Book: I Love You, Michael Collins (2017)
Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Genre: MG, Historical (1969)
Rating: 5 stars
Basic plot: It’s 1969 and the Apollo 11 moon landing mission is taking the world by storm. Mamie’s fifth-grade class is given the assignment to write to one of the three astronauts. Everybody chooses Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin, all except for Mamie. She decides to write to Michael Collins, the third astronaut on the mission. Somehow, she feels a kinship with him. Especially when her family all seem to abandon ship, leaving her to pilot the “ship” all by herself.
WHAT’S COOL…
1) I love a good epistolary novel. This one works quite nicely as Mamie writes to Michael Collins (who is in space for some of the time she is writing!)
2) I thought Baratz-Logsted was able to capture Mamie’s voice quite nicely. One of my favourite parts near the opening of the book (which then sets the tone of the story) is when she talks about her teacher (Mrs. Collins) and how she knew that it was not the same person as Michael Collins wife, even if they shared a name.
3) Buster was a such good friend for Mamie. I loved all the Tang he brought over for them to drink. It made me want to drink Tang! (You can even see the Tang on the cover of the book!)
4) The sisters and parents drove me crazy! How they leave Mamie. But it worked well for the story! One of my favourite lines is when Mamie writes: Doesn’t anybody stay with the ship anymore! (And the fact that she’s telling this to Michael Collins… well, he understands, right?)
5) What a fun little backstory of how the sisters in the story are all named for Presidents’ wives. Which, of course, is how Mamie gets her name, after Mamie Eisenhower. 🙂
6) I’m glad about [*slight SPOILER] the happy ending. I like happy endings! [end Spoiler]
7) One of the things I liked about this book is the focus on Michael Collins. I barely knew his name until this past summer, which was the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. He was always just the “third astronaut” to me. I think it was Google who had Michael Collins narrate a piece about his experience aboard Apollo 11. He had such a down-to-earth kind of voice. And Mamie’s right… somebody has to stay with the ship. Here’s to all the Michael Collins types out there! (And yes, I’m a Michael Collins type of person!)
WHAT’S NOT COOL…
1) Honestly, I actually can’t really think of anything to put here.
FINAL THOUGHTS
My rating is 5 Stars (out of 5) – I really enjoyed this book. I love the historical setting and letters Mamie writes to her hero. Such a quick and fun read, but also doesn’t shy away from some more difficult themes. I’d definitely recommend to anybody who’s interested in astronauts and space!
YOUR TURN…
Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Note: I’m posting this for Greg Pattridge’s Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday…
Cool that the story focuses on a less-known astronaut. I don’t know anything about him either. Glad you enjoyed this one so much.
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Yes, it was a good choice for the story!
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I would second everything you said about this memorable book. I enjoyed the time spent getting to know the characters and time period. Thanks for keeping this one out there.
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I’m glad you liked it, too!
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Oh, my goodness! This sounds like a book I would absolutely love to read. The cover is engaging and the history surrounding the plot is iconic. I watched many specials about the moon landing last summer, and I was impressed with Michael Collins’s attitude and professionalism. Thanks so much for sharing this one with us for MMGM!
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Yes, I really didn’t know much about Michael Collins until last summer! I too was impressed by him. And this book just made my day!
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I also enjoyed this book, but am always bothered by the Tang pitcher on the cover! There were a lot of different glass and plastic pitchers that must have been given away free because every single one of my friends had one in their houses! But yes, fun to focus on Collins for a change!
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Yes, loved the focus on Collins!
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I really like the focus on Michael Collins because we know so little about him. What a beautiful story. I enjoy stories about the moon landing and those who were part of it. But, I don’t like thinking about 1969 as historical fiction — I graduated from high school that year and started college that summer. Seems like yesterday. And, I remember Tang — not a favorite. Thanks for sharing!
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I really like that it’s an epistolary novel. You don’t see many of those in MG. And I’m with you on Michael Collins. Never heard of him till today.😊This sounds like a fun read that would appeal to a lot of kids!
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Yes, definitely worth the read!
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I’m a big fan of happy endings too. I have this on my TBR list and hope to get to it one day soon. Thanks for your review. You make it sound very enticing.
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I hope you get to enjoy it soon!
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I can’t believe I haven’t read this book yet! And it’s a perfect full moon night tonight… I must get a copy for next full moon.
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Exactly! Perfect for a full moon night. I love how big the moon is on the cover!
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I cannot wait to read this book. It is on my list and I plan to read it soon (or at least by the end of the summer). Glad to hear you loved this book so much! I am a big fan of space (and met Buzz Aldrin a couple years ago) so I am excited to read these letters to Michael Collins. 🙂 Thanks!
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Wow! Exciting that you got to meet Buzz Aldrin! (I recently read one of his books and it was like meeting him… in book form!)
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