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What Goes Up
Action-packed and wildly funny, this near-future sci-fi features three teens on an inter-dimensional mission to save the world.
Rosa and Eddie are among hundreds of teens applying to NASA’s mysterious Multi-World Agency. After rounds of crazy-competitive testing they are appointed to Team 3, along with an alternate, just in case Eddie screws up (as everyone expects he will). What they don’t expect is that aliens will arrive from another dimension, and look just like us. And no one could even imagine that Team 3 would be the only hope of saving our world from their Earth-destroying plans. The teens steal the spacecraft (it would be great if they knew how to fly it) and head to Earth2, where the aliens’ world and people are just like ours. With a few notable exceptions.
There, the teens will find more than their alternate selves: they'll face existential questions and high-stakes adventure, with comedy that's out of this world.
Rosa and Eddie are among hundreds of teens applying to NASA’s mysterious Multi-World Agency. After rounds of crazy-competitive testing they are appointed to Team 3, along with an alternate, just in case Eddie screws up (as everyone expects he will). What they don’t expect is that aliens will arrive from another dimension, and look just like us. And no one could even imagine that Team 3 would be the only hope of saving our world from their Earth-destroying plans. The teens steal the spacecraft (it would be great if they knew how to fly it) and head to Earth2, where the aliens’ world and people are just like ours. With a few notable exceptions.
There, the teens will find more than their alternate selves: they'll face existential questions and high-stakes adventure, with comedy that's out of this world.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2017
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1851 people want to read
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July 18, 2017
REVIEW: I received this book from Bloomsbury Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved Katie Kennedy's first book LEARNING TO SWEAR IN AMERICA when I read it last year. Definitely one of my favorite Young Adult books of the year, I still recommend it to people. So of course I jumped and begged for the chance to read Kennedy's newest book WHAT GOES UP. And while I didn't love it as much as her first book, it was still and fun and fast read that's perfect for easy Summer days.
This Sci-Fi novel takes place at an unknown future date, in which science and space travel here on Earth have advanced enough to, basically, be easier. The author doesn't hit you over the head with this idea however, it only shows up in small instances, like cell phones which have a "hover" mode (the easier to take selfies with). And in the fact that there is a NASA Multi-World Agency recruiting a team of High School students to train up in all things outer-space...just in case aliens come to visit. But otherwise, Earth is Earth and teens are teens! Of course teens being teens and aliens being aliens, things don't go quite so smoothly.
The first half of the book is cracking good fun. I loved the challenges that the cast of characters had to complete and battle with in order to prove themselves and gain a spot with the MWA. The scientific elements paired with revealing and discovering the different character personalities and their back stories was fantastic. Their burgeoning friendships and dialogue were spot on and just what I'd hoped and expected from Katie Kennedy. It felt a bit like Ender's Game meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (if that makes any sense at all). Science meets humor meets heart.
The second half is where we have to really suspend our disbelief however and let the crazy Sci-Fi ride just take over. And while it was enjoyable, it also felt a little disjointed and abrupt. There is a lot of action (and more humorous dialogue) but at the same time it didn't feel fully explored. It was a little too fast and jumped from point to point without letting the reader grasp the situations at hand. It sort of took me out the moment and I couldn't lose myself in the story. It's still fun to read, especially because I loved the characters more and more with each page, but it didn't flow as well as the first half.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and if you're looking for a fun and fast Sci-Fi read with snappy dialogue among some genius teenagers, then this is your book! I already have the urge to reread it just for fun...and because I'm already imagining the continuation of the characters stories (I can't help in entertaining some mental fan-fiction. I really did love the characters that much).
I absolutely loved Katie Kennedy's first book LEARNING TO SWEAR IN AMERICA when I read it last year. Definitely one of my favorite Young Adult books of the year, I still recommend it to people. So of course I jumped and begged for the chance to read Kennedy's newest book WHAT GOES UP. And while I didn't love it as much as her first book, it was still and fun and fast read that's perfect for easy Summer days.
This Sci-Fi novel takes place at an unknown future date, in which science and space travel here on Earth have advanced enough to, basically, be easier. The author doesn't hit you over the head with this idea however, it only shows up in small instances, like cell phones which have a "hover" mode (the easier to take selfies with). And in the fact that there is a NASA Multi-World Agency recruiting a team of High School students to train up in all things outer-space...just in case aliens come to visit. But otherwise, Earth is Earth and teens are teens! Of course teens being teens and aliens being aliens, things don't go quite so smoothly.
The first half of the book is cracking good fun. I loved the challenges that the cast of characters had to complete and battle with in order to prove themselves and gain a spot with the MWA. The scientific elements paired with revealing and discovering the different character personalities and their back stories was fantastic. Their burgeoning friendships and dialogue were spot on and just what I'd hoped and expected from Katie Kennedy. It felt a bit like Ender's Game meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (if that makes any sense at all). Science meets humor meets heart.
The second half is where we have to really suspend our disbelief however and let the crazy Sci-Fi ride just take over. And while it was enjoyable, it also felt a little disjointed and abrupt. There is a lot of action (and more humorous dialogue) but at the same time it didn't feel fully explored. It was a little too fast and jumped from point to point without letting the reader grasp the situations at hand. It sort of took me out the moment and I couldn't lose myself in the story. It's still fun to read, especially because I loved the characters more and more with each page, but it didn't flow as well as the first half.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and if you're looking for a fun and fast Sci-Fi read with snappy dialogue among some genius teenagers, then this is your book! I already have the urge to reread it just for fun...and because I'm already imagining the continuation of the characters stories (I can't help in entertaining some mental fan-fiction. I really did love the characters that much).
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July 16, 2017I really enjoyed Katie Kennedy's first book and I loved this one as well.
At first, What Goes Up felt like a crazy, intergalactic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with a group of teens competing for spots on the Interworlds Agency, a division of NASA that deals with the exploration of parallel universes with intelligent life. The competition was fierce, filled with psychological tests and intelligence tests and logic tests and stress tests. I loved that part.
Then, just as the testing is winding down and a final two are about to be chosen, something dramatic happens. (I will be vague so as not to spoil it.) Then the three finalists have to band together and save the world in a crazy, funny, suspenseful sequence of events.
I'm not a huge fan of space-themed books or, but still found a lot to love. The characters here are as scary-smart and hilarious, a Scooby Gang of nerds with a lot of heart. You have Rosa, the daughter of a Los Alamos scientist, and Eddie, the son of a mean drunk who's recently out of prison, plus Trevor and Reg, their instructor. Parallel universe stuff always freaks me out, and that aspect of the book was no exception. But this story also leveraged the humor behind the freakiness.
You don't have to be a genius or a space nerd to love this book - it's also about the value of friendship and teamwork.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com or check out my Bookstagram!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a possible review.
At first, What Goes Up felt like a crazy, intergalactic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with a group of teens competing for spots on the Interworlds Agency, a division of NASA that deals with the exploration of parallel universes with intelligent life. The competition was fierce, filled with psychological tests and intelligence tests and logic tests and stress tests. I loved that part.
Then, just as the testing is winding down and a final two are about to be chosen, something dramatic happens. (I will be vague so as not to spoil it.) Then the three finalists have to band together and save the world in a crazy, funny, suspenseful sequence of events.
I'm not a huge fan of space-themed books or, but still found a lot to love. The characters here are as scary-smart and hilarious, a Scooby Gang of nerds with a lot of heart. You have Rosa, the daughter of a Los Alamos scientist, and Eddie, the son of a mean drunk who's recently out of prison, plus Trevor and Reg, their instructor. Parallel universe stuff always freaks me out, and that aspect of the book was no exception. But this story also leveraged the humor behind the freakiness.
You don't have to be a genius or a space nerd to love this book - it's also about the value of friendship and teamwork.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com or check out my Bookstagram!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a possible review.
September 17, 2023
*ARC provided by Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review*
"For everything that went up, something had to come down. Eddie just didn't know why the thing that went down was always him."
This was the first book I've read by Katie Kennedy and I'm glad to say that I consumed it like there was no tomorrow. I even debated whether sleep and work were important enough to make myself stop reading. I admit, I was extremely nervous before diving into this book. For one, I am not one that is interested in anything related to space and these characters already sounded super smart which left me intimidated.
We follow Rosa and Eddie as they apply to a secret NASA program named Interworlds Agency in the middle of Iowa. This is a world where humanity has been able to confirm intelligent life in other worlds and are looking for a way to communicate with them; Rosa and Eddie are trained to be among the teams that help that procedure along.
This book is told in the third person but the chapters rotate between Rosa and Eddie's POV. They never ceased to amaze me with how unbelievably smart they were.
My heart went out to Eddie, time and time again. His backstory was one of the most tragic in this story and it sparked a massive feeling of over protectiveness in me. I wanted to chase all of his pain away so only happiness remained in his eyes. I was deeply invested in this character development the most.
Like I said, I never cared for space but these characters made me WANT to be into it just because they were. I cared about them so much that I was basically interested in whatever they were interested in. They felt incredibly real to me and I couldn't help but experience their emotions as my own.
The only reason why this isn't a full 5 star review, was because I felt like the stakes weren't as high as I'd expect for a novel that dealt with other worlds. I get that there's so much you can do with YA but I still would've loved to have seen the characters go through worse situations. On the other hand, my expectations didn't impact my reading experience whatsoever and for that, it almost gets the 5 stars.
This story was the perfect blend of humor, heartbreak, and adventure. I cried with joy and I cried with sorrow and then pride. The ending was even more emotional and it left me a crying and blubbering mess. It was interesting right from the start and I loved that the pace picked up right away. I can't wait to read more by Katie and hopefully revisit these spectacular characters in the future.
4.5 stars!!!
"For everything that went up, something had to come down. Eddie just didn't know why the thing that went down was always him."
This was the first book I've read by Katie Kennedy and I'm glad to say that I consumed it like there was no tomorrow. I even debated whether sleep and work were important enough to make myself stop reading. I admit, I was extremely nervous before diving into this book. For one, I am not one that is interested in anything related to space and these characters already sounded super smart which left me intimidated.
We follow Rosa and Eddie as they apply to a secret NASA program named Interworlds Agency in the middle of Iowa. This is a world where humanity has been able to confirm intelligent life in other worlds and are looking for a way to communicate with them; Rosa and Eddie are trained to be among the teams that help that procedure along.
This book is told in the third person but the chapters rotate between Rosa and Eddie's POV. They never ceased to amaze me with how unbelievably smart they were.
My heart went out to Eddie, time and time again. His backstory was one of the most tragic in this story and it sparked a massive feeling of over protectiveness in me. I wanted to chase all of his pain away so only happiness remained in his eyes. I was deeply invested in this character development the most.
Like I said, I never cared for space but these characters made me WANT to be into it just because they were. I cared about them so much that I was basically interested in whatever they were interested in. They felt incredibly real to me and I couldn't help but experience their emotions as my own.
The only reason why this isn't a full 5 star review, was because I felt like the stakes weren't as high as I'd expect for a novel that dealt with other worlds. I get that there's so much you can do with YA but I still would've loved to have seen the characters go through worse situations. On the other hand, my expectations didn't impact my reading experience whatsoever and for that, it almost gets the 5 stars.
This story was the perfect blend of humor, heartbreak, and adventure. I cried with joy and I cried with sorrow and then pride. The ending was even more emotional and it left me a crying and blubbering mess. It was interesting right from the start and I loved that the pace picked up right away. I can't wait to read more by Katie and hopefully revisit these spectacular characters in the future.
4.5 stars!!!
November 5, 2018
What if there was a another Earth out there, where another you lived? That was the idea behind the fictional Multi-World Agency, and they were looking for the best and the brightest to become Team 3 at the agency. This search brought all the top teens in the nation to Iowa, where they had to battle for a spot on the team, and remain to prepare for future missions. However, with the arrival of an alien spacecraft, that mission may have come sooner than expected.
This was a really fun adventure! I found myself so engrossed by the testing portion in the beginning of the book. The challenges were really interesting and some, quite unique. The process of elimination was enthralling, but I also liked the way Kennedy took us into the minds of the recruits, and gave us a better understanding of all the reasoning and emotions involved.
The story was not only fun, it was funny. The characters often used humor and exchanged snappy and snarky banter, which kept a smile on my face. Keep an eye out for Eddie's knock-knock jokes. They were super corny, but I love the motivation behind them.
There was a third F that was a standout for me too - friendship. I guess when you are thrown into a life or death situation, you will often form bonds with those, who are there with you, but the friendship formed by Team 3 was deeper. You saw it in the little things and the big things. In the things they were willing to do and the things they were willing to risk. Examples of that were all over this book, and not only the idea of friendship, but also the idea teamwork. I love the focus on these things, and all the ways Kennedy incorporated them into this tale.
There were lots of great characters in this book, but the stars were Eddie and Rosa for me. I instantly loved them both, but for different reasons.
Eddie seemed like the outsider, like he didn't belong among this elite group. He was well equipped for each challenge, however, the shadow of his past hung over him. Eddie had a backstory, that will hit you in the feels. I loved that he achieved so much despite his past, and I was rooting for him the whole time. He wanted this. He needed this, and I needed this for him.
Rosa grew up with the scientific elite, but she always felt like she had to prove herself, because of her pedigree. It was fantastic seeing her and Eddie, people from such different circumstances, come together and become a dynamic duo. But the beauty of these two characters was not in how brilliant they were, but rather, how they suffered from the same issues as other teens: fear of failure, loneliness, the need to belong. These things gave the characters more depth, and in my opinion, made them more interesting and relatable.
As a former physics teacher, my colleagues and I always lamented how high school physics ends with discoveries from the 1930s. Therefore, I was excited to see more modern ideas, like the Many Worlds Theory, mentioned in this book. A dissertation on the theory would not be appropriate, but maybe one teen will read this story and want to learn more. You never know.
Overall: A fantastic and often-times, thrilling adventure filled with friendship, witty banter, and out of this world fun.
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This was a really fun adventure! I found myself so engrossed by the testing portion in the beginning of the book. The challenges were really interesting and some, quite unique. The process of elimination was enthralling, but I also liked the way Kennedy took us into the minds of the recruits, and gave us a better understanding of all the reasoning and emotions involved.
The story was not only fun, it was funny. The characters often used humor and exchanged snappy and snarky banter, which kept a smile on my face. Keep an eye out for Eddie's knock-knock jokes. They were super corny, but I love the motivation behind them.
There was a third F that was a standout for me too - friendship. I guess when you are thrown into a life or death situation, you will often form bonds with those, who are there with you, but the friendship formed by Team 3 was deeper. You saw it in the little things and the big things. In the things they were willing to do and the things they were willing to risk. Examples of that were all over this book, and not only the idea of friendship, but also the idea teamwork. I love the focus on these things, and all the ways Kennedy incorporated them into this tale.
There were lots of great characters in this book, but the stars were Eddie and Rosa for me. I instantly loved them both, but for different reasons.
Eddie seemed like the outsider, like he didn't belong among this elite group. He was well equipped for each challenge, however, the shadow of his past hung over him. Eddie had a backstory, that will hit you in the feels. I loved that he achieved so much despite his past, and I was rooting for him the whole time. He wanted this. He needed this, and I needed this for him.
Rosa grew up with the scientific elite, but she always felt like she had to prove herself, because of her pedigree. It was fantastic seeing her and Eddie, people from such different circumstances, come together and become a dynamic duo. But the beauty of these two characters was not in how brilliant they were, but rather, how they suffered from the same issues as other teens: fear of failure, loneliness, the need to belong. These things gave the characters more depth, and in my opinion, made them more interesting and relatable.
As a former physics teacher, my colleagues and I always lamented how high school physics ends with discoveries from the 1930s. Therefore, I was excited to see more modern ideas, like the Many Worlds Theory, mentioned in this book. A dissertation on the theory would not be appropriate, but maybe one teen will read this story and want to learn more. You never know.
Overall: A fantastic and often-times, thrilling adventure filled with friendship, witty banter, and out of this world fun.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
November 3, 2017
Katie Kennedy has once again combined humour and science in this delightful book. What Goes Up is absolutely hilarious and completely refreshing, yet also draws upon some more serious themes.
I so enjoyed reading this book and I know it is quickly becoming a favourite of our young readers also. I can't wait to read what Katie Kennedy writes next, it is sure to be just as wonderful and funny as What Goes Up.
I so enjoyed reading this book and I know it is quickly becoming a favourite of our young readers also. I can't wait to read what Katie Kennedy writes next, it is sure to be just as wonderful and funny as What Goes Up.
August 21, 2020
3.5 stars
This did not play out the way I expected it to, because the synopsis on the book is different from the goodreads synopsis. but I was happy to be along for the ride. I'm not sure I would've enjoyed this as much if I had known what to expect because this was told pretty straightforwardly and didn't have many twists and turns.
The first half of the book is a testing scenario and I thought that was fun to read, and definitely the best part of the book. It was interesting seeing all the puzzles the characters had to solve and seeing how they solved them. I was less interested in the alien stuff in the second half to be honest, I would've preferred more regular training.
I found the writing to be a little cringe-y at times. I was also confused about the age of the characters due to the writing and certain plot points. There's a point in the story where Rosa, the girl mc, is too embarrassed to ask for period products, so they go on a forbidden hour long walk so she can buy some? If she was 13 I'd get it, but at almost 18 years old and training to be a literal rocket scientist and astronaut it's a little hard to believe. There's a "feminist" explanation but it felt weak to me.
Romance was meh to me, mostly because the characters felt pretty surface level to me. It seemed to me were supposed to have 2 main characters Rosa & Eddie, but Eddie really took over because he had a more... tragic (for lack of a better word) back story. This left little room to see Rosa develop as a character, and get invested in their story together.
Overall this was a fun read, but it did fall a little flat.
This did not play out the way I expected it to, because the synopsis on the book is different from the goodreads synopsis. but I was happy to be along for the ride. I'm not sure I would've enjoyed this as much if I had known what to expect because this was told pretty straightforwardly and didn't have many twists and turns.
The first half of the book is a testing scenario and I thought that was fun to read, and definitely the best part of the book. It was interesting seeing all the puzzles the characters had to solve and seeing how they solved them. I was less interested in the alien stuff in the second half to be honest, I would've preferred more regular training.
I found the writing to be a little cringe-y at times. I was also confused about the age of the characters due to the writing and certain plot points. There's a point in the story where Rosa, the girl mc, is too embarrassed to ask for period products, so they go on a forbidden hour long walk so she can buy some? If she was 13 I'd get it, but at almost 18 years old and training to be a literal rocket scientist and astronaut it's a little hard to believe. There's a "feminist" explanation but it felt weak to me.
Romance was meh to me, mostly because the characters felt pretty surface level to me. It seemed to me were supposed to have 2 main characters Rosa & Eddie, but Eddie really took over because he had a more... tragic (for lack of a better word) back story. This left little room to see Rosa develop as a character, and get invested in their story together.
Overall this was a fun read, but it did fall a little flat.
July 10, 2017
I enjoyed this so much!! I never thought I'd like science books but Katie makes. Me want to read more. I cannot wait to write my review.
Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc for review!!
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Review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...
After reading Katie Kennedy's debut novel, Learning To Swear In America, I knew I found a new favorite author. I normally am not the biggest fan of science books but Katie has made me change my tune.
Short recap: Rosa and Eddie are two brilliant teenagers that are jockeying for a position on a NASA’s mysterious Multi-World Agency, for the coveted Team 3. The competition is stiff as there are hundreds of just as smart teens going after the same spot. Eddie and Rosa make the cut after strenuous testing and begin training. What they don't expect during their training is for aliens to arrive on Earth looking exactly like we do. Eddie and Rosa do the unthinkable: steal the alien spacecraft and try to save their planet.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sci-fi adventure! I enjoyed the characters, the challenges they faced, and the crazy space travel to an alternate Earth. From the start I knew I was going to like Rosa and Eddie. These two characters felt real to me, as if they were people I would meet in real life. As a pair, these two just clicked. They worked in glorious harmony and it was so much fun to read. Anytime that dynamic duo was mentioned, I couldn't help but smile. Rosa was full of OCD traits, proper upbringing, and trying to live up to her parents' greatness, while Eddie was always trying to prove he was better this his family and his ghosts. It felt like pure magic the way they just fed off of each other.
Some people may struggle with the fact this is set around NASA, outer space, and the idea of life on other planets. To that I say this - calm down. It's a fiction story. Give it a chance! Especially this one - give this book a chance. It works. It works and flows so well that I was sad when the story was over. I was not ever bored or scratching my head at what was going on. It was easy to follow and just a fun adventure to be a part of. Kennedy nailed it out of the park with how she brought the idea of life on other planets into the story. She did so in such a natural way that I couldn't see this story going any other direction. What this book did cause me to do when it was over was ask some questions of my own. Are we really alone in the universe? Could there be another universe that is set up exactly like ours except things are a little different based on decisions that were made? It's a lot to think about!
It is no doubt that I loved this one. Kennedy has found a forever reader in me. I wish everyone would give this a chance and just have fun with it. The banter between Rosa and Eddie alone makes this worth reading. Please, add this to your TBR and come back to me to discuss. I'd love to hear what you thought of it
Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc for review!!
---
Review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...
After reading Katie Kennedy's debut novel, Learning To Swear In America, I knew I found a new favorite author. I normally am not the biggest fan of science books but Katie has made me change my tune.
Short recap: Rosa and Eddie are two brilliant teenagers that are jockeying for a position on a NASA’s mysterious Multi-World Agency, for the coveted Team 3. The competition is stiff as there are hundreds of just as smart teens going after the same spot. Eddie and Rosa make the cut after strenuous testing and begin training. What they don't expect during their training is for aliens to arrive on Earth looking exactly like we do. Eddie and Rosa do the unthinkable: steal the alien spacecraft and try to save their planet.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sci-fi adventure! I enjoyed the characters, the challenges they faced, and the crazy space travel to an alternate Earth. From the start I knew I was going to like Rosa and Eddie. These two characters felt real to me, as if they were people I would meet in real life. As a pair, these two just clicked. They worked in glorious harmony and it was so much fun to read. Anytime that dynamic duo was mentioned, I couldn't help but smile. Rosa was full of OCD traits, proper upbringing, and trying to live up to her parents' greatness, while Eddie was always trying to prove he was better this his family and his ghosts. It felt like pure magic the way they just fed off of each other.
Some people may struggle with the fact this is set around NASA, outer space, and the idea of life on other planets. To that I say this - calm down. It's a fiction story. Give it a chance! Especially this one - give this book a chance. It works. It works and flows so well that I was sad when the story was over. I was not ever bored or scratching my head at what was going on. It was easy to follow and just a fun adventure to be a part of. Kennedy nailed it out of the park with how she brought the idea of life on other planets into the story. She did so in such a natural way that I couldn't see this story going any other direction. What this book did cause me to do when it was over was ask some questions of my own. Are we really alone in the universe? Could there be another universe that is set up exactly like ours except things are a little different based on decisions that were made? It's a lot to think about!
It is no doubt that I loved this one. Kennedy has found a forever reader in me. I wish everyone would give this a chance and just have fun with it. The banter between Rosa and Eddie alone makes this worth reading. Please, add this to your TBR and come back to me to discuss. I'd love to hear what you thought of it
March 31, 2019
I was really rooting for this book and thought it could at least make it to three stars but then in the moment of "how do we shut this thing off??" a dude whipped it out and peed on it lol bye.
What Goes Up is about two teenagers applying to a mysterious division of NASA. After multiple rounds of competitive testing, Rosa and Eddie are among the top from the hundreds of hopefuls, with an alternate for Eddie in case he messes up. What they never expected were aliens from another dimension showing up; aliens that look like us whose motives are unclear. Soon Rosa and Eddie are on a desperate mission to steal their craft and head to Earth2, a world that is like theirs with a few exceptions.
Really the book's summary already gives away almost everything that happens in this book. I am not even kidding. The first half of the book is them training and going through the wacky and wild tests and I spent that entire time wondering when the training would end and the actual story would start. At first I thought it was fun but it just... kept... going. Seriously, just read the summary and leave. There is nothing beyond that point.
The tests were beyond ridiculous, I just don't want to think about them anymore. They were all things like, put your hand in a box, put bulbs on this string, and oh! If you did this path it means you are this smart. We literally get told how smart and creative Rosa and Eddie are but we never actually see them being above average in anything. Oh they figured out how to work together in a simple test that no one else has ever thought about (even though it was obvious). While I liked Rosa, Eddie was SO obnoxious on every level. His quirky methods of ~breaking the rules~ and finding different solutions was just plain eye-rolling.
Maybe I just didn't get it. The tone was so weird- like it was trying to be funny but it was so cringey and had such stupid humor. Like I said, the "smart" teenager having the bright idea to pee on something to solve the problem. Another character after meeting another version of himself: he considered asking the other him to check out his ass for a wound that (probably) happened earlier but he gets scared because the other him wears eyeliner and he "thinks he might be gay." One last example but there is an extended scene where they talk about how the girl is on her period and needs tampons aka her "accessories" so later on in the middle of drama, they mention her bag and she screams about how she needs her accessories? (I will admit that one wasn't as bad but I still cringed.) I don't know whose humor this is for but for sure not mine. Because the tone was off, there were a few scenes that could have been genuinely sad but they didn't hit anywhere either.
There was this plot twist ending I wanted to happen but unfortunately it only existed in my head. Would have been wild though.
The part that gets me the most angry is because the idea of this book is so interesting and I wanted it to be good. NASA trainees getting ready to travel through any of the infinite universes? Nice. "Aliens" aka people from one of those Earths coming in for reasons no one knows? (Ignoring the actual alien bait when they aren't really from outer space but just a different universe.) But nothing in here worked out, and I'm so bummed. Also you can't just put "quantum" in front of everything just for fun.
What Goes Up is about two teenagers applying to a mysterious division of NASA. After multiple rounds of competitive testing, Rosa and Eddie are among the top from the hundreds of hopefuls, with an alternate for Eddie in case he messes up. What they never expected were aliens from another dimension showing up; aliens that look like us whose motives are unclear. Soon Rosa and Eddie are on a desperate mission to steal their craft and head to Earth2, a world that is like theirs with a few exceptions.
Really the book's summary already gives away almost everything that happens in this book. I am not even kidding. The first half of the book is them training and going through the wacky and wild tests and I spent that entire time wondering when the training would end and the actual story would start. At first I thought it was fun but it just... kept... going. Seriously, just read the summary and leave. There is nothing beyond that point.
The tests were beyond ridiculous, I just don't want to think about them anymore. They were all things like, put your hand in a box, put bulbs on this string, and oh! If you did this path it means you are this smart. We literally get told how smart and creative Rosa and Eddie are but we never actually see them being above average in anything. Oh they figured out how to work together in a simple test that no one else has ever thought about (even though it was obvious). While I liked Rosa, Eddie was SO obnoxious on every level. His quirky methods of ~breaking the rules~ and finding different solutions was just plain eye-rolling.
Maybe I just didn't get it. The tone was so weird- like it was trying to be funny but it was so cringey and had such stupid humor. Like I said, the "smart" teenager having the bright idea to pee on something to solve the problem. Another character after meeting another version of himself: he considered asking the other him to check out his ass for a wound that (probably) happened earlier but he gets scared because the other him wears eyeliner and he "thinks he might be gay." One last example but there is an extended scene where they talk about how the girl is on her period and needs tampons aka her "accessories" so later on in the middle of drama, they mention her bag and she screams about how she needs her accessories? (I will admit that one wasn't as bad but I still cringed.) I don't know whose humor this is for but for sure not mine. Because the tone was off, there were a few scenes that could have been genuinely sad but they didn't hit anywhere either.
There was this plot twist ending I wanted to happen but unfortunately it only existed in my head. Would have been wild though.
The part that gets me the most angry is because the idea of this book is so interesting and I wanted it to be good. NASA trainees getting ready to travel through any of the infinite universes? Nice. "Aliens" aka people from one of those Earths coming in for reasons no one knows? (Ignoring the actual alien bait when they aren't really from outer space but just a different universe.) But nothing in here worked out, and I'm so bummed. Also you can't just put "quantum" in front of everything just for fun.
June 24, 2017
Buy this book. It's light, fast-paced, near-future Science Fiction with well-rounded characters and very sharp, funny writing. In other words, the perfect summer read. I loved it. The way the Katie Kennedy blends science, philosophy & humor is so freaking entertaining I just can't get enough. It was like an amazing mashup between ARRIVALS & ENDER'S GAME but mirrored in an alternate universe where all the scientists have a wicked sense of humor.
July 14, 2019
— 3.5 / 5 stars ✨ —
July 17, 2017
What Goes Up, by Katie Kennedy, tells the story of a girl named Rosa Hayashi and Eddie Toivonen as they each attempt to become one of the two people that make up a new NASA team designed to explore and find aliens.
I’m not sure if the writing style is my absolute favorite, as the descriptive words are a little rare. But at the same time, those that are included are funny or metaphors I’ve never seen before, so I’m fairly impressed as far as those are concerned. I’m not someone who enjoys paragraph after paragraph of description, of course, but I do enjoy knowing a bit more about expressions or what the world/room/etc. looks like. It was also slightly confusing towards the beginning when the characters didn’t know each other’s names but as the third-person POV shifted to Eddie, for example, Rosa was still mentioned by name – and not because he’d noticed her, but because Kennedy chose to mention something about her.
Mixed in among the competition’s storyline, I found a great deal more humor than I expected, though it didn’t always land. Oftentimes, these competition-based YA novels are fairly serious, or based very heavily on romance. I appreciated the blatant references to things like children of multicultural backgrounds being asked “what” they are, for example, and how likable the main characters were, most of the time.
I didn’t understand some of the rationale of the characters or the way they spoke sometimes, but I’m chalking that up to the world-building and the potential that the book takes place at a different time. Sometimes things happened randomly and were never questioned or explained, and that really drew me out of the narrative.
Many of the plot points reminded me specifically of Veronica Roth’s Divergent, and because of the inconsistent characterization, I can’t give this more than 2 stars for the concept and fast-paced beginning, which is usually missing in books like this.
I’m not sure if the writing style is my absolute favorite, as the descriptive words are a little rare. But at the same time, those that are included are funny or metaphors I’ve never seen before, so I’m fairly impressed as far as those are concerned. I’m not someone who enjoys paragraph after paragraph of description, of course, but I do enjoy knowing a bit more about expressions or what the world/room/etc. looks like. It was also slightly confusing towards the beginning when the characters didn’t know each other’s names but as the third-person POV shifted to Eddie, for example, Rosa was still mentioned by name – and not because he’d noticed her, but because Kennedy chose to mention something about her.
Mixed in among the competition’s storyline, I found a great deal more humor than I expected, though it didn’t always land. Oftentimes, these competition-based YA novels are fairly serious, or based very heavily on romance. I appreciated the blatant references to things like children of multicultural backgrounds being asked “what” they are, for example, and how likable the main characters were, most of the time.
I didn’t understand some of the rationale of the characters or the way they spoke sometimes, but I’m chalking that up to the world-building and the potential that the book takes place at a different time. Sometimes things happened randomly and were never questioned or explained, and that really drew me out of the narrative.
Many of the plot points reminded me specifically of Veronica Roth’s Divergent, and because of the inconsistent characterization, I can’t give this more than 2 stars for the concept and fast-paced beginning, which is usually missing in books like this.
July 29, 2017
STEM GIRLS. Girls who are smart, own their intelligence like a badge of honor, and are proud of who they are. Rosie is a genius and she knows it. She has worked hard to gain her chance at NASA and despite the claims that it’s because of her famous science-y parents, that’s far from the case. Rosie is a clever problem solver who has the quick wit and innovative mind to solve even the craziest of problems. On top of that, she’s one of the bravest, most selfless characters I’ve seen in a long, long time.
The adventure. From the elaborate mental and endurance tests to the actual high-speed chase and stealing alien aircrafts, it’s like those fun puzzle games that you can’t get enough of. It’s interesting, engaging, and definitely keeps you guessing. I loved all of the cool and creative trials the teens had to go through to make it to the final levels for NASA.
Read more here:
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
The adventure. From the elaborate mental and endurance tests to the actual high-speed chase and stealing alien aircrafts, it’s like those fun puzzle games that you can’t get enough of. It’s interesting, engaging, and definitely keeps you guessing. I loved all of the cool and creative trials the teens had to go through to make it to the final levels for NASA.
Read more here:
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
March 26, 2018
I like books about smart kids. The characters in this book were A+, and somehow this author makes sciencey stuff interesting to me. BUT I definitely didn't like it as much as her debut novel. I wanted way more explanations (and not about the technical stuff-- about the PEOPLE) and maybe a tad less action.
April 21, 2020
This book is so funny and so delightful, and exactly what I needed to get out of my head for a while. A group of plucky, lovable teens grapple with science, existentialism, and the need to prove themselves—and also maybe some death-defying heroics, as well. If that makes it sound heavy, rest assured this book will leave you in a great mood ;)
April 2, 2017
You will definitely need to suspend your disbelief for this story. I loved the energy and mystery of the first part of the book, but the second half fizzled a bit in its delivery and dialogue.
Still a solid science fiction read.
Still a solid science fiction read.
July 28, 2017
3 1/2, Fun and enjoyable, very fun and very enjoyable
January 7, 2021
I enjoyed this book alot. It is definitely a YA book, so if you don't enjoy those, I wouldn't read it. The main characters are upcoming seniors in high school. They are competing to be in the space program as trainees. Only two will be selected, and the winners will finish high school and college in the program. The book has a lot of action, with good characters that you love and bad ones that you hate. It is a fast-paced exciting read, and is full of facts, generally stemming from the competition. The science fiction is cool and fun. If you can tolerate teenagers with teenage problems, and books with a focus on action at the cost of character building, I recommend this book.
#agenrehybrid
#agenrehybrid
April 13, 2024
I loved this so much! I couldn’t put it down. I LOL’d more than a few times. Great action, banter and heart.
“They had proven that the universe is infinite and contains an infinite number of planets – an infinite number of Earths – but they still couldn’t put enough women’s bathrooms in public buildings.”
“That’s the cosmological constant – ifyou’re female, it doesn’t matter what you do, or how good you are at it – some jerk comes along and it all feels like nothing.”
“They had proven that the universe is infinite and contains an infinite number of planets – an infinite number of Earths – but they still couldn’t put enough women’s bathrooms in public buildings.”
“That’s the cosmological constant – ifyou’re female, it doesn’t matter what you do, or how good you are at it – some jerk comes along and it all feels like nothing.”
June 14, 2022
Honestly it was a decent book. It’s just that I’m not a space person and this whole book revolves around space, different Earth’a etc.
Rosa and Eddie pass multiple tests that seem to be unbeatable. They have to pass all the tests so that they can be NASA’s Interworld’s Agency. Eddie and Rosa are being swept into another dangerous test that is risking their lives. Will they take the test?
Rosa and Eddie pass multiple tests that seem to be unbeatable. They have to pass all the tests so that they can be NASA’s Interworld’s Agency. Eddie and Rosa are being swept into another dangerous test that is risking their lives. Will they take the test?
September 21, 2017
4.5 stars!
Last year, Kennedy’s debut Learning to Swear in America utterly charmed me. It was cute, funny, and driven by a strong first person voice. Add in some romance, and you’ve got a classic Christina book. What Goes Up has all those elements but ramps up the humor and gets even more science fiction-y. Pick this book up if you want an unputdownable, uproarious, action-packed delight. And, like, why wouldn’t you?
Unlike her debut, What Goes Up is in third person, but the characterization doesn’t suffer from the change. I fell in love with both Rosa and Eddie pretty much immediately. Trevor and Reg are pretty awesome too tbh. From the very start, I didn’t want to put this book down for a minute. It was very much instalove with this one.
Rosa and Eddie are two of two hundred applicants for a role within NASA’s elite Interworlds Agency, which preps for the day we discover other intelligent life in the universe. The book opens with the rounds of testing used to determine which teens will be made the third IA pair. Once selected, they’ll finish high school and college at NASA. The tests are by turns challenging, strange, and terrifying.
Though I should probably do a full review for this one because of how much I loved it, there’s a whole lot that falls into spoiler realms, and I’d rather leave all of that a glorious surprise, because this book is so much fun. I laughed my ass off through most of it, but it also gave me FEELINGS (poor Eddie, my baby) and ship (Eddie and Rosa are adorbs). It’s one of the most genuinely funny books I’ve read in YA, with everything from ridiculous knock knock jokes to toilet humor (but of a sort that even made me laugh) to situational comedy, I was grinning and giggling my way through What Goes Up. (Like, that whole scene where they go in search of tampons had me in stitches.)
For fans of Kennedy’s debut or Gina Damico, What Goes Up is absolutely not to be missed. I’d love more science fiction like this! If those interspersed quotes didn’t convince you to read this book, I don’t know what to do with you tbh.
Last year, Kennedy’s debut Learning to Swear in America utterly charmed me. It was cute, funny, and driven by a strong first person voice. Add in some romance, and you’ve got a classic Christina book. What Goes Up has all those elements but ramps up the humor and gets even more science fiction-y. Pick this book up if you want an unputdownable, uproarious, action-packed delight. And, like, why wouldn’t you?
Unlike her debut, What Goes Up is in third person, but the characterization doesn’t suffer from the change. I fell in love with both Rosa and Eddie pretty much immediately. Trevor and Reg are pretty awesome too tbh. From the very start, I didn’t want to put this book down for a minute. It was very much instalove with this one.
“So, where are you from?”
She looked up. Of course he was talking to her. She chewed slowly, but he kept his eyes on her. “New Mexico.”
“But where are you from ?”
“A pleasant ranch house on Bayo Canyon?”
“Like, what are you?” he asked.
“Dude,” one of the others said. “She’s from New Mexico.”
“What am I?” She wanted to say, Smarter than you, or Not a jerk. Instead she sighed loudly and said, “I’m an American of French and Japanese descent.”
“Wow,” Ellis said. “Good combo.” She flushed. “Which half is which?”
Rosa stared at him. “My left side is French.”
Rosa and Eddie are two of two hundred applicants for a role within NASA’s elite Interworlds Agency, which preps for the day we discover other intelligent life in the universe. The book opens with the rounds of testing used to determine which teens will be made the third IA pair. Once selected, they’ll finish high school and college at NASA. The tests are by turns challenging, strange, and terrifying.
“People should exchange bacon at weddings,” he said. “Who gives a crap about rings? But if you’re willing to share your bacon—that marriage is gonna last.”
Though I should probably do a full review for this one because of how much I loved it, there’s a whole lot that falls into spoiler realms, and I’d rather leave all of that a glorious surprise, because this book is so much fun. I laughed my ass off through most of it, but it also gave me FEELINGS (poor Eddie, my baby) and ship (Eddie and Rosa are adorbs). It’s one of the most genuinely funny books I’ve read in YA, with everything from ridiculous knock knock jokes to toilet humor (but of a sort that even made me laugh) to situational comedy, I was grinning and giggling my way through What Goes Up. (Like, that whole scene where they go in search of tampons had me in stitches.)
“You think you’re embarrassed?” Rosa pointed past Eddie to Trevor. “He thinks my vagina wears a hat.”
For fans of Kennedy’s debut or Gina Damico, What Goes Up is absolutely not to be missed. I’d love more science fiction like this! If those interspersed quotes didn’t convince you to read this book, I don’t know what to do with you tbh.
July 19, 2017
I want to hang out with Katie Kennedy's characters. They're unapologetically smart, but never obnoxiously arrogant; they're vulnerable and believable; they're FUNNY. It's not easy to strike a good balance between SF, coming-of-age themes and comedy, but this book does it. Even when the plot gets fast-paced and action-packed and concept-driven, there are always meaningful personal stakes.
The book's cool concept (testing to explore the multiverse!) made it a page turner from the beginning, because I was dying to see how the author would pull it off. I wasn't disappointed. The multiverse-travel science was invented, of course, but it was more detailed than the standard light SF hand-waving. The tests, especially the psychological ones, were fiendishly clever.
It was the characters, though, who really sold me on WHAT GOES UP. Kennedy has a forthright, funny way of dealing with subjects that we more typically see in issue-driven YA than in SF adventures, such as social class and poverty (in Eddie's case) and menstruation. The whole scene where Rosa recruits the guys to accompany her on a trip to buy "accessories for her lady parts" is refreshing — and hilarious.
So, yeah. If you like your beach books brainy, WHAT GOES UP fully satisfies.
The book's cool concept (testing to explore the multiverse!) made it a page turner from the beginning, because I was dying to see how the author would pull it off. I wasn't disappointed. The multiverse-travel science was invented, of course, but it was more detailed than the standard light SF hand-waving. The tests, especially the psychological ones, were fiendishly clever.
It was the characters, though, who really sold me on WHAT GOES UP. Kennedy has a forthright, funny way of dealing with subjects that we more typically see in issue-driven YA than in SF adventures, such as social class and poverty (in Eddie's case) and menstruation. The whole scene where Rosa recruits the guys to accompany her on a trip to buy "accessories for her lady parts" is refreshing — and hilarious.
So, yeah. If you like your beach books brainy, WHAT GOES UP fully satisfies.
July 19, 2017
I'm a little bummed by this because I really enjoyed Kennedy's debut last year and was excited for another science-fiction YA filled with fun humor from her. But this one fell a little flat for me. I liked the characters and the beginning with the testing was actually pretty interesting but once that was over and then the conflict happened, it really dropped off after that. It felt like the second part of the story was just a bit wandering and where I would expect to get a little bit more depth to the characters and their troubles, it just really glossed over them and kept it all pretty light. But I never really settled into the story in the second half either. It was constantly moving, which is good if you want some fast-paced action, but for me it just felt unsettling. Also, with both of Kennedy's books, there's a lot of suspension of beliefs going on and for some reason, I had a much easier time with this during the first book than this one. Overall, I enjoyed the book but there were times that I needed to put it down because I just lost interest and it probably won't be a story that sticks with me over time.
March 27, 2019
If you enjoyed The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, I guarantee you will love this book!
We follow a group of students as they try to gain acceptance into a special NASA training program. The testing they go through is a ton of fun to read and try to guess what they will do.
Eddie is a tough guy who was raised by his grandma. His dad is as bad as they come. He has to work harder than anyone else to prove his worth, even though he just might be the best person for the job.
Rosa has a family legacy to live up to. Both of her parents are huge in the industry and expect a lot of her.
Reg is their trainer and he seems to love making their days as difficult as possible to prepare them for what might happen in the future. For example, while taking tests, he throws ping pong balls at them the whole time to distract them.
This was a fantastic read and I have already started on another one of Katie Kennedy's book - Learning How To Swear In America.
We follow a group of students as they try to gain acceptance into a special NASA training program. The testing they go through is a ton of fun to read and try to guess what they will do.
Eddie is a tough guy who was raised by his grandma. His dad is as bad as they come. He has to work harder than anyone else to prove his worth, even though he just might be the best person for the job.
Rosa has a family legacy to live up to. Both of her parents are huge in the industry and expect a lot of her.
Reg is their trainer and he seems to love making their days as difficult as possible to prepare them for what might happen in the future. For example, while taking tests, he throws ping pong balls at them the whole time to distract them.
This was a fantastic read and I have already started on another one of Katie Kennedy's book - Learning How To Swear In America.
August 29, 2017
Another earth out there somewhere, with someone just like you, only a little different – that’s the intriguing premise behind this twisty and fun sci-fi romp. The story opens with a series of tests, both obvious and hidden, as high school students Rosa and Eddie, each haunted in different ways by a parent’s legacy, compete to become the newest specialists to train with the Interstellar Agency, in charge of contact with other dimensions. As she did in Learning to Swear in America, Kennedy blends a fine ear for dialogue with complex characters, a crackling adventure of a plot, and just the right amount of pathos so that the hilarious one-liners and the scientific thrills never overshadow the complexities of human relationships.
April 13, 2018
Eddie has nothing to lose. After he wins his place in NASA's Interworlds Agency, he can lose everything. I like this book because of it's tension, climax, and the problems it brings up. The only problem was that in the beginning two characters' perspectives were being told at once, so it could be confusing what one was thinking about the other. An awesome sci-fi read!
August 10, 2017
Loved it! Lots of humor. Does it require a certain suspension of disbelief? Of course - it's both YA and sci-fi. But it was great fun - I rooted for the heroes and booed at the villains and still managed to learn a little science. I love when smart is valued in YA books.
November 26, 2017
My 6-year-old stepson chose this for me, and kept asking how it was until I actually read it. I was pleasantly surprised! It was fast-paced, exciting, and full of science (fiction).
August 17, 2017
I went into this book wary because I love speculative fiction and this sounded like the type of book I might enjoy, but it also had a so-so rating. I've learned in the past to not be too hyped up for a book that has a synopsis that somehow meets a bunch of my requirements for a good book.
Tip: Always read at least the first page or chapter before giving up on a book simply because of the rating.
I'm so glad I picked this up and the only reason it took me so long to finish was because I was reading other books at the same time. This was a funny (I was really surprised with how much I laughed at some of the cheesy and lame jokes), interesting, heart-warming, and unique read. I loved all of the characters and the omniscient feel that the third person narrative offered. With books like this one, I'm happy to be able to see how everyone is affected during the story. I loved the twists and turns and that the book had more than one moment of conflict.
The main conflict comes on the heels of a minor conflict's resolution, so it felt like this was a nonstop ride of adventure and mystery. Everything flowed so well off each other and I found myself second-guessing what was happening a lot because the people in this book always have some sort of trick up their sleeve.
If Kennedy writes another book in this universe, I hope she follows the perspectives of some of the other characters introduced. I love this whole concept of what could be and how we differ between us and our multi-dimensional counterparts.
I'm a sucker for books that feature characters getting ready to go on a mission, so this sated that hunger for adventure and the speculative side of multi-dimensional travel was like the icing on the metaphorical cake.
Happy reading!
Tip: Always read at least the first page or chapter before giving up on a book simply because of the rating.
I'm so glad I picked this up and the only reason it took me so long to finish was because I was reading other books at the same time. This was a funny (I was really surprised with how much I laughed at some of the cheesy and lame jokes), interesting, heart-warming, and unique read. I loved all of the characters and the omniscient feel that the third person narrative offered. With books like this one, I'm happy to be able to see how everyone is affected during the story. I loved the twists and turns and that the book had more than one moment of conflict.
The main conflict comes on the heels of a minor conflict's resolution, so it felt like this was a nonstop ride of adventure and mystery. Everything flowed so well off each other and I found myself second-guessing what was happening a lot because the people in this book always have some sort of trick up their sleeve.
If Kennedy writes another book in this universe, I hope she follows the perspectives of some of the other characters introduced. I love this whole concept of what could be and how we differ between us and our multi-dimensional counterparts.
I'm a sucker for books that feature characters getting ready to go on a mission, so this sated that hunger for adventure and the speculative side of multi-dimensional travel was like the icing on the metaphorical cake.
Happy reading!
January 7, 2023
What goes up was an intriguing read from start to finish. The first half of this book really appealed to me. Small hints of romance, dystopian tests and interesting characters showed huge potential. It was only when the main characters were rushed into inter dimensional travel within a matter of a few chapters that my love for the story faltered.
The characters were a great range of personalities from the cocky teenage boy to the smart, determined girl genius. Like mentioned above this book had a lot of potential and if the pace had slowed down a little in the middle then it would be a five star. The plot could have been executed with a lot more detail and the characters from other earths could have been introduced more instead of just rocking up out of no where and threatening the entire worlds population.
I gave this book a 4/5 ⭐️ as the story itself was very appealing and still very interesting. With better execution this would have been a perfect read.
The characters were a great range of personalities from the cocky teenage boy to the smart, determined girl genius. Like mentioned above this book had a lot of potential and if the pace had slowed down a little in the middle then it would be a five star. The plot could have been executed with a lot more detail and the characters from other earths could have been introduced more instead of just rocking up out of no where and threatening the entire worlds population.
I gave this book a 4/5 ⭐️ as the story itself was very appealing and still very interesting. With better execution this would have been a perfect read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2017
Not my fave. However, my 14 y.o. daughter fond it entertaining, so I'll chalk it up to the fact that I'm not in the age group of the intended audience.
What it has going for it: modest representation of diverse characters. Good amount of science and math incorporated into an adventure story. Mild romance. Themes of friendship and overcoming adversity.
What made it lame (for me): it pales by comparison to other stories that developed similar concepts. It lacks the intensity, complexity, and moral issues of Ender's Game. It lacks the convincing physicality of Divergent. The comic bits fall a bit flat, far short of the repartee of JK Rowling's characters. The plot overall is pretty thin.
So, overall rating = meh.
What it has going for it: modest representation of diverse characters. Good amount of science and math incorporated into an adventure story. Mild romance. Themes of friendship and overcoming adversity.
What made it lame (for me): it pales by comparison to other stories that developed similar concepts. It lacks the intensity, complexity, and moral issues of Ender's Game. It lacks the convincing physicality of Divergent. The comic bits fall a bit flat, far short of the repartee of JK Rowling's characters. The plot overall is pretty thin.
So, overall rating = meh.
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