Across the Universe

By: Beth Revis

Narrated by: Lauren Ambrose

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder....

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, 300 years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end 50 years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

©2011 Beth Revis (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Entirely original, deeply compelling, and totally unputdownable--I've found a new favorite!" (Carrie Ryan, New York Times best-selling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth)

"A murder mystery, a budding romance, and a dystopian world gracefully integrated into a sci-fi novel that blows away all expectation." (Melissa Marr, New York Times best-selling author of Wicked Lovely)

"A horrifying and deliciously claustrophobic masterpiece that's part sci-fi, part dystopian, and entirely brilliant." (Kiersten White, New York Times best-selling author of Paranormalcy and Supernaturally)

girl goes hybernation with parents

girl given choice to go with parents or not. girl goes in last minute (dad didnt think she wohld) .

An out of this world adventure!

In a world saturated with vampires and fantasy, this novel dared to buck the tends of young adult novels and take readers on a sci-fi adventure that's out of this world (literally and metaphorically, of course). As I sci-fi fan I of course was hooked by this novel's primes from the start, and Ms. Revis certainly does an excellent job world building (even if that world is a spaceship the size of Iwo Jima), and I had no problem visualizing every aspect of life on the ship Godspeed. I though Amy was well written, and reacted realistically the situation she was thrown into, and, thankful, didn't just swoon over the love interest all the time unlike certain other books (I'm looking at you Shadow and Bone; and Twilight!). I could relate to Elder's desire to be different in a world that stresses conformity, and the two narrators did an excellent job of bringing the characters and their world to life. All in all, recommended for sci-fi fans, and even for people who aren't (who knows, this might get you into sci-fi if you give it a shot).

Well worth the listen!

This book is written from the perspectives of two characters in alternating chapters with two different narrators. Both narrators do a very good job portraying the emotions of the young characters, and the story is easy to follow as an audio book. It combines elements of mystery, sci-fi, utopian paranoia, and a bit of romance. Although I thought I had it figured out, and sometimes was on the mark, it still held some surprises. Having just finished the Hunger Games trilogy, it's hard not to make a comparison. This book was less action packed, and less violent, and I thought that although most of the characters of both books could have been a little better developed, those in Across the Universe were a little more realistic. The descriptions of the ship and new inventions were detailed enough, but not so lengthy and full of description or space jargon that I got bored (The book's web site has a diagram of the ship). This was a work more about human society than space travel. It made an excellent audiobook, and I look forward to the next.

Male reader in mid 40's... I like it!!

Any additional comments?

So, yes, I knew this was teen / young adult going in. I had read the first chapter in the book store when the book first came out and really like it; but I hesitated purchasing it as it wasn't really geared towards middle aged men. But I have to say, I really liked it and it wasn't too bogged down in teen/YA issues. But yes, there were some of those moments, but it was bearable.

The base premise wasn't new but it had a twist that was new (to me anyhow.) I ended up really liking the book and I think it was well done; done good enough to cross beyond the Teen/YA boundary and hold it's own in the more mature market as well.

It's not hard core sci-fi but it was well done. The narration was very well done also.

***

I have since read the other two books and I was not as impressed. I think the story was ultimately good, but books 2 and 3 became a lot more teen/YA based. Granted, that is what the books are, but for me I had to roll my eyes at some of the dialog and scenarios in those books. But I understood that it wasn't written for middle aged men so I just suffered through those parts and enjoyed the rest of the story. I have recommended to my 16yo daughter that she may like the series.

Can A Frozen Girl Change Everything?

Mother-Daughter Review
We listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Lauren Ambrose and Carlos Santos, so our reviews are based on that version.

My Review
I really enjoyed this story of this ship hurtling toward a planet they hope habitable. They carry the future with them. This story is about what happens when someone starts unfreezing the cryogenically frozen people … before they arrive at their destination. Not only do people start getting unfrozen, but whoever is doing it is just shutting off the mechanism that keeps them frozen and not taking them out of the frozen liquid so they don’t drown.

Besides the threat to the frozen people, there is something else very strange about the people on this ship. If you were in a closed environment, how would you know that something was not as it should be? As the story unfolds, you get little hints here and there but it really takes the unfreezing of Amy to really see the difference. She is not like the others on the ship and she knows things are not right. She can’t fix what is wrong on this ship and the leader of the ship has made it very clear that if she makes any waves on his ship that she will be dropped off amongst the stars.

Although this book is part of a series, the author brought this story to a satisfying conclusion so we weren’t left hanging. The story can be read as a stand-alone, but there is enough left unsaid and I am enjoying the story so much that I want to continue onto the next in the series. I have to know what happens! My rating: 4 of 5 Stars.


Lily’s Review
This was a very interesting book. This book had a plot that for once, I never heard before! (((OMG))) The book had the right amount of violence, action, and drama. I also love one of the charters, Harley!!!! He’s amazing, if only that didn’t happen in the end…. Anyway I liked this book a lot and I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars, mostly because of the whininess of the main character.

The Narration Review
This audiobook was narrated by Lauren Ambrose and Carlos Santos. I enjoyed the two different voices as they switched between the perspectives for the two main characters. Both voices sounded age appropriate and both seemed to carry the different attitudes and personalities of the characters they were portraying. It is great to have that contrast when listening, especially when you are shifting between perspectives.

Awesome

I don't like science fiction but love teen books. It was wonderful. Captures you from the minute you start it. The charaters, the story it is all wonderfully woven to bring her into Elder's world!

Not for 11-13 year old readers

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Only the category under which it is sold. The book should not be marketed to children under the age of least 16-17 years old.

Any additional comments?

I found this book listed with audio books for children between the ages of 11-13 years old, and purchased it for my grandson and I to listen to together. Fortunately I read ahead and discovered if this book were a movie, it would probably be rated "R" as it deals with mature themes including a disturbing near rape scene, public sex, and murder/attempted murder scenes. I believe this book would be better suited for age groups that are at least as old as the primary characters, at 16-17 years old.

Couldn’t stop listening

This book pulled me in and had me engaged to the point that it consumed my time because had to finish it. While some things could be predicted in the plot it did not hinder the overall quality of the story. Need to take a break until in listen to the 2nd book so I can get back to my life. Lol.

Quick and interesting!

Would you listen to Across the Universe again? Why?

I think I probably would. The narrators have pleasant voices and speak clearly when sped up. I listened to this audio book at 1.5x speed. I enjoyed how the chapters were set up switching between the two characters. Although I did find the male rendition of the female character a bit funny. Overall it was quite funny.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Harley was my favorite! He quoted Alice in Wonderland and was just magnificent! :D

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was a bit shocked by one particular moment. I knew it was coming, but I was still somehow taken off gaurd.

Any additional comments?

Overall, the book was fairly predictable in plot, but the writing and the narration made it fun to listen to while I was working on my art. The world building was in depth enough to keep the story moving, and the references to Sol Earth made me giggle at times. It was a wonderful experience. I tried reading this book a year ago, and I flew through the pages. I had to move so I didn't get a chance to finish it, but this version was fantastic to finish off this book. Can't wait to check out the next.

Perfect sci-fi story

what a beautiful and perfect sci-fi tale. full of the perfect amout of mystery, twists, turns, love, loss, and thought provoking action. highly recommend