The Loneliest Girl in the Universe

While I'm not a fan of science fiction and this is the first book I have read by this author, I thought that the idea and plot are really good. However, for me it was a slow burner, hence the four star rating. The story is about a 16-year-old girl named Romy who is the only surviving passenger on a spaceship called 'Infinity' which is bound for a new Earth. NASA sends out another ship, Eternity, to connect with the Infinity. Romy is excited and scared about this as for the first time she has contact with another human and possible romance as the contact is a boy named J. The book is cleverly written as it is a series of emails between the two characters and first person narrative. The author very much does the 'show and don't tell' approach. You're not given loads of technical jargon, instead the book slowly trickles information to you. This can make it really addictive for the reader as you try to piece together why Romy is alone on the ship, what happened to her parents and what will happen next? The heart of this story is about loneliness and how your mind can play tricks on you, giving this book some really suspenseful moments. It's a psychological thriller set in space and the ending I must admit is a whirlwind! Overall it was a satisfying read and would attract reluctant readers due to the short chapters and overall size of the book. Romy is a good character and I did feel sorry for her, and for a book that is under 300 pages, I really believe a YA reader will be able to understand and form a connection with her. I would recommend this book to 12+ readers who love the sci-fi genre and 'you might just find out that sometimes, there are worst things out there than being alone...' 352 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 11+