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How Oscar Indigo Broke the Universe
★ "Suspend all disbelief and enjoy." —Kirkus (starred review)
From David Teague, the coauthor of the critically acclaimed Saving Lucas Biggs, comes a funny and sweet story about learning to have courage even when it feels like the world is ending.
Oscar Indigo has never been good at baseball, so naturally he’s nervous when he has to fill in for his team’s injured All-Star, Lourdes. Luckily, Oscar has a mysterious gold watch that can stop time, which he uses to fake a game-winning home run. Now Oscar’s the underdog hero of his town and even Lourdes wants to be his friend.
But the universe is a precarious place, and you can’t just steal time without any consequences. If Oscar doesn’t find a way to return the time he stole, the universe will unwind completely.
Oscar wants nothing more than to ask Lourdes for help, but what would a baseball star like her think of a guy whose fake home run actually destroyed the universe? But as he and Lourdes grow closer, Oscar understands that it isn’t always what you do that makes you special—but who you are. And that confidence just might be the key to fixing the universe.
From David Teague, the coauthor of the critically acclaimed Saving Lucas Biggs, comes a funny and sweet story about learning to have courage even when it feels like the world is ending.
Oscar Indigo has never been good at baseball, so naturally he’s nervous when he has to fill in for his team’s injured All-Star, Lourdes. Luckily, Oscar has a mysterious gold watch that can stop time, which he uses to fake a game-winning home run. Now Oscar’s the underdog hero of his town and even Lourdes wants to be his friend.
But the universe is a precarious place, and you can’t just steal time without any consequences. If Oscar doesn’t find a way to return the time he stole, the universe will unwind completely.
Oscar wants nothing more than to ask Lourdes for help, but what would a baseball star like her think of a guy whose fake home run actually destroyed the universe? But as he and Lourdes grow closer, Oscar understands that it isn’t always what you do that makes you special—but who you are. And that confidence just might be the key to fixing the universe.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 8, 2018
Fun middle-grade book about baseball, friendship, and the ramifications of stopping time.
July 6, 2017
A Fun and Funny Tale Anchored By Two Winning Heroes
I like books that are cheerfully deadpan, with a touch of weird. Take a boy hero, Oscar, who can toss off a nice one-liner but who's a bit oblivious. Then add a smart, unimpressed, willful, and cheerfully sarcastic gal pal, Lourdes, who's always a step ahead of the hero and totally into the adventure. Well, that's what you get here, and it's all wrapped up in charm and good humor. Oh, and we have to save the universe that we just broke while using a time-stopping watch. And we have to win a big baseball game.
This book is a very close cousin to my other favorite Teague book, "Henry Cicada's Extraordinary Elktonium Escapade". In both we have a clever and slightly skewed spin on some sci-fi staple. Here it's stopping time; in "Cicada..." it's travel through different dimensions. The key is the very entertaining and sharp dialogue. It can be silly funny, or ironic funny, or wordplay funny, or deadpan funny. But, in a blink it can be warm and funny - the scene where Oscar and his Mom realize they don't have the cash to celebrate at a nice Italian restaurant, so decide to just get take-out breadsticks. Or the scenes between Oscar and his elderly neighbor. Or the gruff humor of two goons. Or the dry wit of the scientist who helps Oscar. Or the prickly warmth of Lourdes as she becomes fond of Oscar. And the tone and style changes from paragraph to paragraph - from slapstick to screwball to touching, and then back again.
This is just so hard to do, much less to do as well and consistently as Teague does it. So sure, the plot is clever and amusing and suspenseful in a screwball way. The writing is crisp and the pacing is fast. The plot is young reader friendly. But, it's the two featured players, and the warmth and decency and cheerful grit they bring to the project, that makes this an unusually entertaining and rewarding read. (Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
I like books that are cheerfully deadpan, with a touch of weird. Take a boy hero, Oscar, who can toss off a nice one-liner but who's a bit oblivious. Then add a smart, unimpressed, willful, and cheerfully sarcastic gal pal, Lourdes, who's always a step ahead of the hero and totally into the adventure. Well, that's what you get here, and it's all wrapped up in charm and good humor. Oh, and we have to save the universe that we just broke while using a time-stopping watch. And we have to win a big baseball game.
This book is a very close cousin to my other favorite Teague book, "Henry Cicada's Extraordinary Elktonium Escapade". In both we have a clever and slightly skewed spin on some sci-fi staple. Here it's stopping time; in "Cicada..." it's travel through different dimensions. The key is the very entertaining and sharp dialogue. It can be silly funny, or ironic funny, or wordplay funny, or deadpan funny. But, in a blink it can be warm and funny - the scene where Oscar and his Mom realize they don't have the cash to celebrate at a nice Italian restaurant, so decide to just get take-out breadsticks. Or the scenes between Oscar and his elderly neighbor. Or the gruff humor of two goons. Or the dry wit of the scientist who helps Oscar. Or the prickly warmth of Lourdes as she becomes fond of Oscar. And the tone and style changes from paragraph to paragraph - from slapstick to screwball to touching, and then back again.
This is just so hard to do, much less to do as well and consistently as Teague does it. So sure, the plot is clever and amusing and suspenseful in a screwball way. The writing is crisp and the pacing is fast. The plot is young reader friendly. But, it's the two featured players, and the warmth and decency and cheerful grit they bring to the project, that makes this an unusually entertaining and rewarding read. (Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
January 24, 2019
Oscar is lousy at baseball. But he has a great attitude! He’s always cheering on his team with never-ending enthusiasm, even if he’s doing all his cheering from the bench. Then one day, Oscars’ neighbor Miss Ellington gives him a watch. And it seems it’s a watch that can stop time. So when Oscar suddenly gets called to bat in his team’s championship game, he uses the watch for 19 seconds to make it look like he hit a home run. Only now the entire universe is off. Oscar owes the universe 19 seconds, and now 19 seconds from other universes are leaking through. Pterodactyls in trees. New suns in the sky. Tentacles coming off trees. It’s not good. Oscar has to figure out a way to fix the universe, and quickly! With the assistance of Lourdes, star of Oscar’s baseball team, he begins to work out the unusual watches’ history and figure out how to give 19 seconds back to the universe. Why, exactly, did Miss Ellington have a watch that could stop time in the first place? She could be the key to the whole mystery, but Miss Ellington seems to have gone missing.
June 29, 2017
(3.5 Stars)
In a moment of panic, Oscar Indigo's elderly neighbor gives him a watch that stops time. When Oscar uses it to stop a championship baseball game and help his team win, he unwittingly upsets the order of the universe. Now he is given a mission and an ultimatum -- he has to find the watch, replace the missing 19 seconds, and win the final game of the series, or else the universe as he knows it will be destroyed. Luckily, he has the help of the new girl (and super star player) on his baseball team. With a little time travel and batting practice, they should be able to set things right. Recommended for grades 4 & up, especially baseball fans.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
In a moment of panic, Oscar Indigo's elderly neighbor gives him a watch that stops time. When Oscar uses it to stop a championship baseball game and help his team win, he unwittingly upsets the order of the universe. Now he is given a mission and an ultimatum -- he has to find the watch, replace the missing 19 seconds, and win the final game of the series, or else the universe as he knows it will be destroyed. Luckily, he has the help of the new girl (and super star player) on his baseball team. With a little time travel and batting practice, they should be able to set things right. Recommended for grades 4 & up, especially baseball fans.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
November 14, 2022
This was a nice compromise book that I read aloud to one son who's obsessed with sports and another who's obsessed with sci-fi and fantasy. For a kid, it feels like every time you stand up to the plate the whole universe hangs in the balance - but what if it actually did?
How Oscar Indigo Broke the Universe explores themes of sportsmanship, family, and the weight of expectation in a light and fun way. There were too many characters, many of whom don't get enough development and the whole explanation of time stopping and starting was a bit unclear, but this still has plenty for a young reader to enjoy.
How Oscar Indigo Broke the Universe explores themes of sportsmanship, family, and the weight of expectation in a light and fun way. There were too many characters, many of whom don't get enough development and the whole explanation of time stopping and starting was a bit unclear, but this still has plenty for a young reader to enjoy.
September 27, 2020
When I first realized that this was a book featuring baseball, I thought...oh, no, boring. However this was not boring at all (well, maybe just a little bit during the actual baseball parts...I don't know all the lingo), in fact it was a cute adventure that in addition to baseball combines making a positive example to others, being a helpful friend to neighbors, taking responsibilities for your actions and doing a little time travel! Oscar is quite the young man and someone any parent would enjoy having for their child's friend.
November 1, 2017
This was a fun read plus it had baseball, so bonus points for that. I found the characters all quite charming, though how quickly they all just accept the strange new universe was a bit disconcerting. I really liked the female characters here, though Oscar was fun, too. I think this works as both a sports story and a tale of magical realism.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.
April 20, 2020
Characters: Oscar Indigo, Lourdes Mangubat, Coach Ron, Taser Tompkin, Robocop, Miss Eleanor Ethel Ellington, Mr. Llimb, Mr. Skerritt, T. Buffington Smiley
Setting: contemporary/1935 Marlborough County Pennsylvania; baseball field
Point of View: third person from Oscar's perspective
Genre/Format: realistic fiction-fantasy
Award/Recognitions: Kirkus starred review
Setting: contemporary/1935 Marlborough County Pennsylvania; baseball field
Point of View: third person from Oscar's perspective
Genre/Format: realistic fiction-fantasy
Award/Recognitions: Kirkus starred review
November 17, 2017
This story has great elements - baseball, science fiction, time travel and very likable characters. It's a pleasure to suspend disbelief as Oscar struggles to undo a catastrophic mistake. I think this would be a great classroom read-aloud and am thrilled to know the author.
April 2, 2018
It was weird. It was interesting. I couldn’t put it down.
April 13, 2018
The Fermata, but for kids.
May 27, 2018
This is a great book for third grade and up. A fun adventure and quick read. I love the persistence and positive attitude that Oscar has.
June 27, 2019
A great book for 7-10 year olds, especially anyone interested in baseball and physics.
September 8, 2019
This book has taught me a lot more about baseball. Also, it shows me to never give up and persevere even if it seems impossible.
December 24, 2019
Was going to give three stars because of repetitive conversations and too much filler but added a star for being subversive enough to unapologetically have a drink for the kids made with Old Spice.
December 10, 2020
A great middle-grades book that focuses on owning up to your mistakes and doing what's necessary to fix them.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews