What Came from the Stars in Mock Newbery 2026

Oct 17, 2012 Wendy rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012-award-possibilities

Some of this book is filled with stuff that is borderline-incomprehensible to me. Ten-point power-sword Hammer of Thor kind of stuff. Happily, it is all in italics so I know what I can skim over. (Over the course of the book I went from skipping it--the first seven pages, which really were completely incomprehensible to me--to skimming, somewhere in the middle, to reading lightly, once I was starting to see the parallels between the italics-world and the real world.)

I love a good fantasy set in ...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Ellen rated it liked it

Shelves: familyissues, scifi, death, fantasy, childrensfiction

I am really having a hard time with this one. I admire Gary Schmidt for branching out into something totally different. In fact, the only reason I rated Okay for Now four stars was that it was a little too reminiscent of The Wednesday Wars. If I'd read it first, I'd have given it five. As usual, his prose is beautiful and he captures the essence of a damaged family. I don't like to speculate on what the author intends, but it seemed that he wanted to add a more universal and broader theme to the ...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Jane rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

Okay folks, the first chapter is a little confusing. So? There's a glossary in the back. I was a bit startled by all the reviews indicating that people might not have checked for one.

And, let your mind float in the words. It's pretty obvious which ones refer to art, instruments, weapons, planets, warring factions. You'll catch on. Fast.

Then enjoy the story of bravery on two fronts--on a planet far, far away where a young man battles for his people's heritage and close at home where a young boy ...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Kate Hastings rated it liked it

Grades 4-7. Science Fiction. Tommy and his family have struggled since their mom died a few months ago. Their artist father hasn't painted, his sister hasn't sung, and he hasn't touched the piano. Their dilapidated home on the edge of town is vulnerable to a new housing development and the kids at school make fun of their shabby clothes. But then something strange happens-- a magical necklace falls from the sky and lands... in Tommy's lunchbox. What he doesn't know is that the fate of an entire ...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Jean rated it it was ok

I normally love Gary Schmidt's writing. And I had to admit that his newest book is different from his earlier works. But I really had a hard time finishing it. I got bogged down in the very stilted, epic-sounding portion of the book that took place on the planet and so it made it easy for me to put the book down and not want to return to it when I got to those portions. I'm sure this will get a lot of discussion this year, but for me it was disappointing. ...more

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May 18, 2012 Tamsyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: fms, youngadult, children-s-fantasy, defies-categories

This was an interesting blend of realistic, fantasy, and even a bit of science fiction. Tommy Pepper is the recipient of a chain forged from the artistic abilities of another race, which traveled by thought across galaxies to land in Plymouth, MA. Tommy's family is mourning the loss of his mother the year before, and are under pressure by a local developer to give up their property for a condo development. All kinds of interesting things happen when he wears the chain. The alternate chapters fol ...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Rebekah rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, fantasy, science-fiction, middle-grade

Hmmmm...this book is hard for me to review. I love Schmidt, but this book just didn't do it for me. I didn't understand what was going on much of the time. I skimmed (and then skipped) Valorim chapters entirely.

Although it's written as a middle grade book, I can't imagine anyone of that age sticking with it. I did like the relationship with Tommy, Patty and their father. The rest? Meh. ...more

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