Thanks a Lot, Universe

Brian, 13, is an extremely shy and anxious kid who suffers from social anxiety or, as he likes to call it, Super Awkward Weirdo Syndrome. Although his parents try to help him deal with his anxiety, he really only feels like himself around his fellow basketball teammate, Ezra.

Ezra, on the other hand, is the total opposite of Brian. He is one of the most popular boys at school who seems to have it all. But life is not easy for Ezra. He has a secret that he is afraid to tell his friends. He has a crush on Brian, and he is afraid that his friends won’t accept him for whom he really is.

Now growing up is hard for everyone, but Brian is dealt a real blow on his thirteenth birthday when his father disappears and his mother overdoses on pills. Suddenly thrust into a foster home, Brian becomes responsible for his younger brother Richie and must deal with the fact that his home life will never return to what it once was.

At first, Ezra does not know what is going on with Brian, but he does know that something is off with him. He tries to help, but, because he’s afraid his friends will find out his secret, he backs off at first.

Totally unable to cope, Brian begins having panic attacks and soon starts plotting his and Richie’s escape from their foster home. Not surprisingly, the only person who can get through to Brian is Ezra. With the help of their teacher Mrs. Clelland and her son Gabe, Ezra takes a chance and reaches out to Brian, finally talking him into coming back home.

After returning home, their bond only intensifies. Ezra and Brian begin leaning on each other and become more comfortable sharing their deepest thoughts and fears. In the end, Brian is finally able to open up about his troubled family life, and Ezra finally tells his closest friends that he is gay.

Chad Lucas’ Thanks a Lot, Universe is a realistic coming of age novel that will captivate middle grade readers. Brian and Ezra are extremely relatable 13-year-olds who must grapple with some very big issues in their lives. Drugs, mental illness, sexuality and abandonment are all explored in this novel, and Lucas does a great job at tackling these issues head on rather than just glossing over them.

Moreover, it was really enjoyable to watch both main characters grow up and mature throughout the novel. At first, both Brian and Ezra had to deal with their own secrets and felt like they didn’t belong, but, in the end, both boys discover who they really are and realize that it’s ok just to be themselves.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, Thanks a Lot, Universe is perfect for young readers who are also in the process of discovering just who they are.