Mr. Universe

Gr 7 Up–This hi-lo title follows Michael, a teenager who gets caught up in a science experiment gone wrong. Michael is visiting his mad-scientist uncle for the weekend when he accidentally gets transported to a parallel universe. He quickly meets and becomes enamored with Emily, a girl who also does not seem to belong in this universe. The two of them find themselves on the run from a team of mysterious “gray men” with lizard eyes and sharp teeth who claim to be restoring balance by erasing people in this universe. While the book has clear sci-fi themes, the plot does not get bogged down by the technical elements of alternate universes and takes a breezy and humorous approach to the topic. For example, the alternate universe features three-wheeled cars, and everyone’s phones are circular and from a tech company called “Orange.” Michael and Emily’s relationship veers into relatable teenage crush territory. The book is highly readable, with short chapters and text written at a third-grade reading level. A number of features designed for accessibility are also included, including dyslexia-friendly font and a larger trim size. Other than Michael’s dark hair, most characters’ appearances aren’t described.