Oliver's Great Big Universe: A Novel

Oliver's Great Big Universe #1

by Jorge Cham

Cosmos meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Oliver’s Great Big Universe, an original illustrated middle-grade fiction series that blends science with narrative from the Emmy Award–nominated creator of PBS’s Elinor Wonders Why.

 

I know what you’re thinking. What makes an average 11-year-old kid qualified to tell you anything about the universe?

 

Am I famous scientist? No.

 

Am I a super-genius at everything? Not really.

 

Oliver has a lot going on starting his first year of middle school—new friends, new classes, new everything. But at least there’s one thing that still makes science! Determined to be an astrophysicist one day, Oliver explains everything he learns—like how the sun burps, how ghost particles fly through you, the uncanny similarities between Mercury and cafeteria meatballs, and most important, how the Big Bang is basically just like a fart in the school hallway. (Also, there are time-bending black holes, exploding supernova stars, and aliens! Well, there could be aliens.)

 

Oliver finally feels like he’s starting to figure things out . . . but can he stay out of the principal’s office or catch a break from his annoying sister?

 

With laugh-out-loud humor and cartoon-style illustrations from the bestselling writer and creator of PHD Comics, Jorge Cham, Oliver’s Great Big Universe is a STEAM-themed, diary-style series following an 11-year-old who’s taking on the whole universe—if he can survive middle school first.

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Science, Realistic Fiction, Stem, Graphic Novels, Childrens

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2024

About the author

Jorge Cham is a Chinese-Panamanian post-doc best known for his popular newspaper and web comic strip Piled Higher and Deeper (PhD Comics). He first started drawing PhD Comics as a graduate student at Stanford University, and has since been syndicated in several university newspapers and in three published book collections.

Jorge Cham received his Bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech in 1997, and earned a PhD in mechanical engineering from Stanford. He subsequently worked at Caltech as an instructor and as a researcher on neural prosthetics.

In 2005, Cham began an invited speaking tour of over 80 major universities delivering his talk titled "The Power of Procrastination". In this lecture, Cham talks about his experiences creating the comic strip and examines the sources of grad students' anxieties. He also explores the guilt and the myths associated with procrastination and argues that in many cases it is actually a good thing.

Reviews

[Ana Učiteljica čita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jako zabavna i poučna knjiga! Ilustracije su prožete dobrim humorom i nekoliko puta sam se od srca nasmijala. Mogu misliti kako je tek mlađim čitateljima. 😊

[Sarah Wach · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg this book is so cute. I met the author, Jorge Cham, at the Museum of Science. He is so kind - he signed a copy of the book I own and drew me in cartoon form! I use the cartoon drawing as my bookmark to this day hehe. I’m not a science girl so learning about the universe in such a kid friendly way was so fun. It’s so engaging and I will definitely be having my future children read this!!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit heavy on the humor here. Lots of great astro-physics topics told at a very kid-friendly level. You almost need to already know this stuff so you don't drown in the humor and lose sight of the messages.

I greatly like Cham's We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe, which is a similar adult version of even more topics in astrophysics. Frequently Asked Questions about the Universe is an additional adult book that is readable by everyone. You don't need to be a scientist - simply be interested.

I liked Neil deGrasse Tyson's Astrophysics for People in a Hurry for adults. I see he has a kid version: Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry that may cover similar topics to this book here by Cham that I am reviewing.

Chapters/topics/contents
1. Gamma Rays
2. The Big Bang
3. Black Holes
4. Squishploding Sun (solar is atomic power)
5. Eight planets and Pluto
6. Spooky stuff (ghostly particles like Neutrinos; the Weak force; Dark Matter; Dark Energy)
7. Ginormous Universe (Earth; Sun; Bigger suns; solar system; milky way; super clusters; universe)
8. Time - slows down near higher gravity/mass
9. End of Universe (big crunch, big freeze)
10 End of book

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tone of this reads like a Greg Heffley diary, but it has an added science bonus with the main character getting really into the universe and explaining things like The Big Bang using fart references.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oliver, similar in age and impishness to Greg Heffley or Big Nate, can’t focus in school and finds himself in the principal’s office frequently. But a career day visit from Dr. Howard sets his feet on the path to being an astrophysicist and writing a book about the subject. This book is the result and it is filled with 2/3 factual space information on subjects that mid to late elementary school kids are familiar with, like planets and the sun, to those that are less known, such as gamma rays and neutrinos; much of that information is relayed in the format of comics. The remaining third revolves around Oliver’s life as a 6th grader-avoiding work whenever possible, dealing with a little sister, making friends, and trying to stay out of trouble and the way of those larger than life 8th graders. There is humor and there is learning which is what books should be, but the depth of some of the first scientific concepts (gamma rays, Black Holes and the Big Bang theory) may have some readers’ brains spinning and might lead to this book being put aside. Side note: The age given for our world will also set the mind of creationists to spinning as well, but even conservative readers should have no problem with any other material in this largely informative, solidly entertaining book. Representation: students at Oliver’s school are diverse in interests and ethnic backgrounds, his new best friend is female and Black, and his overly consulted Dr. in astrophysics is also Black.

Thanks for the print arc, Amulet/Abrams Books.

[Kam Yung Soh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light-hearted and entertaining book on the adventures of 11-year-old Oliver. After seeing a presentation by Dr. Howard, an astrophysicist, Oliver decides that is what he wants to be when he grows up. In the meantime, he plans to bother Dr. Howard with questions about astrophysics and write down the answers in a book when he will then present to his fellow students. This is that book, along with various shenanigans that Oliver gets into while writing the book.

The book lightly covers topics about modern astrophysics like the big bang, black holes, the sun and planets, the size of the universe, the end of the universe and the nature of time. Aimed at young readers, it is quite light on details but filled with enough unusual facts about the universe that readers can trot out for dinner conversations. Comics related to the topics also fill the pages and help to add humorous asides to the chapters.

A book that could help to keep young readers entertained, while also making them curious about the surrounding universe. A short list of websites and books are provided at the end for those who want to know more.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more like three-and-a-half stars, rounded up since I'm not the target audience. I don't have any issues with the book, save for the fact that there's not really a story here. It's more like a framework from which Cham can hang the stuff he thinks a seventh-grade student interested in science would like. Even though I'm WAY outside the age range for this book, I feel like a lot of this stuff would already be known by a seventh-grader interested in science ... ? I was a big space nerd since I'd been a kid, but I honestly can't remember how much of this I knew by the time I got to junior high school. Maybe it's spot on and I just can't remember it.

(And isn't that a way to date myself? "Junior high school" instead of "middle school". Heh.)

[Carolienvanderwaarde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Met ongelooflijk veel humor wordt in dit boek van alles uitgelegd over het universum.
De aarde, de planeten, de zon, plasmawolken, het sterrenstelsel, de Melkweg, de supercluster Laniakea, zwarte gaten, wormgaten, donkere materie, donkere energie, ik wist de helft nog niet van wat er in dit boek allemaal met veel grappige illustraties en ook nog eens een leuk verhaal, wordt uitgelegd.
Achterin, heel handig, een woordenlijst om nog eens terug te lezen wat er ook alweer over die donkere materie werd uitgelegd. Bovendien een verwijzing naar een website, een boek EN, hoera, de bibliotheek voor meer boeken en informatie over dit onderwerp.

Voor de wizz-kids en voor alle anderen die de begrippen 'oneindig' en 'universum' altijd weer fascinerend vinden.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oliver is starting middle school. He's nervous about it, but at least he knows what he wants to be when he grows up--an astrophysicist. He was inspired by a scientist visiting his class at the end of 5th grade. That scientist told him that the best way to understand something is to teach it, so Oliver writes a book about the universe--this book. It's an illustrated notebook/diary style book like Wimpy Kid. There's a lot of bathroom humor, including Uranus and describing the Big Bang like a fart in the middle of a group of students. Very fact-filled but still had some story. For science/outer space fans.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart but never smarmy, a bit irreverent but never irrelevant, this entertaining middle-grade novel has it all: an extremely likable, if angst-ridden, sixth-grade protagonist; liberally applied scientific principles in supremely digestible school-kid-sized bites, charmingly illustrated; and Wimpy Kid-esque unvarnished hilarity. The slice-of-school-life trope here is done to perfection, and Oliver is a charmingly disarming STEM nerd: to know him is to love him, and to cheer him on in successive sequels (one can only hope!). America (and American kids) need Oliver!

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. There are many books focusing on presenting science for kids in a funny way (in this case astronomy), but this one stands out. Genuinly funny with lots of illustrations if you like the Diary of a Whimpy Kid style of books, it has a real plot that intertwines with the scientific factology that is straight forward for clear understanding. It's an easy book for learning facts and have a lots of fun with it. The best quote from book - "If you want to understand something, try to explain it." Very true in every area of life. Highly recommended.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Electronic Arc provided by NetGalley

All of Oliver's friends are great at something. And Oliver, well, he gets easily distracted. But when a guest speaker visits their school Oliver is inspired and has decided that he will become an astrophysicist one day! The book begins by explaining how the universe began by using the Big Bang Theory. This book is full of illustrations that kids will enjoy and lots of silly humor.

[Ms. Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a presentation by the esteemed astrophysicist Dr. Howard, Oliver knows he wants to study space. He explains how the universe might be shaped like a donut, why Pluto is no longer considered a planet (sorry, Pluto!), and why your little sister might be way older than you if you get back from traveling a lightspeed to the nearest star.

A great illustrated novel if you like science and want to learn more about space...or if you just like illustrated novels.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a humourous and aproachable introduction to the universe, including planets, black holes, dark matter, and more! I loved the illustrations and comics, and Oliver's interactions with Dr. Howard and other teachers reminded me of my own experience in middle school. I enjoyed this book and definitely would have loved it as a kid too.

Thank you to the publisher, Abrams, for the advance copy!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing book for kids and adults alike! I bought this for my 6-year-old and he loves it! He stayed up late to read it and, every 10 minutes, he had to come into my room to tell me a new fact about the universe! "Mom! Did you know that the universe is infinity (his word)? It. Never. Ends!?!?!?" I recommend this book for everyone over the age of 5!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This edutainment book is a great mix of humorous character and factual information about the universe. It's about a dorky boy humorously adjusting to middle school, while also geeking out about the universe, with comics and illustrations supposedly drawn by his new best friend Evie. Give this to Diary of a Wimpy Kids fans and even Raina Telgemeier fans.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny Diary of a Wimpy Kid readalike, except with science concepts woven in! Oliver is an 11-year-old kid nervous about starting middle school. He loves comics and video games and harassing his new buddy, astrophysicist Dr, Howard, with ridiculous questions about the universe that he then translates into hilarious comics.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun explainer of astrophysics for the 5th grade crowd. I can imagine it really appealing to younger kids. I found it very breezy and found the explanations to lack the depth of many other books on the subject (which makes a lot of sense given its target audience). Probably perfect for its target audience.

[PONRAJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s an awesome book. It is a really fun way to explain hard-to-explain concepts.
I felt like reading Sean Carrol’s book but from a different perspective
I enjoyed reading this so much.
I have son who is 8 years old and resembles in several aspects the Oliver. I hope my space nerd son would find this book interesting too…

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a whole load of science-y fun! This is going to be perfect for those fans of illustrated books and kids who love a bit of space/Science! Oliver and his explanations are great… even taught me some interesting facts about space!

[A.J. Seiffertt · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so good - a kid version of the “how to survive a black hole” kind of book for adults. love it. got it for my cousin’s 6 kids but am going to buy another copy for my work bestie’s 2 kids too. love!

[Jason Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The comic/kid perspective structure mimics Diary of a Wimpy Kid but revs it up by making it educational about science, namely outer space.

It’s an appropriate level for ages 10-12. Read it with my 10yo.

[Rae the Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cool book. It combines the silly narrative style of books like Big Nate with actual science about the universe. It’s a great way to explain these intricate topics to late elementary and middle schoolers. This is definitely one I’d keep in a classroom library.

[Vida Tkalčić · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, so I stole this book from my brother (shhhhh... hehh ;)), becouse it looked interesting. I read it and I was amazed. I learnt so much through everyday things. Like it was funny, interesting, entertaining and educational. I LOVE it!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's aimed at kids - Oliver goes from 6th to 7th grade in the book - but the scientific concepts within (via illustrations and humor) are for anyone. Jorge Cham manages to explain some of the mysteries of the universe with simple to understand stories and examples. Mom-approved!

[Megan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated novel (think the Wimpy Kid series), except it's mostly about a kid who learns a lot of science facts about space, so it's also nonfiction wrapped in a story. I liked it, and I think a bunch of kids would go for it.

[Arrilla C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read /listened to this book as part of my students’ Battle of the Books contest for the coming school year. I’m not sure it will hold their interest. It certainly did not hold mine. I guess it takes a certain mindset to enjoy this particular style/type of book.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Brandi Fundingsland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great introduction about the universe for students. The author does a great job of explaining the Big Bang, black holes, etc. In a way that kids (and adults) can understand.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus