Read Club (Indie & Self-Published)…

Black Hole Radio (Black Hole Radio #1)

Ann Birdgenaw,

E.M. Roberts (Illustrator)

Start date: January 1, 2024

Finish date: March 31, 2024

Discussion: The Read Section

Why we're reading this: BOTQ 2024 Q1
[close] BOTQ 2024 Q1

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 23 topics — 228 comments total

The Read Section

This topic has been closed to new comments.

* What's The Read Section for?
By Lynn , Admin/Mod · 1 post · 8 views

last updated Jun 27, 2025 07:17AM

* BOTQ - 2025 Q3: Prodigal of Dominica
By Lynn , Admin/Mod · 1 post · 4 views

last updated Jun 24, 2025 07:18AM

showing 2 of 2 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jun 16, 2021 Ann Birdgenaw rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Review of Black Hole Radio by -Feathered Quill Book Review

"Debut author Ann Birdgenaw introduces young readers to a varied cast of characters in the first book in her outer-space adventure series, Black Hole Radio.

Hawk is a fifth-grade student who is a bit of a space nerd. His best friend Matt shares his love of all things cosmologically related, including their favorite t.v. show, Star Trekkers. Unfortunately, the school bullies think that wanting to learn about exploring the universe makes Haw Review of Black Hole Radio by -Feathered Quill Book Review

"Debut author Ann Birdgenaw introduces young readers to a varied cast of characters in the first book in her outer-space adventure series, Black Hole Radio.

Hawk is a fifth-grade student who is a bit of a space nerd. His best friend Matt shares his love of all things cosmologically related, including their favorite t.v. show, Star Trekkers. Unfortunately, the school bullies think that wanting to learn about exploring the universe makes Hawk and Matt “super cosmo-nerds.” The best friends better be careful or the bullies will come after them.

Hawk really misses his Grandpa Ray who died not long ago. Fortunately, he has his buddy Matt, their secret space club, secret handshake, and club ring to help distract him from his sorrow. After school the two friends head to Hawk’s house to watch Star Trekkers. Their secret club meets at the clubhouse, which is actually the old tool shed behind the garage.

While watching their favorite show, the boys hear an odd sound. Beep, beep, beep, beep. What could it be? Hawk and Matt search for the origin of the noise and soon discover an old radio in a box in the garage. The radio’s alarm is going off so Matt simply turns off the alarm. But…that doesn’t stop the beeping. So then Matt takes the batteries out. And when that doesn’t work, they start getting worried. But then things get really crazy when a gravitational force starts to pull them toward the radio...and beyond.

Hawk and Matt are transported to an alien planet where they are attacked by some odd alien drones. After the drone encounter, the boys meet Yxzyurchmung, or Mung for short. Mung explains that the drones were sent from their enemies the Boogernauties, and that he and his people are grateful for what Hawk and Matt did to vanquish the Booger-Bully drones. They would also like the boys to help them get rid of the Booger-Bullies once and for all. But all Hawk and Matt want is to find a way to get back home.

In the author’s note at the end of Black Hole Radio, author Ann Birdgenaw, an elementary school librarian, tells of always wanting to try her hand at writing her own story. When a strange beeping sound occasionally called out from her garage, and it took all summer to locate the radio that was making the noise, the idea for Black Hole Radio was born. Birdgenaw has created a fun adventure series that includes aliens, zombies, ESP, hoover-scooters and even a wormhole. The story is told by Hawk and young readers will undoubtedly relate to both him and Matt. They are fun characters and it’s clear that the author spends her time in a school library because the “lingo” is spot on. The best part, perhaps, is that Grandpa Ray, who Hawk misses terribly, plays a role in the final resolution to the boys’ dilemma. At the back of the book is a glossary of space and science terms to help all “space nerds” better understand the terminology. Overall, this is a solid start to a new series and is a great way to get kids who love all things “space,” to dig in and start reading.

Quill says: Get ready for an outer space adventure that sends best friends Hawk and Matt on a crazy ride through all sorts of bizarre alien encounters that will have young readers, particularly those intrigued by space travel, itching to get their hands on the next book, Black Hole Radio – Bilaluna." ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2023 Sotto Voce rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I read the Black Hole Radio series out of order, with the first book being the last. Although it didn't really impact my reading experience, I wish I had read this one first.

This book is funny, with a good background story that starts it all, including the real-life beep beep beep experience. It has adventures, an exciting alien world, super abilities, cool races, celebrations, and also an idealistic view of the world. I don't know about others; I've always wanted to explore the space since I wa ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 08, 2022 Loralee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was a fun book to read! Matt and Hawk, two best friends, are hanging out at Hawk's house when they hear a strange beeping coming from an old box of his grandpa's things. His grandpa had died recently. Upon inspecting the box, they find what at first appears to be a regular old radio. But then a strange gravitational pull starts to pull them toward the radio and they're drawn into a wormhole-type portal that takes them to another planet!

The bad guys look like hairy monsters and they want to ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 22, 2021 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book was fun. Younger middle grade readers will find this hilarious story a perfect read. With lots of odd names and crazy happenings kids will love this story! The author knows her audience. As an adult reader I appreciated the little hidden gem references to pop culture. The touching ending is sweet and a perfect way to finish, I am sure readers will look forward to more Blackhole radio adventures.

2 likes · Like · see review

May 13, 2021 Peter Boyde rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Exciting fun read for young readers! I got all the references and explained them to my son! We enjoyed this book a lot!

2 likes · Like · see review

May 04, 2021 James Joseph rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Really fun sci fi adventure for young readers.

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 19, 2021 Lynn Helton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: speculative-fiction, childrens

This imaginative sci-fi story takes 5th-graders Hawk and Matt on a fun adventure far across space via, of all things, an old radio.

Elements I liked:
I loved the premise of an old radio opening a wormhole to space. I would love to have discovered such a thing! The story’s descriptions are vivid, and the storytelling is entertaining and proceeds at a good pace. Elegantly and without getting preachy, the story imparts its messages of peace, friendship, and non-violent resolutions to conflict. The sc ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2023 Ed Morawski rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Middle Schoolers vs the Boogernauts

The above tagline should tell you everything. You need to know about this book.
A couple of sci-fi crazed kids kids discover Grandpa Ray's Black Hole Radio and through it are able to travel to distant worlds on alien adventures.

Well written, easy to read, and nicely illustrated, the should appeal to any kid fantasizing about space exploration. A touching side note is the fact that Grandpa recently passed and is missed dearly by his favorite grandson. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2024 F. Pettit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-and-reviewed

Black Hole Radio is fun and well-paced sci-fi read for kids who like chapter books. For those who aren’t sure about choosing from the sci-fi genre, it incorporates the right amount of sci-fi tech and terminology so you believe you’re on another planet but not too much that it takes you out of the story. And, it has just enough child-friendly slang and funny names to elicit snickers from young readers. Enjoy the journey!

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 15, 2025 Linda Sanchez rated it really liked it

An Out-of-This-World Start to a Stellar Series!

This is the third book I’ve read by this author, and going back to the first in the series has been such a treat—I finally got to see how it all began! Black Hole Radio is a wildly imaginative and fun adventure that completely captures the curiosity and courage of young readers. I can see why this series is so popular.

The story of Hawk and Matt, two fifth-graders with a love for space, pulls readers in right away. When an old radio opens a wormhole ...more

Like · see review

Oct 14, 2024 Amber Daulton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Hawk and his best friend Matt are typical fifth graders who love anything to do with outer space. After they discover this weird radio in the garage, they’re transported to a different time and place—a planet called Boogernaut. There they must confront a race of bullies and try to save the peaceful residents of the planet while also learning valuable skills and knowledge in how to deal with their own human bully back at school.
I’ve read the Black Hole Radio series out of order, but all these boo ...more

Like · see review

Apr 20, 2021 Soph rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

An amazing sci-fi tale of two kids getting lost in a space worm hole. I loved the references to Star Wars, star trek, the scream painting and all the punny jokes.
Beautiful messages about the power of love and peace, how healing it can be to give and receive love.
I really enjoyed all the creative names, especially She-shnerg, she was my fave. :)

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 07, 2021 Ann Birdgenaw rated it really liked it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Review by Midwest Book Review (Sept. 2021)

Many elementary-grade readers love sci-fi tales of space, adventure, and black holes. Black Hole Radio is recommended reading for this audience, and opens with a first-person invitation that kids will find appealing: "Do you ever think about space travel? Alien encounters? Amazing adventures? If not, you should close this book now. OK, so you're a believer. Then you just might be ready to hear what happened to me on the most intergalactic day of my life. ...more

Like · see review