A Corner of the Universe

By: Ann M. Martin

Narrated by: Judith Ivey

Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Hattie Owen prefers to be steeped in the familiarity of her small-town life than to think about the vast world beyond her own. Her family's boarding house is where she feels most at home, with its eccentric tenants and predictable routines, so different from the controlling and repressive home of her well-to-do grandparents who live nearby.

But during the summer that Hattie turns twelve, her world is turned upside-down with the startling arrival of an uncle no one has ever spoken about. Now that Adam's "school" (an institution for the mentally disabled) is closing, Hattie's family must deal with a childlike young man whose existence they've denied for years. And Hattie experiences a summer that expands her world in the most unpredictable ways.

With grace and compassion, Ann. M. Martin tells a story of a complicated and fated friendship in which listeners will lose a piece of their hearts. A Corner of the Universe was a 2003 Newbery Medal Honor Book.

©2002 Ann M. Martin (P)2003 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, An Imprint Of Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"[Ann M.] Martin delivers wonderfully real characters and an engrossing plot through the viewpoint of a girl who tries so earnestly to connect with those around her. This is an important story." (School Library Journal)
"Ivey's portrait of Adam, Hattie's disabled, savant uncle who suddenly reenters the family's life, is nothing short of brilliant." (AudioFile)
"This is a fully realized roller coaster of emotions." (Booklist)

My favorite as a child and still to this day

Adam taught me to always say happiness... well written and voiced couldn't put it down

Loved It

My teenage daughter & I really enjoyed listening to this together. Most people binge watch...we binge listened! Lol

I've learned a lesson!

amazing I love this book so much. I am now a ble to see the world in a different way.

suicide in a 4th grade book

One of my 6th grade students asked me if I had read this book, and I had not. I decided to listen to it, since she had. I found it a little disturbing that one of the main characters commits suicide, and I feel like the author almost justifies that its ok. I won't recommend this to my 11- 12 year students.

Beautifully written

This book was listed to be weeded from the library. I we curious and thought I'd give it a try.
I was extremity happy with the choice.
I fell in love with Adam. Heartfelt and wonderful story.

Wonderfully real...

This story touched my 13 year old's heart so much that she begged for the soft-cover book and has read it twice since Christmas!

Amazing no matter how many reads

Can read it more than once and it won’t lose its magic.
Try it out.

A Corner of the Universe

Fabulous. My sons (11 & 9)and I enjoyed this so much. The narrator is wonderful. And the story is touching and real

Excellent book

I love this book and I purchased a class set for my 5th grade class. My last two classes have read this book and they LOVED it. This book has helped many of my students become readers. Excellent story and I have students who want to reread the story. This has been one of the best books I have read and enjoyed. How good is a book when you have a classes of 5th graders who can't put the book down? Well, It is GREAT!

Sweet sweet story

As always, Judith Ivey brings these characters to life like no other could. Especially Adam. Wonderful.