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When 14-year-old Elliot Schroeder is selected by NASA to be the first Junior Astronaut, he has no way of knowing the profound effect it will have on Vincent Ole Tome, a Maasai herder who is also 14 years old. An unexpected event puts the boys in contact via short-wave radio, and an African drought and an in-space emergency bring about a climactic fact-to-face meeting.
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
October 15th 1997
by Disney-Hyperion
(first published January 1st 1900)
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Elliott goes up in orbit on the Space Shuttle as part of a special "junior astronaut" program, and while orbiting he radios down to various ham radio operators. He talks frequently with Vincent, a Maasai boy in Kenya, who is struggling to reconcile the traditional warrior ways he is learning with his desire to know more about the West and to become a doctor. Both boys are a little at odds with their fathers--Elliott's dad is a rancher out West--but through their nightly conversations they come a...more
When Ellie Schroeder finds out that he will become the first junior astronaut, his whole vision of the world changes when he contacts Messai boy in Africa. They learn how theircoijtries blame each other, and what they can do to set an example for peace. I wish that the book could be a little less maturespunding, and more kid like. That's what the book is set on, right? That's why i give this book three stars.
Two boys are facing difficulty because they want to choose different paths for their lives than what their father's want and expect of them. One boy is from Montana and the other Kenya, a Maasai. They contact one another via radio and due to cultural differences they clash but eventually form a strong friendship.
This is an excellent read for middle schooler's and I highly recommend it. What a great book in showing how completely different kids (culturally) can reach out and get past the differences. Because really, when it comes down to it, they are just two kids growing up. Really enjoyed this book!
we had 2 read it for literature in 6th grade (easy read 4 sixth graders!) and my friends and i all thought it was going 2 b stupid but we ended up liking it!
Nice little book about cultural differences. A quick read.
3 1/2 stars
The story of two boys raised on opposite sides of the Earth: one the first teenage American astronaut, the other a young Maasai cow herder.
This was an interesting subject, but I felt beaten about the head with the author's opinions on caring for the environment and world brotherhood. That is not to say I didn't agree with much of what he said, I just felt that the preaching he did was unnecessary even for a youthful audience.
This was an interesting subject, but I felt beaten about the head with the author's opinions on caring for the environment and world brotherhood. That is not to say I didn't agree with much of what he said, I just felt that the preaching he did was unnecessary even for a youthful audience.
I like this author a lot for children's novels. His writing is captivating and he tackles important issues. This wasn't one of my favorites from him. My son might like it when he gets older if he still aspires to become an astronaut when he grows up.
I read this book to help Jason with his summer reading packet for 7th grade. It's a good story, though I don't think Jason allowed himself to enjoy it, because it was for a school assignment!
If I could, I would give this book zero stars. Actually the worst book I have ever been forced to read. Basically page after page of cliche "wise" moral lessons draped with a veil of story.
It was merely ok. Not one of my favorites but deffinitly an amazing mesh of two different cultures.
Talk about mixing cultures!
May 22, 2013
Archie Cuaresma
is currently reading it
Apr 21, 2013
Bailey
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Apr 21, 2013
Tasha
marked it as to-read
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: YA Novel About First Child Astronaut [s] | 6 | 22 | May 10, 2013 02:46pm |
Oct 02, 2010 02:45pm