The Many Worlds of Albie Bright

Gr 3–5—This lovely story about overcoming grief is occasionally overburdened by technical descriptions. Albie Bright is an English schoolchild who has lost his scientist mother to cancer. He delves into quantum physics and travels through time in search of his mother, hoping that even though she has died in his universe, she's still alive in a parallel one. Albie manages to run into alternate versions of himself and the people in his life in each new universe, all the while striving to change his own reality. Readers will be captivated by Albie's adventures in parallel versions of his own life and intrigued by the science behind his travels. The scientific details, however, feel overwhelming at times, and some readers may lose interest in the book altogether. As the narrative picks up steam, those who have kept at it are rewarded with a compelling tale about coping with loss and accepting reality.