An Engaging Tale for Aspiring Astronauts

The Kid Who Went to the Moon tells the story of James Gibson, a 12-year-old boy who is trying to raise $2 million to get NASA to send him to the moon. James has been obsessed with space travel for as long as he can remember and it is his biggest dream to be able to visit the moon.

Since the average 12-year-old does not have a well paid job on Wall Street, James earns the money by creating viral videos, asking for donations on TV, and competing in a poetry and baseball contest with a massive cash prize. Despite the doubts of his classmates, he manages to accomplish his goal of becoming the youngest kid in space.

Although the story is certainly cute on its own, the remarkable part of this book is that it was written by a young author. Walter Levin is 11 years old. In addition to being a published author, Walter is also a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a unicyclist, and a rock drummer.

My nine-year-old son enjoyed The Kid Who Went to the Moon because both the plot of the story and the author’s background served as proof that hard work and persistence can help you achieve your dreams, even when others think they are impossible.

There is no recommended reading level for this book, but I think it should be appropriate for most second to fourth graders. The story moves along at a fast pace, so it’s a good choice for kids who are somewhat reluctant readers.

Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher.

Photo credit: Amazon