Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Ash
Genres
Collection
Publication
Razorbill (2011), Edition: First Edition, 368 pages
Description
It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Emma just got her first computer and Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.
Original publication date
2011-11-21
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User reviews
LibraryThing member dk_phoenix
This was one of those "it sounds interesting, so I'm going to give it a shot but I'm not expecting much" kind of books. Well, I read the whole thing in just about one sitting. And then recommended it to two people.
I haven't read anything from either of these authors before, but they made a great
If that sounds like a really intriguing premise, it is. If it also sounds like the book will become dated fairly quickly, that wouldn't surprise me either--but it's definitely worth the read right now, particularly for those of us who were teenagers during the 90s. I related a lot to the characters because of their own experiences during the mid-90s, and I found myself occasionally waxing nostalgic about life fifteen years ago.
I found the characters and their choices both realistic and logical for people of their age and background. The way the two try to deal with the knowledge of their futures differs significantly, and I wondered which of the two approaches I would have taken, if I were in their shoes. I was worried that the book would take a cheesy or sloopy turn at the end--I mean, how DO you end a book about people reading about their futures on Facebook?--but I was glad that my fears were unfounded. The ending is both believable and satisfying, and provides just the right kind of closure for a book with this subject.
My only real complaint is how quickly one of the main characters accepted the "we're reading about our futures" aspect, but at the same time, I wonder if I wouldn't have reacted the same way. I also thought I might have tried to figure out exactly what was happening rather than simply go along with it, but would I have done that fifteen years ago? Hard to say.
Overall, a worthwhile read, an intriguing concept, and a satisfying story that's worth the time spent.
I haven't read anything from either of these authors before, but they made a great
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team. The premise of the story is: In 1996, two high-school students are setting up AOL on a new computer, when a little icon pops up for something called 'Facebook.' They quickly realize that the things they do in present-day change the contents of the Facebook page... in the future. Suddenly, life gets a whole lot more interesting, as they start to try to influence their futures through present-day thoughts and actions.If that sounds like a really intriguing premise, it is. If it also sounds like the book will become dated fairly quickly, that wouldn't surprise me either--but it's definitely worth the read right now, particularly for those of us who were teenagers during the 90s. I related a lot to the characters because of their own experiences during the mid-90s, and I found myself occasionally waxing nostalgic about life fifteen years ago.
I found the characters and their choices both realistic and logical for people of their age and background. The way the two try to deal with the knowledge of their futures differs significantly, and I wondered which of the two approaches I would have taken, if I were in their shoes. I was worried that the book would take a cheesy or sloopy turn at the end--I mean, how DO you end a book about people reading about their futures on Facebook?--but I was glad that my fears were unfounded. The ending is both believable and satisfying, and provides just the right kind of closure for a book with this subject.
My only real complaint is how quickly one of the main characters accepted the "we're reading about our futures" aspect, but at the same time, I wonder if I wouldn't have reacted the same way. I also thought I might have tried to figure out exactly what was happening rather than simply go along with it, but would I have done that fifteen years ago? Hard to say.
Overall, a worthwhile read, an intriguing concept, and a satisfying story that's worth the time spent.
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LibraryThing member Grabbag
*Bear in mind that I received this as an Advanced Reader Copy in June 2011, which is an unfinished copy of the book.*
I was thoroughly disappointed in this novel. Not because it has a lighter theme than Asher's acclaimed Thirteen Reasons Why, but because it falls short of what a good YA novel
There are tiny elements that make it unsuitable for tweens, but it is too boring and undescriptive for older teens. There is no one I can strongly recommend this too.
This book needs a lot of revision before hitting the shelves; otherwise there will be some very upset Asher and Mackler fans.
I was thoroughly disappointed in this novel. Not because it has a lighter theme than Asher's acclaimed Thirteen Reasons Why, but because it falls short of what a good YA novel
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should be. The scenes are rushed, the conversations lack the depth and emotion that are so akin to teens, and there is little description which leaves readers wanting more (but never getting it). The idea of the book is fabulous! Life on the Internet before Facebook! Incredible! But everything falls short. Not once do the characters mention the annoying dial-up tone (eek!), and only once (and briefly) does Emma's mother scold Emma for tying up the phone line (which we all know was a BIG deal that caused endless fights between teens and parents). There are tiny elements that make it unsuitable for tweens, but it is too boring and undescriptive for older teens. There is no one I can strongly recommend this too.
This book needs a lot of revision before hitting the shelves; otherwise there will be some very upset Asher and Mackler fans.
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LibraryThing member renkellym
The Future of Us will succeed for the same reasons Toy Story 3 succeeded—because it has an excellent nostalgia factor. As a kid of the 90’s, there were many moments when I found myself smirking at references to things that are almost nonexistent today: VHS tapes, Walkman players…the list goes
Josh and Emma are excellent characters; they’re relatable and lovable despite the fact that their story takes place in a different time than today. Josh, especially, will strike a chord with readers because of his underdog status and his earnest personality. Emma is a bit selfish and naïve, but she is ultimately likable because of how she is written—she’s supposed to be a character with which we sympathize, even though it may be difficult at times. The complicated history between the two protagonists makes their rekindled friendship all the more interesting, and there is no shortage of cute, awkward moments. Other characters of note are Tyson and Kellan, the best friends of Josh and Emma, respectively. They spice up the dynamic between Emma and Josh, and they are always good for comic relief.
The Future of Us will especially be beloved by those who were born in or grew up in the 90’s, but the story has a timeless feel to it that will appeal to everyone. The dual narrative gives The Future of Us two interesting perspectives, and the concept of the Internet being a window into the future is completely fascinating.
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on! But I do wonder if younger readers will get as much out of the book as those of us that experienced the 90’s. The Future of Us does appeal to a wider audience in theme and in concept, though. The idea of being able to see into the future—and possibly change it—is fascinating, and the authors’ execution is flawless. Readers will definitely find themselves curious about how much the actions they take today will affect their tomorrow. The Future of Us is ultimately a love story, and a story about learning to live for today (not to mention destiny), and I think these themes will easily enjoyed by all readers—young or older. Josh and Emma are excellent characters; they’re relatable and lovable despite the fact that their story takes place in a different time than today. Josh, especially, will strike a chord with readers because of his underdog status and his earnest personality. Emma is a bit selfish and naïve, but she is ultimately likable because of how she is written—she’s supposed to be a character with which we sympathize, even though it may be difficult at times. The complicated history between the two protagonists makes their rekindled friendship all the more interesting, and there is no shortage of cute, awkward moments. Other characters of note are Tyson and Kellan, the best friends of Josh and Emma, respectively. They spice up the dynamic between Emma and Josh, and they are always good for comic relief.
The Future of Us will especially be beloved by those who were born in or grew up in the 90’s, but the story has a timeless feel to it that will appeal to everyone. The dual narrative gives The Future of Us two interesting perspectives, and the concept of the Internet being a window into the future is completely fascinating.
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LibraryThing member CAS2199
Emma and Josh are next door neighbors and have been good friends since they were little. Josh gives Emma an AOL CD-ROM for her to try out since her got a new computer. It's 1996 and the internet is still a new concept and Emma is excited to sign-on. Once she does, she sees a page that says
Emma and Josh are like Pacey and Joey from Dawson's Creek. I adored them. Their relationship was relatable and realistic for high school. I loved that each chapter switched from Emma's point of view and Josh's point of view. It was done really well.
The '90s references in The Future of Us were amazing. I went to high school in the '90s and it was so much fun to remember back to AOL, the problems surrounding dial-up internet, and life before all this technology. I loved the incorporation of '90s music, especially Dave Matthews (I was obsessed!) and could relate to each and every '90s reference. I felt like I was back in high school and living the experience right along side of Emma and Josh.
So, if you read my reviews before you know how much I love the idea of time-travel. Ever since I saw Marty McFly visit 1955 I was sold. In The Future of Us, the fact that Emma and Josh somehow tapped into their Facebook pages in the future is such a unique idea. It truly had me thinking, because every time Emma or Josh did something relatively big in their life, it would drastically change their Facebook pages in the future, such as their relationship status, where they lived, the jobs they had, and even their status updates. And sometimes even the smallest things changed it as well. It gave me something to think about....like what if I actually took that path? Where would I be now? I can't imagine how this would have impacted me if I read this as a teenager. It's truly thought provoking.
If you like trips down memory lane to the '90s, a sweet romance, and realistic fiction with some sci-fi elements, namely time travel, you must check out The Future of Us. It is going down as one of my favorites of 2011. Plus, I just heard that the movie rights were snatched up by Warner Bros. Can't wait!
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"Facebook" and it somehow connects her to her Facebook page 15 years down the road. At first she thinks it is some kind of prank, but as Emma and Josh further investigate, they realize that it's pretty much the exact opposite. What if they don't like what they see? Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler's The Future of Us is brilliant. Readers that can remember that first AOL CD and dial up internet will love to revisit this with Emma and Josh. Also, fans of time-travel will be on the edge of their seats as Emma and Josh discover more and more about their futures.Emma and Josh are like Pacey and Joey from Dawson's Creek. I adored them. Their relationship was relatable and realistic for high school. I loved that each chapter switched from Emma's point of view and Josh's point of view. It was done really well.
The '90s references in The Future of Us were amazing. I went to high school in the '90s and it was so much fun to remember back to AOL, the problems surrounding dial-up internet, and life before all this technology. I loved the incorporation of '90s music, especially Dave Matthews (I was obsessed!) and could relate to each and every '90s reference. I felt like I was back in high school and living the experience right along side of Emma and Josh.
So, if you read my reviews before you know how much I love the idea of time-travel. Ever since I saw Marty McFly visit 1955 I was sold. In The Future of Us, the fact that Emma and Josh somehow tapped into their Facebook pages in the future is such a unique idea. It truly had me thinking, because every time Emma or Josh did something relatively big in their life, it would drastically change their Facebook pages in the future, such as their relationship status, where they lived, the jobs they had, and even their status updates. And sometimes even the smallest things changed it as well. It gave me something to think about....like what if I actually took that path? Where would I be now? I can't imagine how this would have impacted me if I read this as a teenager. It's truly thought provoking.
If you like trips down memory lane to the '90s, a sweet romance, and realistic fiction with some sci-fi elements, namely time travel, you must check out The Future of Us. It is going down as one of my favorites of 2011. Plus, I just heard that the movie rights were snatched up by Warner Bros. Can't wait!
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LibraryThing member MrsMich02
When you say "spoiler-alert", think of this story of Emma and Josh as the Ultimate in spoilers. Wonderful and original story. When forced to put this book down, I actually had to grab it up again just to read the next few lines. Although the situation with how do they discover Facebook is never
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resolved through physics, magic or what have you, it doesn't get in the way of wanting to believe in the story. Never expected to like this one as much as I do. Read it, you will too! Show Less
LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
It’s 1996 and Emma and Josh are both high school juniors. They live next door to each other and have been best friends until six months ago when Josh misread the signs and kissed Emma. Since then things have been sort of uncomfortable. Emma’s father, divorced and living with his second wife,
Emma immediately calls Josh and they start navigating the site, understanding what it actually means. Josh finds out that in 2011 he’s married to Sydney Mills, one of the hottest girls in school. Josh, however, is not one of the hottest guys in school. How did they end up together? Emma sees that she’s married to Jordan Jones, someone she doesn’t know in 1996 and she’s not happy. As the status updates change, Josh and Emma realize that every little action taken in their 1996 lives will have a ripple effect and change their 2011 lives. Emma wants to change out of her bad marriage. Josh doesn’t want any changes. He’s got his dream girl…or does he?
In The Future of Us Carolyn Mackler, author of the Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things, among other fun YA novels and Jay Asher, author of the still popular Thirteen Reasons Why have created a new romantic twist. The collaboration results in a cute, fun read about what’s important now and how every little thing you do can impact the future. Emma and Josh are great characters as are their friends Tyson and Kellan. The storyline is fun and makes you think. What would you do if you knew the future and didn’t like it…or did like it and didn’t want it to change? Do you even want to know the future? The Future of Us takes place during one May week. As such, it’s a good summer read. So, snatch up your copy now and be ready for the summer…or read it now and read it again during the summer.
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gets Emma a computer and Josh, being the nice guy he is, brings her an AOL disk that she can load and connect to the internet through her telephone line. After loading, she hears “Welcome” in that AOL voice and, all of the sudden, the program changes to Facebook, a social networking site that didn’t exist in 1996.Emma immediately calls Josh and they start navigating the site, understanding what it actually means. Josh finds out that in 2011 he’s married to Sydney Mills, one of the hottest girls in school. Josh, however, is not one of the hottest guys in school. How did they end up together? Emma sees that she’s married to Jordan Jones, someone she doesn’t know in 1996 and she’s not happy. As the status updates change, Josh and Emma realize that every little action taken in their 1996 lives will have a ripple effect and change their 2011 lives. Emma wants to change out of her bad marriage. Josh doesn’t want any changes. He’s got his dream girl…or does he?
In The Future of Us Carolyn Mackler, author of the Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things, among other fun YA novels and Jay Asher, author of the still popular Thirteen Reasons Why have created a new romantic twist. The collaboration results in a cute, fun read about what’s important now and how every little thing you do can impact the future. Emma and Josh are great characters as are their friends Tyson and Kellan. The storyline is fun and makes you think. What would you do if you knew the future and didn’t like it…or did like it and didn’t want it to change? Do you even want to know the future? The Future of Us takes place during one May week. As such, it’s a good summer read. So, snatch up your copy now and be ready for the summer…or read it now and read it again during the summer.
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LibraryThing member beckybrarian
"It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.
Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.
Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.
Everybody wonders what
The premise of this story is really interesting. As I was reading the book, I found myself wanting to look at my own facebook profile and try to see it through the eyes of my sixteen year old self. Would I like the way I looked? Would I like my job? Would I be happy with my husband (of course, he's adorable)? If you were a teenager and had a brief glance at what your future would be like in fifteen years, how much would you want to change? Obviously, a facebook profile can't give all the details of a future life. Even people who put the most personal details online don't put everything on, so can you really judge your future on only what you find on a social networking site?
I like stories about time travel, any kind of time travel really. I like it if the character manages to physically travel through time, gets secret messages from their future self, or, as it turns out, finds a future website. The story raised some great points about changing the future. Emma starts out right away thinking about how she can make her future life different than it is, better. Josh on the other hand, is worried about what his new knowledge might mean for the present and how it could screw up his future. For example, "This is making me nervous. The future seems so fragile. For instance, I already saw that I'm going to the University of Washington like my brother. And I definitely want that to happen, but what if knowing I'll get in makes me slack on the application and then I get rejected?" (ARC 134-135). Yup, mind blown! What if just knowing the future changes your actions in the present and, therefore, changes the future!? I think I need a cup of tea.
Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler are a little bit of an author dream team. Together they created a compulsively readable book that I could not put down. Literally. I read the entire thing in just over 2 hours. Emma and Josh are sweet, fun, interesting characters who I would definitely want to be friends with. Their story is a perfect mix of obsessing over their future and trying to figure out their present. Each of them faces different dilemmas from their new knowledge - do they keep secrets or help friends? Their story will suck you in and you won't be able to stop until the very end, so I recommend starting this book in a very comfy chair. Then ask yourself, how much would you want to know about your future?
Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.
Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.
Everybody wonders what
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their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out." -ARC SynopsisThe premise of this story is really interesting. As I was reading the book, I found myself wanting to look at my own facebook profile and try to see it through the eyes of my sixteen year old self. Would I like the way I looked? Would I like my job? Would I be happy with my husband (of course, he's adorable)? If you were a teenager and had a brief glance at what your future would be like in fifteen years, how much would you want to change? Obviously, a facebook profile can't give all the details of a future life. Even people who put the most personal details online don't put everything on, so can you really judge your future on only what you find on a social networking site?
I like stories about time travel, any kind of time travel really. I like it if the character manages to physically travel through time, gets secret messages from their future self, or, as it turns out, finds a future website. The story raised some great points about changing the future. Emma starts out right away thinking about how she can make her future life different than it is, better. Josh on the other hand, is worried about what his new knowledge might mean for the present and how it could screw up his future. For example, "This is making me nervous. The future seems so fragile. For instance, I already saw that I'm going to the University of Washington like my brother. And I definitely want that to happen, but what if knowing I'll get in makes me slack on the application and then I get rejected?" (ARC 134-135). Yup, mind blown! What if just knowing the future changes your actions in the present and, therefore, changes the future!? I think I need a cup of tea.
Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler are a little bit of an author dream team. Together they created a compulsively readable book that I could not put down. Literally. I read the entire thing in just over 2 hours. Emma and Josh are sweet, fun, interesting characters who I would definitely want to be friends with. Their story is a perfect mix of obsessing over their future and trying to figure out their present. Each of them faces different dilemmas from their new knowledge - do they keep secrets or help friends? Their story will suck you in and you won't be able to stop until the very end, so I recommend starting this book in a very comfy chair. Then ask yourself, how much would you want to know about your future?
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
When Emma dials into AOL, she comes across these strange site called Facebook and information about herself that seems to be from the future. Her neighbor/former best friend/possible love interest Josh gets in on the secret and soon the two of them are fretting and excited about what is to become.
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Emma notices that the status updates and information keeps changing and realizes that the decisions she makes may have implications on her future. I appreciated the technology contrasts between the early dial-up AOL days and today and all the pop culture references. I wonder how much this would resonate with contemporary teens. Show Less
LibraryThing member idroskicinia
After reading a lot of YA books with mythical creatures like vampires, werewolves, faeries, angels, and every single creature that you can imagine, this book looked so amazing and so different that when I saw it for first time, I wanted to read it immediately! How many books have you read about
The idea, like I said at the beginning is amazing and unique. The book is written in short chapters, each chapter is told by one of the main characters, Emma or Josh, and it's super easy to read and addictive. I started reading and suddenly I found myself reading page one hundred-something and I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
But of course, even thought I enjoyed this book a lot, there were a few things that I didn't enjoy at all.
I was waiting more. I know, this sounds like a broken CD. Every time I read a book and I'm not 100% happy with it, I say that I was waiting for more. The story and the plot looked really good, but at the end the story was just too simple for me, I wanted something more stunning, more developed, but I just found a book that talks about teenager issues and difficulties regarding their future. It was good, yes, but there were something missing. I wanted to read more about Facebook. (I know what you're thinking; Log in your FB account now! ahhaha) No, seriously, I would have liked to know more about their future, and to see a big difference… (Who read the book knows what I'm talking about)
Emma! Even thought, the reader knows why she behaves in the way she does, I just didn't like her. I couldn't stand her. I saw her like a little girl that wants everything, and is all the time complaining because she is not happy with her life or with her future, so for me was a little bit difficult to like her. I liked Josh much more, and I laughed a lot with all his future and the girl he liked.
Overall I liked this book. Maybe there are a lot people, who will love it, and maybe others who don't, but for me, it was only good. It's easy to read, very enjoyable, and the plot is quite different. Recommended to those who like books about teenagers who don't know what they want in their life, spiced with just a little bit of science fiction.
Happy reading!
I received this ARC through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
3/5 Stars. I liked it!
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Facebook in 1996? None! Just this one!The idea, like I said at the beginning is amazing and unique. The book is written in short chapters, each chapter is told by one of the main characters, Emma or Josh, and it's super easy to read and addictive. I started reading and suddenly I found myself reading page one hundred-something and I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
But of course, even thought I enjoyed this book a lot, there were a few things that I didn't enjoy at all.
I was waiting more. I know, this sounds like a broken CD. Every time I read a book and I'm not 100% happy with it, I say that I was waiting for more. The story and the plot looked really good, but at the end the story was just too simple for me, I wanted something more stunning, more developed, but I just found a book that talks about teenager issues and difficulties regarding their future. It was good, yes, but there were something missing. I wanted to read more about Facebook. (I know what you're thinking; Log in your FB account now! ahhaha) No, seriously, I would have liked to know more about their future, and to see a big difference… (Who read the book knows what I'm talking about)
Emma! Even thought, the reader knows why she behaves in the way she does, I just didn't like her. I couldn't stand her. I saw her like a little girl that wants everything, and is all the time complaining because she is not happy with her life or with her future, so for me was a little bit difficult to like her. I liked Josh much more, and I laughed a lot with all his future and the girl he liked.
Overall I liked this book. Maybe there are a lot people, who will love it, and maybe others who don't, but for me, it was only good. It's easy to read, very enjoyable, and the plot is quite different. Recommended to those who like books about teenagers who don't know what they want in their life, spiced with just a little bit of science fiction.
Happy reading!
I received this ARC through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
3/5 Stars. I liked it!
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LibraryThing member usagijihen
Oh, this book was such good fun! I was 12 in 1996, and only just starting to discover the internets (I wouldn’t start seriously using it until two years later), so I love reading about how different things were back then in terms of how there was no social media, only things like geocities and
This story kind of starts out as a story about two kids just learning to use the internet and seeing themselves fifteen years from now, but it turns into the story of the relationship of Emma and Josh – a failed romantic move on his part, and her dating lots of different guys adds fuel to tension between them, tension that only grows once Emma sees her future with various men, and Josh ending up with his crush, having kids, and the little experiments that Emma does by herself to improve her future outlook when she doesn’t like what she sees on Facebook.
I have to hand it to Mackler and Asher for using Facebook as a brilliant plot device as a means to a window into how our interpersonal real life communication has been affected by the development of the Information Superhighway. A superdeveloped internet already starts biting its way into the way Emma and Josh interact with their friends and each other and it’s fifteen years away! The way Asher and Mackler made use of Facebook and social media as a mirror to the future was absolutely brilliant and I enjoyed every moment of it. They do a very good job of driving home the fact that the way we communicate with people in person has changed very drastically in fifteen years, and maybe that isn’t always a good thing. Sure, it’s improved speed to us being able to do stuff like shopping and sending messages for friends, but on the other hand, who sends letters any more? Not many. Or calling instead of texting? Again, those numbers are decreasing, too.
Eventually, with the way Emma uses Facebook to improve her future (in a very devious way, I might add – making for a character you like to dislike or don’t know what to do with, emotionally), has caused so many ripples in the future that Future!Emma decides to shut down her facebook account. What will this do for Emma, once she’s realized that Josh is no longer in her life, not even as a friend, fifteen years in the future? I won’t spoil any more here, because it’s a really great (if kind of easily foreshadowed) ending. It was great, and I definitely loved this book.
This is definitely the time for a book of this subject matter to be hitting the shelves, when we need to be reconsidering how we connect with each other and in what way, and how those choices might affect us. We do need to start thinking about the roads not taken when it comes to our relationships, and what we do now – that text we’re not sure about sending, that email we sent impulsively, or drunk-tweeted – and what it might do to our futures. And while you can literally drive yourself nuts thinking about the “what-ifs” in life, “The Future of Us” shows us we can do that without driving ourselves mad if we just think of the people around us, and how what we do affects them.
So maybe instead of sending that text, call your friend/sibling/parent/family member. Write a letter instead of an email. And pick up a copy of “The Future of Us” when it hits shelves this November. I guarantee you’ll start thinking of your own ways of communicating differently after reading this book. Definitely one of the best of 2011.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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angelfire (anyone remember those?) as well as pop culture things (like music) that these characters listened to, things they did (skateboarding, though that hasn’t changed too much in the last 15 years). Really, though, this is not a book about a strange way of time travel, but making the most of the now, with the people you’re with, as well as being aware of the road not taken, and what ripples your choices may cause to not only what happens to you, but your loved ones. “The Future of Us” is precisely about that – the future of a boy and a girl, and how their actions will define them from this point forward (in 1996).This story kind of starts out as a story about two kids just learning to use the internet and seeing themselves fifteen years from now, but it turns into the story of the relationship of Emma and Josh – a failed romantic move on his part, and her dating lots of different guys adds fuel to tension between them, tension that only grows once Emma sees her future with various men, and Josh ending up with his crush, having kids, and the little experiments that Emma does by herself to improve her future outlook when she doesn’t like what she sees on Facebook.
I have to hand it to Mackler and Asher for using Facebook as a brilliant plot device as a means to a window into how our interpersonal real life communication has been affected by the development of the Information Superhighway. A superdeveloped internet already starts biting its way into the way Emma and Josh interact with their friends and each other and it’s fifteen years away! The way Asher and Mackler made use of Facebook and social media as a mirror to the future was absolutely brilliant and I enjoyed every moment of it. They do a very good job of driving home the fact that the way we communicate with people in person has changed very drastically in fifteen years, and maybe that isn’t always a good thing. Sure, it’s improved speed to us being able to do stuff like shopping and sending messages for friends, but on the other hand, who sends letters any more? Not many. Or calling instead of texting? Again, those numbers are decreasing, too.
Eventually, with the way Emma uses Facebook to improve her future (in a very devious way, I might add – making for a character you like to dislike or don’t know what to do with, emotionally), has caused so many ripples in the future that Future!Emma decides to shut down her facebook account. What will this do for Emma, once she’s realized that Josh is no longer in her life, not even as a friend, fifteen years in the future? I won’t spoil any more here, because it’s a really great (if kind of easily foreshadowed) ending. It was great, and I definitely loved this book.
This is definitely the time for a book of this subject matter to be hitting the shelves, when we need to be reconsidering how we connect with each other and in what way, and how those choices might affect us. We do need to start thinking about the roads not taken when it comes to our relationships, and what we do now – that text we’re not sure about sending, that email we sent impulsively, or drunk-tweeted – and what it might do to our futures. And while you can literally drive yourself nuts thinking about the “what-ifs” in life, “The Future of Us” shows us we can do that without driving ourselves mad if we just think of the people around us, and how what we do affects them.
So maybe instead of sending that text, call your friend/sibling/parent/family member. Write a letter instead of an email. And pick up a copy of “The Future of Us” when it hits shelves this November. I guarantee you’ll start thinking of your own ways of communicating differently after reading this book. Definitely one of the best of 2011.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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LibraryThing member librarian_k
The Future of Us is told from alternating view points of the main characters, Emma and Josh, who log on to AOL for the first time in 1996 but are somehow connected to Facebook in 2011 -- and their futures. It is a quick read, though at parts felt a little contrived. Perhaps because I was the same
Other than these minor issues, the book is enjoyable. I would recommend it to my teen readers.
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age as the teenagers in the book (in 1996), the constant references to pop culture of that time felt a little tired to me. As did the Facebook status updates of 2011 -- would our awesome main character really be that melodramatic and woe-is-me on the internet? I thought she was cooler than that. Other than these minor issues, the book is enjoyable. I would recommend it to my teen readers.
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LibraryThing member 4sarad
I thought this book started out great. It was cute and fun and I was really flying through it. It helps that I was 13 in 1996, so it was funny remembering the old days of getting the AOL CD-ROM in the mail and fighting with dial-up. I did feel like they spent a little too much time trying to think
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of as many pop-culture things as they could into the book, but that's a minor complaint. I really liked Josh's character, but Emma got kind of annoying. The middle section of this book got a little long and repetitive when the characters repeatedly made the same mistakes, and then the ending seemed a little bit rushed. It's like throughout the book the authors kept pounding the same message into your head and the characters weren't getting it and weren't getting it, and then all of the sudden BAM, in one second they got it. It just seemed like the pacing was a little off. The topic is certainly an interesting one, though, and I can even see English teachers assigning this book and having a great deal of discussion topics to choose from. I thought it was pretty good overall, but certainly not outstanding. Show Less
LibraryThing member Malbebe
The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler was pure brilliance. My only regret that I have is not having read any of the authors’ previous novels. Collaborations novels are so fun to read. I thoroughly enjoyed Josh and Emma’s story.
Since The Future of Us is set in 1996, the reader can
Anyways, The Future of Us is told from the perspectives of Josh and Emma. A lot of people always complain about books being told from multiple POV, but I loved the way the others made this story come together. There was hardly ever a dull moment in this novel. The plot was pretty fast paced, and had me gripped all the way till the very end. I love how one of the themes was that one cannot control the future. Also one shouldn’t focus too much on the future, and to just live in the now.
All the characters are awesome! I loved them all; from the main characters to the secondary characters. Each character had their own personality and quirks. Seriously, I can’t find one flaw about this book. I loved how they actually made the Facebook posts look like actual posts. I looked forward to seeing what the future Emma and Josh had to say about their lives. I also looked forward to what Emma and Josh would do, which was basically the whole book! The Future of Us is one book that simply can’t be missed. Get your copy as soon as you can, because you’ll be reading this book as fast as I did. Yes, The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler is that good!
Since The Future of Us is set in 1996, the reader can
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reminisce about the 90s. That is if the reader is old enough to have experienced that time period. Haha. I’m not trying to make anyone feel old! I was born in the very early 90s, so I have a lot of favorite 90s memories to look back on. I remember getting the AOL CD-ROM all the time in the mail. I remember the fuzzy and staticy sound of the modem dialing up AOL. I remember having to be quick about how much time spent online because there was just one phone line. So I totally understood what Emma had to through. It was also exciting whenever other 90s things got mentioned. Oh, I just love and miss the 90s. Well, I’m certainly glad that the internet is easier to access and cell phone are not as big as bricks!Anyways, The Future of Us is told from the perspectives of Josh and Emma. A lot of people always complain about books being told from multiple POV, but I loved the way the others made this story come together. There was hardly ever a dull moment in this novel. The plot was pretty fast paced, and had me gripped all the way till the very end. I love how one of the themes was that one cannot control the future. Also one shouldn’t focus too much on the future, and to just live in the now.
All the characters are awesome! I loved them all; from the main characters to the secondary characters. Each character had their own personality and quirks. Seriously, I can’t find one flaw about this book. I loved how they actually made the Facebook posts look like actual posts. I looked forward to seeing what the future Emma and Josh had to say about their lives. I also looked forward to what Emma and Josh would do, which was basically the whole book! The Future of Us is one book that simply can’t be missed. Get your copy as soon as you can, because you’ll be reading this book as fast as I did. Yes, The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler is that good!
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LibraryThing member catherinea
The Future of Us examines what happens when we start altering the present to change the future. I really liked the premise of this book and I thought the story played out well. The characters were interesting although I didn't always understand Emma and it was frustrating that she was so impulsive
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and didn't really think through her actions. I have not read any other books by either of these authors but I would be curious to read their other work. Overall I would recommend this book to others. Show Less
LibraryThing member amusingmother
It's a tried and true theme - boy and girl grew up best friends, grew apart, date someone else, then someone else but secretly pining for one another but don't know it, yet. It's an old recipe but a new approach. It's 1996, fifteen years ago and Emma and Josh stumble onto a website called
I couldn't help but imagine my high school self looking at my grown-up self and wondering what I might think of my facebook page. I came up with, "Wow. I'm really boring in the future" and "Holy crap! My husband is hot!" and "I'm really boring" again. I'm certain I would stare at those four new faces that haven't been born and wonder what kind of people they will be. Then I'll critique my aging self. But that's more than 15 years.
15 years ago seems like a short amount of time and that nothing has really changed. We've all adapted to the technology (or you wouldn't be reading this review on the Information Superhighway). But in reality, the changes in technology are astounding.
Our household had a cell phone but it was the size of a brick. I could not have predicted the number of cell phones in our household now or the size of each of them.
We did not have internet access at home except by installing a CD-ROM of AOL of Earth something. It was dial-up and the pages took for.Ev.Er. To. Load.
Screen savers of bricks. Need I say more.
Graduation from Walkman to Discman. No MP3 players. This aspect was improperly presented in the book. I want to ask the author if he ever tried running with a Discman. The jostling always made it skip even if it was the kind that wasn't supposed to skip.
VHS was starting to change over to DVD. VHS was prominent. There was no DVR. People scheduled their VHS recorders to record their favorite shows. Don't mess with it.
Back to dial-up, few people had two phone lines. If you were online, no one called in or out.
Caller ID hadn't caught on, although it was available in some parts of the country.
Telephones were cordless monsters or were attached to the wall.
Pay phones were available.
People went to the library.
And copied on the coin operated copy machine.
People still called each other. Texts were not in existence.
Email was not the preferred method of communicating.
Nobody had a blog.
I kept my musings to myself.
Asher writes with humor and realism as Emma and Josh read postings on FB. They discuss how weird it is that people are writing such personal tidbits on a public forum and question why. I ask that one myself. On top of that, they muse about the mundane tasks people post. It made me laugh. What would the 17 year old me think if I read the posting by myself a few weeks ago as I lamented the uselessness of my "bra"cket for holding my cell phone.
I would have been mortified.
Written in alternating voice, Emma and Josh journey down the road of knowing the future, changing the future, and wondering if knowing and changing the future is advisable. I loved Emma's last post on FB. I loved the way Asher pulled the story all together and made it into a meaningful read.
I would rate it PG.
Violence - none
Swearing - name call swearing
Language - minimal to moderate.
Sex - discussed in abstract although language is present.
I won't hide it from my teenagers. I will recommend it to my students.
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"Facebook." There are pictures and information of people they know now but in 15 years. Not only can they see the future but they can act upon the future by making choices today and watch their future change with a simple "Refresh" button. I couldn't help but imagine my high school self looking at my grown-up self and wondering what I might think of my facebook page. I came up with, "Wow. I'm really boring in the future" and "Holy crap! My husband is hot!" and "I'm really boring" again. I'm certain I would stare at those four new faces that haven't been born and wonder what kind of people they will be. Then I'll critique my aging self. But that's more than 15 years.
15 years ago seems like a short amount of time and that nothing has really changed. We've all adapted to the technology (or you wouldn't be reading this review on the Information Superhighway). But in reality, the changes in technology are astounding.
Our household had a cell phone but it was the size of a brick. I could not have predicted the number of cell phones in our household now or the size of each of them.
We did not have internet access at home except by installing a CD-ROM of AOL of Earth something. It was dial-up and the pages took for.Ev.Er. To. Load.
Screen savers of bricks. Need I say more.
Graduation from Walkman to Discman. No MP3 players. This aspect was improperly presented in the book. I want to ask the author if he ever tried running with a Discman. The jostling always made it skip even if it was the kind that wasn't supposed to skip.
VHS was starting to change over to DVD. VHS was prominent. There was no DVR. People scheduled their VHS recorders to record their favorite shows. Don't mess with it.
Back to dial-up, few people had two phone lines. If you were online, no one called in or out.
Caller ID hadn't caught on, although it was available in some parts of the country.
Telephones were cordless monsters or were attached to the wall.
Pay phones were available.
People went to the library.
And copied on the coin operated copy machine.
People still called each other. Texts were not in existence.
Email was not the preferred method of communicating.
Nobody had a blog.
I kept my musings to myself.
Asher writes with humor and realism as Emma and Josh read postings on FB. They discuss how weird it is that people are writing such personal tidbits on a public forum and question why. I ask that one myself. On top of that, they muse about the mundane tasks people post. It made me laugh. What would the 17 year old me think if I read the posting by myself a few weeks ago as I lamented the uselessness of my "bra"cket for holding my cell phone.
I would have been mortified.
Written in alternating voice, Emma and Josh journey down the road of knowing the future, changing the future, and wondering if knowing and changing the future is advisable. I loved Emma's last post on FB. I loved the way Asher pulled the story all together and made it into a meaningful read.
I would rate it PG.
Violence - none
Swearing - name call swearing
Language - minimal to moderate.
Sex - discussed in abstract although language is present.
I won't hide it from my teenagers. I will recommend it to my students.
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LibraryThing member readingdate
If you had the opportunity to look into the future and see how your life turned out, would you do it? And would you try to change things about your current life to impact that future? The Future Of Us explores that topic with two characters that get a glimpse of their future in an unexpected way.
In 1996 I had a computer but was just getting my feet wet with email and the Internet. I never had AOL, but received the CD-ROM inserts weekly in the mail. I remember using a Netscape browser at the time and had a different Internet provider than AOL, but I recall that AOL was overwhelmingly the popular choice at the time. (This is an interesting article comparing the Internet of 1996 to 2011.) It was easy for me to relate to the characters and their limited computer experience as well as the pop culture references of the time such as Friends, Dave Matthews, and Toy Story. It was also fun for me to see the characters puzzle over references to Glee and Netflix that they see in their future status updates.
If I was in Josh and Emma’s shoes when I was in high school I would probably be glued to the computer and looking up the Facebook profiles of everyone I knew. With all that power, it’s a wonder that they were able to go about their daily lives. I was immediately fascinated by this concept and what they would uncover and try to change. The book also provides an interesting social commentary on privacy issues of today and the personal as well as the banal details we share online.
The book is co-written by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler, and this is my first experience with their work. The story is told through Josh and Emma’s alternating POV and it was hard to tell the difference in the writing between the two authors. The chapters flowed very smoothly and without any jarring stylistic differences.
Emma’s character frustrated me at times with some of the rash decisions she makes. Based on her actions in 1996, it made perfect sense to me how her future life ends up the way that it does. Josh is a little more mature and easy going and I felt more sympathetic to his character. As they wrestle with the knowledge of their future it is interesting to see how they try to change, or pursue the path that they see.
Overall I enjoyed this book, and couldn’t put it down until I found out how it ended. The Future Of Us is a fast paced and enjoyable read but also makes you think about your life and the choices you make. I also liked the 90s nostalgia, but wonder how much of that will translate to younger YA’s. My tween daughter read it and loved the facebook aspect of the book but lost interest a bit when the action focused on the present day. Initially I also was drawn in by the facebook from the future concept, but later appreciated the deeper message behind the story. Look for The Future Of Us in stores November 21st.
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The year is 1996, when the Internet is just starting to gain mass appeal, and America Online is the most popular website. Emma has just received her first computer and sets up a free AOL account when she gets the surprise of her life when Facebook appears on her screen, long before it’s invention. She sees her life fifteen years in the future through her future self’s Facebook status updates. Josh and Emma, shocked by what they find out on their respective profile pages, soon see themselves struggling to fit their future into their present lives. This thought-provoking and engaging book explores the idea of destiny and how our choices shape the future.In 1996 I had a computer but was just getting my feet wet with email and the Internet. I never had AOL, but received the CD-ROM inserts weekly in the mail. I remember using a Netscape browser at the time and had a different Internet provider than AOL, but I recall that AOL was overwhelmingly the popular choice at the time. (This is an interesting article comparing the Internet of 1996 to 2011.) It was easy for me to relate to the characters and their limited computer experience as well as the pop culture references of the time such as Friends, Dave Matthews, and Toy Story. It was also fun for me to see the characters puzzle over references to Glee and Netflix that they see in their future status updates.
If I was in Josh and Emma’s shoes when I was in high school I would probably be glued to the computer and looking up the Facebook profiles of everyone I knew. With all that power, it’s a wonder that they were able to go about their daily lives. I was immediately fascinated by this concept and what they would uncover and try to change. The book also provides an interesting social commentary on privacy issues of today and the personal as well as the banal details we share online.
The book is co-written by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler, and this is my first experience with their work. The story is told through Josh and Emma’s alternating POV and it was hard to tell the difference in the writing between the two authors. The chapters flowed very smoothly and without any jarring stylistic differences.
Emma’s character frustrated me at times with some of the rash decisions she makes. Based on her actions in 1996, it made perfect sense to me how her future life ends up the way that it does. Josh is a little more mature and easy going and I felt more sympathetic to his character. As they wrestle with the knowledge of their future it is interesting to see how they try to change, or pursue the path that they see.
Overall I enjoyed this book, and couldn’t put it down until I found out how it ended. The Future Of Us is a fast paced and enjoyable read but also makes you think about your life and the choices you make. I also liked the 90s nostalgia, but wonder how much of that will translate to younger YA’s. My tween daughter read it and loved the facebook aspect of the book but lost interest a bit when the action focused on the present day. Initially I also was drawn in by the facebook from the future concept, but later appreciated the deeper message behind the story. Look for The Future Of Us in stores November 21st.
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LibraryThing member RazorBladez
I'm going to try and keep this pretty simple. No deep analysis, no plot summary. This book was really REALLY interesting. A lot of fun, nice subtle romance. I truly loved the 90s references (pagers, the mid-late 90s everpresent unrelenting aol CDROMS that used to come in the mail) and the
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character's confusion by things mentioned in status updates like ipads, Glee, etc. The concept really got interesting toward the end when the glimpses facebook provided into the future not only revealed things about the future, but also about their current lives. I don't want to put any spoilers in here, but if I had a criticism, I would say I wish they went more into detail and depth with the whole older brother thing (those who have read it know what I'm talking about). Anyway, I read on someone else's review about WB buying the rights to make this book into a movie and I have to say, I think it would make an excellent film. I'd definitely see that. Bottom line: I ate this book up and so will you. Show Less
LibraryThing member ctmsolli
Emma and Josh are two teenagers and former best friends. One day, after accepting a guilt gift from her father who she rarely sees, Emma discovers a computer program called "Facebook." The only problem is-- Emma never signed up for this site; and oddly enough, her "profile" wasn't relevant to her
Facebook ends up taking over both Emma and Josh's lives when Emma looks up Josh's profile and starts trying to change her present so her future is how she wants it to be. In the end they both realize that taking the time to change your present might ruin your future, and you should accept life the way it is because nothing will ever be perfect. Though the pages were short, this novel will certainly entertain and surprise you.
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life at all. Her picture was of an older woman that looked like an older version of her, and her relationship status was "married."Facebook ends up taking over both Emma and Josh's lives when Emma looks up Josh's profile and starts trying to change her present so her future is how she wants it to be. In the end they both realize that taking the time to change your present might ruin your future, and you should accept life the way it is because nothing will ever be perfect. Though the pages were short, this novel will certainly entertain and surprise you.
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LibraryThing member pianofreak95
The whole reason I picked this up was because Jay Asher co-authored. The idea was cool and I personally am a Facebook addict, but Jay was the main pull for me; Thirteen Reasons Why remains one of my favorite books and it one of the only books that I've read over and over again. The Future of Us did
Though I didn't give this book five stars, it's still a great read. Probably closer to 5 than to 4. I couldn't put it down. Even though it's close to 400 pages I read it in one day. Because the chapters alternate between Josh and Emma's perspectives, it kept plugging along at breakneck pace and added great scenes full of character-development and awesome dialogue.
One of the things that Jay Asher does so well is write teens in a true and authentic way. He can see into the mind of a teen in a way that I've only seen a few authors do well; John Green is an example of this. But Carolyn's writing was also great, which made for a novel that was evenly paced and written; something that's hard to do sometimes when co-writing a book. This makes me want to read other books by Mackler. I'll definitely have to check her out in the future.
Also, though the premise hints at the supernatural, this book is contemporary at heart. The "future thing" that's going on is believable, or at least as close to believable as something along those lines can be. You can also tell that the authors did their research. The dialogue when relating to Facebook is always spot on and never awkward.
The only thing that knocked this book down from a five to a four was the ending. It wasn't really a bad ending, just one that was kind of predictable. I wished the ending could have been a little out of the ordinary or maybe a bit more satisfying.
In the end though, it was still a great read that I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a comtemp with a cool "new-age" spin. I can't wait to see what Jay Asher is going to do next!
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not disappoint.Though I didn't give this book five stars, it's still a great read. Probably closer to 5 than to 4. I couldn't put it down. Even though it's close to 400 pages I read it in one day. Because the chapters alternate between Josh and Emma's perspectives, it kept plugging along at breakneck pace and added great scenes full of character-development and awesome dialogue.
One of the things that Jay Asher does so well is write teens in a true and authentic way. He can see into the mind of a teen in a way that I've only seen a few authors do well; John Green is an example of this. But Carolyn's writing was also great, which made for a novel that was evenly paced and written; something that's hard to do sometimes when co-writing a book. This makes me want to read other books by Mackler. I'll definitely have to check her out in the future.
Also, though the premise hints at the supernatural, this book is contemporary at heart. The "future thing" that's going on is believable, or at least as close to believable as something along those lines can be. You can also tell that the authors did their research. The dialogue when relating to Facebook is always spot on and never awkward.
The only thing that knocked this book down from a five to a four was the ending. It wasn't really a bad ending, just one that was kind of predictable. I wished the ending could have been a little out of the ordinary or maybe a bit more satisfying.
In the end though, it was still a great read that I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a comtemp with a cool "new-age" spin. I can't wait to see what Jay Asher is going to do next!
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LibraryThing member elizardkwik
For two big name authors, I was a little disappointed by the result. The characters did not feel real - they were very flat and predictable. No great life lessons were learned, there was little humor, and the references seemed a little forced. The premise of the book was interesting and had a lot
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of promise, but in execution, it fell way short of expectations. Show Less
LibraryThing member poetrytoprose
Though I haven’t read any of these author’s other titles – I know, I know – the fun concept of The Future of Us had a definite pull on me. I was curious to see how Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler executed this type of time travel with the use of a website that is so popular today.
Set in 1996,
The book was a quick and addictive read, with short chapters that alternated between Emma and Josh’s POVs. I’m not a fan of POV changes in general and, though I did think it helped move the story forward, I can’t say that this book changed my opinion on that. There was an abruptness that didn’t allow a full connection with the characters and I disliked not being able to completely focus on one singular arc. Furthermore, I found Emma to be fairly unlikable, so I definitely had a preference for Josh’s chapters.
The book, while definitely fun, lacked a certain depth for me to rate it higher. It had all the right elements laid out, but it didn’t hit all the marks for me. It lacked the development I wanted between the characters, Emma’s “growth” seemed to be more selfishness than anything else, and even Facebook wasn’t as prominent as I imagined it would be. The pop culture references were amusing, and I loved the character’s shock of what their future selves/people they know put up on their profile, but something was missing for me. Still, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend that others give it a go.
Set in 1996,
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The Future of Us follows Josh and Emma, next door neighbors and best friends. There’s an uncomfortable tension between the two, due to an awkward moment prior to the beginning of the story, but they’re attempting to move past it and get back to their easy friendship. After Emma gets a computer, Josh presents her with an AOL CD-ROM (oh, the memories!) and she finds herself on a website, Facebook, looking at the profile of a woman that reminds her a lot of herself. She think it’s a prank, but she soon finds Josh’s profile and they quickly discover they’re looking at their future selves.The book was a quick and addictive read, with short chapters that alternated between Emma and Josh’s POVs. I’m not a fan of POV changes in general and, though I did think it helped move the story forward, I can’t say that this book changed my opinion on that. There was an abruptness that didn’t allow a full connection with the characters and I disliked not being able to completely focus on one singular arc. Furthermore, I found Emma to be fairly unlikable, so I definitely had a preference for Josh’s chapters.
The book, while definitely fun, lacked a certain depth for me to rate it higher. It had all the right elements laid out, but it didn’t hit all the marks for me. It lacked the development I wanted between the characters, Emma’s “growth” seemed to be more selfishness than anything else, and even Facebook wasn’t as prominent as I imagined it would be. The pop culture references were amusing, and I loved the character’s shock of what their future selves/people they know put up on their profile, but something was missing for me. Still, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend that others give it a go.
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LibraryThing member kcpiano
I received this book thanks to Library Thing's Early Reviewer program. I loved this book! Since I was in my 20s when the internet became common place in this world, it was very interesting to me. It was a little bit predictable, but I appreciated the message the author portrayed in this book. I
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recommend this for middle school and up. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ziaria
If you could know what your life would be like in 15 years, would you want to know or not? That is the main question this book brings to light. I know at one time or another we've each have wondered what it would be like in our future. Who doesn't? But what if you could? Would you look?
I found
The characters were typical teenage, angst ridden group. A likable bunch. Mostly I just enjoyed the idea that surrounds the book. I liked seeing how each of the main characters dealt with the knowledge handed to them and how they evolved, changed by knowing it.
This would be a great book to take on vacation and spend a lazy day reminiscing of life in the 90's, if you're old enough to remember being a teenager in the 90's lol. So if you get a chance, pick it up and give it a shot.
I found
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this book to be a quick, easy read that was light on the drama but yet dealt with such a fun and yet serious idea. Knowing what you're future held and the consequences of it. How one little mind shift could make such an impact. One little add thought to throw a wrench in the idea of something. Crazy heh.The characters were typical teenage, angst ridden group. A likable bunch. Mostly I just enjoyed the idea that surrounds the book. I liked seeing how each of the main characters dealt with the knowledge handed to them and how they evolved, changed by knowing it.
This would be a great book to take on vacation and spend a lazy day reminiscing of life in the 90's, if you're old enough to remember being a teenager in the 90's lol. So if you get a chance, pick it up and give it a shot.
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LibraryThing member xhollishx
I loved this book. It's a throwback to the 90s and everything that it references just took me back to my middle school years. Espically the AOL disc. This book is not only entertaining, but an easy read. I would highly recommend it!
LibraryThing member pocketmermaid
Ever since I heard about this book a few months ago, I was anxious to read it. I was excited to get a copy from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
The book takes place in 1996 when two teens, Emma and Josh, log on to AOL for the first time . . . and glimpse their own Facebook pages -- fifteen years in
This was a fast-paced read, told in alternating first-person perspectives between Emma and Josh, that I could not put down. I loved this book because as an older fan of this new wave of Young Adult books, reading about MY generation of teenagers in the 90s was very enjoyable for me. I loved all the 90s references, but I think most of them would fly over the heads of the target audience of this book. Not that it matters a bit, the book is enjoyable as is.
Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler do an excellent job of working this very bizarre concept. Not only do we see how it doesn’t matter what year it is that we can develop a Facebook addiction, but the authors also manage to show us that even our smallest decisions can affect us -- and others -- in a big way in the future (I was reminded of another book that also demonstrated this: LEAP DAY by Wendy Mass.)
The book takes place in 1996 when two teens, Emma and Josh, log on to AOL for the first time . . . and glimpse their own Facebook pages -- fifteen years in
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the future. They are able to glean their futures, regarding where they go to college, what their jobs will be like, and whom they marry. Emma and Josh also learn that any little detail that happens in their present, could have a huge ripple effect in the future. This was a fast-paced read, told in alternating first-person perspectives between Emma and Josh, that I could not put down. I loved this book because as an older fan of this new wave of Young Adult books, reading about MY generation of teenagers in the 90s was very enjoyable for me. I loved all the 90s references, but I think most of them would fly over the heads of the target audience of this book. Not that it matters a bit, the book is enjoyable as is.
Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler do an excellent job of working this very bizarre concept. Not only do we see how it doesn’t matter what year it is that we can develop a Facebook addiction, but the authors also manage to show us that even our smallest decisions can affect us -- and others -- in a big way in the future (I was reminded of another book that also demonstrated this: LEAP DAY by Wendy Mass.)
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Pages
368