11/21/11The Future of Us | Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Razorbill
Hardcover/356pp.
It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler team up to create an engrossing, emotional story about appreciating your life and living in the moment. Though 13 REASONS WHY isn’t my favorite book ever, and I’ve never read anything from Carolyn Mackler, I was really excited to start reading THE FUTURE OF US, because you have to admit: that’s a great concept.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.
Emma has just gotten her first computer. As soon as she turns it on and inserts an AOL CD-ROM, a weird-looking website called “Facebook” appears on the screen. And at the upper left hand corner? Is an image of a woman that looks exactly like Emma. After a little clicking around, she finds out that the woman is her, fifteen years into the future. The sad thing is: future Emma isn’t happy with her life. Well, then Emma’s best friend Josh gets in on it, and turns out, he has a perfect life in the future. Emma and Josh fight to keep their friendship alive and come to realize that everything they do in the present has an effect on the future.
I loved the characterization and the writing, though the plot was a little nonexistent. If it weren’t for the Facebook aspect, this would just be a simple childhood-friend-turned-lover story. It’s kind of funny to see how even though there have been all these major advances in technology, etc., there are a lot of things that have stayed the same: people, feelings, and relationships.
If you want to read a heartfelt contemporary story with a cyberpunk twist, try THE FUTURE OF US.
6 comments:
Why am I not getting your posts in my mailbox anymore? Hmph. :( I had to find this one on FB. Bad Feedburner.
"It’s kind of funny to see how even though there have been all these major advances in technology, etc., there are a lot of things that have stayed the same: people, feelings, and relationships."
For thousands of years, it has been so. :)
We've definitely got our eye on this one, so thanks for writing up your thoughts. Question: Did you identify with the cultural references, or did it feel dated? That was our one concern.
I'm really excited to rad this one! It just sounds like such a great concept. :)
I absolutely loved this book, especially all the 90s references. Very nostalgic for me. Great review!
I can't wait to read this one.
While I'll still probably continue reading this one, I think it'll be more for the concept than the characters. They seem kind of flat and I'm kind of finding I don't care all that much about their future as their plot seems too simplistic to me. But at least the concept is fun!
Smiles!
Lori
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