Review: The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extense

A rare meteorite struck Alex Woods when he was ten years old, leaving scars and marking him for an extraordinary future. The son of a fortune teller, bookish, and an easy target for bullies, Alex hasn't had the easiest childhood.

But when he meets curmudgeonly widower Mr. Peterson, he finds an unlikely friend. Someone who teaches him that that you only get one shot at life. That you have to make it count.

So when, aged seventeen, Alex is stopped at customs with 113 grams of marijuana, an urn full of ashes on the front seat, and an entire nation in uproar, he's fairly sure he's done the right thing ...

Introducing a bright young voice destined to charm the world, The Universe Versus Alex Woods is a celebration of curious incidents, astronomy and astrology, the works of Kurt Vonnegut and the unexpected connections that form our world.

***

This is a quirky and engaging story of an unlikely friendship that forms between a young boy and an elderly man.

The story is told through the eyes of Alex Woods, a teenage boy who doesn’t see the world in quite the same way as most people do. This is attributed to him being hit on the head by a meteorite as a child, but it is this difference that gives his narrative such a distinctive voice. He’s an engaging character who pulls you with him into his world. In fact all the characters in this book are interesting, drawn with sensitivity and depth.

But this is no heart-warming fable. The story soon takes a darker turn and Alex finds himself faced with a very real moral dilemma. A highly topical and controversial issue is raised. But the softness of touch and Alex’s own unique view of the world tackles a difficult subject with sensitivity.

The aspect of this book that appealed to me most, however, is that fact that it is very much a homage to Kurt Vonnegut, a writer who had a huge influence on me as a teenager, and Vonnegut’s influence on this author is very apparent. Perhaps this is, in part, why I enjoyed it so much.

And of course the setting, Glastonbury and the surrounding area, adds a touch of local interest to this book.

So, all in all, a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying read. If you haven’t read it yet you really should. This is an author to watch and I wait with interest to see what comes next from him.


Kate Kelly is a marine scientist by day but by night she writes children’s books. Her debut novel Red Rock, a Cli-Fi thriller for teens, is published by Curious Fox. She lives in Dorset with her husband, two daughters and assorted pets and blogs at http://scribblingseaserpent.blogspot.co.uk/