Customer Rating: 
Summary: fabulous
Comment: gave it as a gift to an very inquisitive 8-year old. he loved it!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good story, worth buying
Comment: I purchased this for my 13 yr old astronomy prodigy, so this is really his review of the book. Story line: George is a child growing up in a house with very little technology. The neighbors next door are scientists that have a laptop super-computer that can open windows to the universe. George befriends the neighbors and travels around the universe learning about stars, planets, black holes, and all the wonders found in space.
"This book was very interesting to read. I spent one whole night reading it from cover to cover and it was able to keep my interest. It is one of a few novels with a basis of true science, being co-written by Stephen Hawking himself, an amazing physisist. I did not find the story to be at all predictable and I would recommend it to the 8-14 year old crowd."
Customer Rating:
Summary: My Son's Favorite Book
Comment: My six year old son read this book every night before bed (with my help) with an enthusiasm that he's never had for any other book. I was actually looking forward to each new chapter myself. Having read A Brief History and several other similar books, I thought this book did an amazing job at explaining the mechanics of black holes and the formation of the universe to young minds. (...and in a very fun way!) This is a "can't go wrong" for young readers.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Terrific for everyone, especially great for gifted kids
Comment: I've been so impressed by this book, that it inspired me to write this, my first Amazon review!
Here's the thing. I have a son who is almost seven who happens to be obsessed with Stephen Hawking. I know. He sticks out in a crowd. After watching Errol Morris's documentary of Hawking (great, by the way) my son asked me to look the man up on the internet so that he can start firing off questions to him about the origin of the universe, the birth of stars, you name it. Apparently at his young age, he has already figured out that mom doesn't always know all the answers! We found his website with a link to "George's Secret Key To The Universe" on it and I made a deal with my son that after we read that book, if he still had questions, he could write Stephen Hawking a letter. I don't know if the man has ever recieved a fan letter from a first grader, but there is a first time for everything, right?
We have been reading the book practically every moment that we have time for the past several days and my son loves it! This is a great introductory book - but it is also great for kids with some background knowledge about blackholes, elementary particles, and the like. The story that goes along with all of the science is just right for my kiddo's maturity level and the science allows him to stretch a bit further and go off on rabbit trails at the library to do more research. All in all, a great book for any kid - but especially for science-obsessed gifted boys!
We are almost finished and are hoping that Stephen and Lucy are working on another adventure for George - my son is requesting one to explore inner-space next. Let's see George in the land of quarks and weak bosons (my son's new silly insult: you weak boson!).
Loved it!
Melisa
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good for All Ages
Comment: We originally saw this book on the TODAY show when Al Roker suggested it as a good book for a Christmas gift. Our 8-year-old grandson is interested in so many things, we thought this would be perfect for him... and according to him, "it's great!" As a young reader, it has continued to keep his interest 4 months later!!
Summary: fabulous
Comment: gave it as a gift to an very inquisitive 8-year old. he loved it!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good story, worth buying
Comment: I purchased this for my 13 yr old astronomy prodigy, so this is really his review of the book. Story line: George is a child growing up in a house with very little technology. The neighbors next door are scientists that have a laptop super-computer that can open windows to the universe. George befriends the neighbors and travels around the universe learning about stars, planets, black holes, and all the wonders found in space.
"This book was very interesting to read. I spent one whole night reading it from cover to cover and it was able to keep my interest. It is one of a few novels with a basis of true science, being co-written by Stephen Hawking himself, an amazing physisist. I did not find the story to be at all predictable and I would recommend it to the 8-14 year old crowd."
Customer Rating:
Summary: My Son's Favorite Book
Comment: My six year old son read this book every night before bed (with my help) with an enthusiasm that he's never had for any other book. I was actually looking forward to each new chapter myself. Having read A Brief History and several other similar books, I thought this book did an amazing job at explaining the mechanics of black holes and the formation of the universe to young minds. (...and in a very fun way!) This is a "can't go wrong" for young readers.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Terrific for everyone, especially great for gifted kids
Comment: I've been so impressed by this book, that it inspired me to write this, my first Amazon review!
Here's the thing. I have a son who is almost seven who happens to be obsessed with Stephen Hawking. I know. He sticks out in a crowd. After watching Errol Morris's documentary of Hawking (great, by the way) my son asked me to look the man up on the internet so that he can start firing off questions to him about the origin of the universe, the birth of stars, you name it. Apparently at his young age, he has already figured out that mom doesn't always know all the answers! We found his website with a link to "George's Secret Key To The Universe" on it and I made a deal with my son that after we read that book, if he still had questions, he could write Stephen Hawking a letter. I don't know if the man has ever recieved a fan letter from a first grader, but there is a first time for everything, right?
We have been reading the book practically every moment that we have time for the past several days and my son loves it! This is a great introductory book - but it is also great for kids with some background knowledge about blackholes, elementary particles, and the like. The story that goes along with all of the science is just right for my kiddo's maturity level and the science allows him to stretch a bit further and go off on rabbit trails at the library to do more research. All in all, a great book for any kid - but especially for science-obsessed gifted boys!
We are almost finished and are hoping that Stephen and Lucy are working on another adventure for George - my son is requesting one to explore inner-space next. Let's see George in the land of quarks and weak bosons (my son's new silly insult: you weak boson!).
Loved it!
Melisa
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good for All Ages
Comment: We originally saw this book on the TODAY show when Al Roker suggested it as a good book for a Christmas gift. Our 8-year-old grandson is interested in so many things, we thought this would be perfect for him... and according to him, "it's great!" As a young reader, it has continued to keep his interest 4 months later!!