Monday, January 16, 2012

The Future of Us

Author: Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
  Pages: 356

Publisher: Razorbill
Publication: November 21st 2011
Age Group: Young Adult (12-18)
Book Source: Purchased
Challenge(s)- TBR Challenge(2012)
 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.
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.
 ***
 To be honest- I thought it was rushed. This entire novel happens in about five days- but it was perfectly balanced with background information- although some times as reading it you would get confused- like- you thought this was this but it is actually that and then it actually wasn't that- by the time you figured it out it had already been changed. 
In certain ways it was alike 13 Reasons Why- for underlying themes. In 13RW-  assuming we can all agree that 13RW is about how everyone effects everyone else- whether it be positive or a negative way.  As for Hannah it was usually a negative way- considering there were "13 Reasons Why" she killed herself. 
Something to add about 13RW - that I think is kinda cool- on halloween at our school we had to dress up as a favorite book character and present them as we think they would be in the real world. I dressed up as Hannah Baker (vintage-y clothing)- and tried to embrace  her character- in our skit was the main characters from CUT by Patricia McCormick,  the dead girl form WINTERGIRLS- Laurie Halse Anderson, and Mara Dyer from the UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER- lets just say this skit was rather depressingly awesome. Wouldn't it be great to see how Katniss and  Bella Swan would get along (or not!)

ANYWAY,  back to the subject at hand. So 13RW was about how our choices affect other people. In this book it is about how our choices effect the future. So when Josh and Emma start stalking their own Facebook pages- and learning about they're future- when Emma learns she is super unhappy- she keeps making choice on purpose to change her "unfortunate" future.  Of course Josh thinks its dangerous- cause he loves his future- soon everything they do is about their future. The ending was cute- super cute. 
Also the romance was super obvious(ish)- but I really liked it. I applaud you once again Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler- I wonder what you have in store for us next...
“How can you call it love when it hurt you so badly?"
"It was love because it was worth it.”
Jay Asher, The Future of Us
“And what if in the future we're at war again, or we still haven't elected a non-white or non-male president, or the Rolling Stones are still dragging their tired old butts on stage? That would depress me way too much.”
Jay Asher, The Future of Us   
 “Why does it say she has three hundred and twenty friends?" Josh asks. "Who has that many friends?”
Jay Asher, The Future of Us

1 comment:

  1. Interesting book. Not sure I'd want to know my future. Thanks for sharing it with us.

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