old would have. The thing is Liam could pass for about thirty years old. Throughout the story Liam finds ways to use his physical traits to his advantage and gets away with things that only adults would be able to get away with. Throughout the stor...more
By Frank Cottrell Boyce
Cottrell Boyce , F. (2010). Cosmic. New York, NY: Walden Pond Press.
1. Science Fiction Junior Book
2. This story is about Liam who is a 12 year old boy who has all the same interests, fear, and dreams as an average 12 year old would have. The thing is Liam could pass for about thirty years old. Throughout the story Liam finds ways to use his physical traits to his advantage and gets away with things that only adults would be able to get away with. Throughout the stor...more
I really enjoyed this book. It's about a 12 year old boy named Liam who is only 12, but very tall always mistaken for an adult. Liam takes advantage of this and teams up with a girls named Florida and poses as her father to win a contest. Liam and Florida are one of 5 other daughters and father who have won. They fly to China to be the first ones to ride a new ride at an amusement park. The ride is a rocket that they sit in, and it actually gets launched into space, then comes back down. But whe...more
I recently finished Frank Cottrell Boyce's Cosmic.(view spoiler)
...more
Cosmic is about a boy named Liam who's 12 but looks like he's 30! He gets into lots of trouble when his principal thinks he's a teacher. His parents just think he has social problems so they sigh him up for little stars drama program. There he meets Florida Kirby and soon after gets her to pose as his daughter. So when a deal of a life time comes around he takes it. The "Rocket" is the biggest thrill ride ever and he and Florida are going. His parents think he went to camp but really he's flying...more
This is the most completely utterly awesome(st) book EVERRRRR!!!!!!! Liam has a hard time being a kid with adult features. He has many awesome experiences that he would never had had with out looking as old as he did. I recommend this book to EVERYONE, and hope that they all read it instead of saying, "Oh look! Another boring, typical book recommendation!" and never read it. This book is very powerful and intrigues you from reading the short prologue:
"@latestnews: A rocket,launched yesterday fro...more
"@latestnews: A rocket,launched yesterday fro...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
2013 Rebecca Caudill nominee. A crazy, funny book, but amazingly compelling once you embrace the plot. Sort of science fiction...I think...with lots of adventures and some thoughtful insights into what it means to be a dad.
Liam, a 12-year old kid in the Gifted and Talented program at his school, looks like an adult complete with facial hair, a deep voice, and a man's height. He's a misfit at school but he has fun with his unusual appearance--when the principal mistakes him for a new teacher, for...more
Liam, a 12-year old kid in the Gifted and Talented program at his school, looks like an adult complete with facial hair, a deep voice, and a man's height. He's a misfit at school but he has fun with his unusual appearance--when the principal mistakes him for a new teacher, for...more
I decided to read this book because I got given it to ages ago and I remember it being awesome so I decided to read it again.
This book completes the 'book with male main character' box on the bingo board. I liked this category because I could sort of relate with the boy in it.
Cosmic is a book about a 12 year old boy who is way too tall for his age and everyone thinks he's a man. This eventually leads to him ending up on a rocket above earth pretending to be a dad, with only his pretend daughter...more
This book completes the 'book with male main character' box on the bingo board. I liked this category because I could sort of relate with the boy in it.
Cosmic is a book about a 12 year old boy who is way too tall for his age and everyone thinks he's a man. This eventually leads to him ending up on a rocket above earth pretending to be a dad, with only his pretend daughter...more
Recap:
Liam doesn't quite fit in. He is twelve-years-old, but he looks... well... like a dad. A lot of the time, this works to his advantage. On the first day of middle school, his principal thought he was a teacher and introduced him in the school assembly. Once he went to a car dealership, and the salesman almost let him take a Porche out for a test drive.
When Liam finds out he has won a contest to be the first on a brand new thrill ride at an amusement park, he's ecstatic! So what if he has t...more
Liam doesn't quite fit in. He is twelve-years-old, but he looks... well... like a dad. A lot of the time, this works to his advantage. On the first day of middle school, his principal thought he was a teacher and introduced him in the school assembly. Once he went to a car dealership, and the salesman almost let him take a Porche out for a test drive.
When Liam finds out he has won a contest to be the first on a brand new thrill ride at an amusement park, he's ecstatic! So what if he has t...more
Feb 23, 2012
Lisa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
3-6th graders - especially boys
Recommended to Lisa by:
Molli Craghead
I think the author was counting on the fact that nerds from different factions don't mix. Meaning that reader nerds don't play online games and gamer nerds don't read kids' novels.
Well as an elementary school librarian children's literature is my business (and fortunately for me also my passion). My husband is a big gamer and I play with him. So I guess I qualify as that rare (possibly statistically non-existent) double nerd who both reads children's books and plays an online game.
The main char...more
Well as an elementary school librarian children's literature is my business (and fortunately for me also my passion). My husband is a big gamer and I play with him. So I guess I qualify as that rare (possibly statistically non-existent) double nerd who both reads children's books and plays an online game.
The main char...more
Review in full posted on Literaritea (complete with choice quotations)
This book is totally cosmic...really. Hilarious. Well-written. Great characterization. Celebration of dads (I mean, c'mon--since when does THAT happen in a middle grades book??). Out-of-this-world adventure (for real). And I am *definitely* bumping Boyce's Millions to the top of the to read pile.
When the book opens, we hear Liam narrating to his cell phone: "Mom, Dad--if you're listening--you know I said I was going to the Sou...more
This book is totally cosmic...really. Hilarious. Well-written. Great characterization. Celebration of dads (I mean, c'mon--since when does THAT happen in a middle grades book??). Out-of-this-world adventure (for real). And I am *definitely* bumping Boyce's Millions to the top of the to read pile.
When the book opens, we hear Liam narrating to his cell phone: "Mom, Dad--if you're listening--you know I said I was going to the Sou...more
This book was an absolute charmer (could be either middle grade or teen - or adult, frankly - for the audience). I picked it up at the library on a whim, and I'm really glad I did. Boyce's writing style is funny, and sweet, and 'real.' He really brings young Liam to life. Liam is a 12 year old kid that is extremely tall and 'manly' for his age. This both alienates him from kids his own age AND causes many adults to mistake him for an adult himself. So, this also leads to both sad sort of heart-w...more
Genre: Science Fiction
Liam is a 12 year old who everyone has thought looked much older; he’s tall, has facial hair, and is often thought to look like he is thirty. He manages to get himself and his friend Florida on the first civilian ship to space. This story is about Liam’s journey around the moon.
Plot
The idea behind this story is one that I think many students would find intriguing. Here is a young boy passing as an adult and going where no kid had gone before. He is seeing things for the fir...more
Liam is a 12 year old who everyone has thought looked much older; he’s tall, has facial hair, and is often thought to look like he is thirty. He manages to get himself and his friend Florida on the first civilian ship to space. This story is about Liam’s journey around the moon.
Plot
The idea behind this story is one that I think many students would find intriguing. Here is a young boy passing as an adult and going where no kid had gone before. He is seeing things for the fir...more
1. Genre: Junior Book/Science Fiction
2. Summary: Liam, a twelve year old boy, who appears to be much older than that thanks to his extreme height and facial hair growth, has always felt as though he didn’t quite fit into our world. In this unique and fun novel, Boyce writes of Liam’s adventures posing as an adult chaperone for the first space ship traveling into space with all kids!
3. Critique:
a. One of the greatest strengths of this title is the use of comparative language to help readers to ga...more
2. Summary: Liam, a twelve year old boy, who appears to be much older than that thanks to his extreme height and facial hair growth, has always felt as though he didn’t quite fit into our world. In this unique and fun novel, Boyce writes of Liam’s adventures posing as an adult chaperone for the first space ship traveling into space with all kids!
3. Critique:
a. One of the greatest strengths of this title is the use of comparative language to help readers to ga...more
1.Science Fiction
2.Cosmic is the story of one boy’s journey to the moon and back. Posing as his dad, Liam Digby wins a phone contest to an amusement park in China. He takes is good friend, Florida to be his daughter and together they discover that parenting and space travel isn’t as easy as one would expect.
3.A. Point of View B. Cosmic is told from a first person point of view. Liam Digby recounts his adventures as a twelve year old boy who is often mistaken for an adult. C. The story is told in...more
2.Cosmic is the story of one boy’s journey to the moon and back. Posing as his dad, Liam Digby wins a phone contest to an amusement park in China. He takes is good friend, Florida to be his daughter and together they discover that parenting and space travel isn’t as easy as one would expect.
3.A. Point of View B. Cosmic is told from a first person point of view. Liam Digby recounts his adventures as a twelve year old boy who is often mistaken for an adult. C. The story is told in...more
Genre: Science Fiction Junior Book
Liam is a twelve year old boy who is so tall that he is often mistaken as an adult. Although he is too big for his boots and other things like his school blazer, Liam has learned to use his height to his advantage, which leads him to being the only adult chaperon on the first ever trip for civilians to space. Liam quickly learns the many responsibilities faced by adults when something goes wrong on the trip.
a.) A major strength of this book is the author’s funn...more
Liam is a twelve year old boy who is so tall that he is often mistaken as an adult. Although he is too big for his boots and other things like his school blazer, Liam has learned to use his height to his advantage, which leads him to being the only adult chaperon on the first ever trip for civilians to space. Liam quickly learns the many responsibilities faced by adults when something goes wrong on the trip.
a.) A major strength of this book is the author’s funn...more
1. Classification: Science Fiction- junior novel
2. Summary: This is the story of Liam, a twelve year old boy who appears to be thirty! Liam has the problem of constantly being mistaken as an adult especially on the first day of school when he was thought to be a teacher. Liam decides to use his appearence to his advantage and become a chaperone on a space mission with his friend Florida acting as his 'daughter.' Liam soon realizes that there is more to being an adult when the spaceship gets stra...more
2. Summary: This is the story of Liam, a twelve year old boy who appears to be thirty! Liam has the problem of constantly being mistaken as an adult especially on the first day of school when he was thought to be a teacher. Liam decides to use his appearence to his advantage and become a chaperone on a space mission with his friend Florida acting as his 'daughter.' Liam soon realizes that there is more to being an adult when the spaceship gets stra...more
This was my "reward" for completing the mock test for the doctoral student. The story is about a teenage boy (Liam) who looks much older than his age. This has been a constant source of irritation for him, a source of worry for his mom, and a subject of great humor for his classmates. (Never a good thing when you're a teenager.) Eventually, Liam figures out how to use this situation to his advantage. The first time was when he was the only student on a class trip to be tall enough t ride the muc...more
This is a great book for middle grade teens. Cosmic won the Black-Eyed Susan award for the 2010-2011 school year and I loved the movie Millions based on Frank Cottrell Boyce's book.
Cosmic is the story of Liam Digby, a 12-year-old boy who looks like a grown man. Constantly mistaken for an adult, Liam decides to start taking advantage of his ability to blend in with the adult world. His friend Florida agrees to be his 'daughter' and their small scams lead them to a theme park in China. Four child...more
Cosmic is the story of Liam Digby, a 12-year-old boy who looks like a grown man. Constantly mistaken for an adult, Liam decides to start taking advantage of his ability to blend in with the adult world. His friend Florida agrees to be his 'daughter' and their small scams lead them to a theme park in China. Four child...more
"You should know better, a big lad like you."
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Part of me was thinking, I really should think more about the consequences of my actions. Then this wouldn't happen to me. But another part of me was thinking, This is good.
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That is exactly the wrong way round. It's supposed to be more fun being a grown-up. That's why I swapped being a kid for being a dad. What's the point in forfeiting your childhood if all you get for it is filling in forms?
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Liam is a pretty typical twelve-year-old in m...more
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Part of me was thinking, I really should think more about the consequences of my actions. Then this wouldn't happen to me. But another part of me was thinking, This is good.
-----
That is exactly the wrong way round. It's supposed to be more fun being a grown-up. That's why I swapped being a kid for being a dad. What's the point in forfeiting your childhood if all you get for it is filling in forms?
-----
Liam is a pretty typical twelve-year-old in m...more
I chose to read this book because the author's previous books appeared to win so many awards and recognition - plus it was in this month's Scholastic TAB catalog, and I hadn't heard of it before.
Truth be told, it's not my type of book, but I liked it anyway. If you know how picky I am about books, that's praise. I don't waste time on books I don't like.
Basic gist: Liam is a 12yo book who is tall for his age, hairy for his age, and smart for his age. All of these work together to get him regularl...more
Truth be told, it's not my type of book, but I liked it anyway. If you know how picky I am about books, that's praise. I don't waste time on books I don't like.
Basic gist: Liam is a 12yo book who is tall for his age, hairy for his age, and smart for his age. All of these work together to get him regularl...more
This was my first read for this year's Cybils and it's progress was impeded by all sorts of my own adult responsibilities. Liam thrilled at the opportunity to go on rides without adult supervision and drive a Porsche without being asked for his license. But it isn't until he is directly responsible for the care and well-being of several children who fear their feet might never touch Earth's soil again that he realizes maybe it's time to start acting his age and not his size.
I totally understand....more
I totally understand....more
It's a coincidence I began this on the night of the lunar eclipse, or maybe I just have space on the brain? Actually, not really. It's up to me to note books that get stars from major trade publications, and this book has a whopping SIX.
Cottrell Bryce owes a lot to Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I say this in the best way possible. One, they're both British. Two, they live for caricature and the funny. Three, their books are just whimsical enough, and serious enough, to hit...more
Cottrell Bryce owes a lot to Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I say this in the best way possible. One, they're both British. Two, they live for caricature and the funny. Three, their books are just whimsical enough, and serious enough, to hit...more
Cosmic is a fun, heart warming read as Liam is having a very hard time with being trapped in both the kid world and the adult world. I mean, if you looked like you were 30 and could grow a beard, what 12 year old would want to be doing kid stuff. The delightful thing with Liam, is his humorous voice. Liam also struggles with feeling like he can't live up his parent's expectations of him and that his parent's don't love him. He struggles with being a kid trapped inside an adult body. At least he...more
Because I had enjoyed the film "Millions", based on a book by Frank Cottrell Boyce, I was interested in reading his latest book for children, "Cosmic". "Cosmic" had been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2009 (it was published in the UK in 2008 and in the USA in 2010), and won the British Blue Peter award, "Book I Could Not Put Down" (chosen by children from selections given to them by adult judges),for 2010. This was a fun follow-up for me after having recently read Mary Roach's adult nonfi...more
Really cool book about a boy who is 12, who is big for his age, and gifted and talented. He fits in no where at school, and spends his time playing online games.
He learns of an opportunity to be the first to go to a new amusement park. The problem is, you have to be one of the 10 best dads voted to go. He poses as a dad, convinces a semi-friend/acquaintance from school to pose as his daughter, and the 2 embark on an incredible journey. It turns out that the new amusement part is in China (the s...more
He learns of an opportunity to be the first to go to a new amusement park. The problem is, you have to be one of the 10 best dads voted to go. He poses as a dad, convinces a semi-friend/acquaintance from school to pose as his daughter, and the 2 embark on an incredible journey. It turns out that the new amusement part is in China (the s...more
Liam Digby, a 12-year-old who looks older and is often mistaken for an adult, wins a contest to go into outer space with his "daughter" and school friend Florida. The flight is sponsored by Drax Communications, which sounds like a big company that produces Smartphone apps and games and wants to branch out into theme parks. The winners of the contest, 4 dads and their kids, are taken to China where Drax Communications and Dr. Dinah Drax, the mastermind, are building a huge theme park in the middl...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Your chance to interview Frank Cottrell Boyce | 4 | 18 | Mar 03, 2012 06:19am |
Frank Cottrell Boyce is a British screenwriter, novelist and occasional actor.
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carne...more
More about Frank Cottrell Boyce...
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carne...more
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“We walked on the moon. We made footprints somewhere no one else had ever made footprints, and unless someone comes and rubs them out, those footprints will be there forever because there’s no wind.”
—
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“Gravity is not a trivial monster.”
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Jan 24, 2013 05:23am