Tag Archives: Future

MG – The First State of Being

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Kelly, Erin Entrada. The First State of Being. Greenwillow, 2024. 978-0-063-33731-2. 272 p. $19.99. Grades 6-8. 

On the cusp of Y2K, Michael Rosario, a sensitive twelve year-old who is swiping cans of peaches to prepare for the apocalypse, has a crush on his fifteen year-old babysitter, Gibby. She’s the daughter of the grocery store manager who fired his mother for absenteeism when she stayed home to nurse Michael. Michael and his mom live in the same apartment complex and are awaiting the start of middle school, the new century, and perhaps the end of the world. Plagued with insecurities from the teasing he experienced about his used clothing, Michael is still enjoying his summer days with Gibby and sharing lunch with Mr. Mosley, the building custodian. One day Ridge Savio shows up, a strange sixteen year-old boy who is difficult to figure out–he seems weird in speech and dress–until he confesses to be from the future. Transcripts interspersed throughout the book reveal Ridge’s family: mom Maria, a Ph.D. professor at the University of Delaware; his older brothers and young, nonbinary sibling, Bix. When his family realizes Ridge has teleported to the past and needs rescuing, they are desperate for his return. In the waning days of the season, Michael finds a friend and a purpose in helping Ridge. Living in 1999 takes its toll on Ridge, making him weaker and weaker. As Gibby and Michael devise a plan to help Ridge, Mr. Mosley dies suddenly, leaving Michael a surprising gift. Fortunately, Ridge’s family is fully equipped to bring their son and brother home, but his short sojourn in the past has a lasting effect on Michael and Gibby. While Gibby and family represent as white, Michael is half-Filipino and a minor character who is kind to Michael appears to be African American.

THOUGHTS: In We Dream of Space and now The First State of Being, Erin Entrada Kelly shows her interest in space and science fiction and her own home base, Delaware. Ridge’s assimilation into 1999 culture is endearing and funny, particularly with Ridge’s effort to fit in with 1990 culturisms. Students who like Kate Di Camillo, Gary Schmidt, or Dan Gemeinhart will appreciate this new Kelly book with its thoughtful prose. The plot is a bit complicated with the flipping of transcripts and regular narrative, so give this book to your dedicated readers

Science Fiction

Kelly, Erin Entrada. The First State of Being. Greenwillow, 2024. 978-0-063-33731-2. 272 p. $19.99. Grades 4-8. 

Meet Ridge, a boy who seemingly has shown up out of nowhere. Michael and his babysitter/crush, Gibby, find Ridge sitting in the courtyard of their apartment building. Ridge seems off, like he doesn’t belong…anywhere. Michael and Gibby befriend Ridge and soon find out that he is from the future. His mother works at the University of Delaware and is in charge of their time travel (Spatial Teleportation) department. Ridge used the Teleportation Module to travel back to 1999, but he is not sure that he will be able to travel back to the future! Can Gibby and Michael help him? What if Rudge is stuck in 1999? Will his time travel change the future as we know it?

THOUGHTS: This is a great read for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and sci-fi books. I love how Kelly always sets her books in her home state of Delaware and how nostalgic they are.

Science Fiction
Fantasy

YA – Teen Guide to College and Career Planning

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Roland, James. Teen Guide to College and Career Planning. Reference Point Press, 2023. 978-1-678-20358-0. 64 p. $33.05. Grades 7-12.

This title seeks to provide guidance to teenagers who are considering–or about to consider–their career options. It is divided into five chapters, covering Career Investigation; College and Career Prep; Outside of the Classroom; Applying for College; and Making the Right Choice. The overall tone is calming and encouraging; while giving broad roadmaps and suggestions, it encourages students to question and continue on their career journeys.  It wisely directs students to their guidance counselors, career and personality tests, and job shadowing.  It also includes helpful reminders to consider work-life balance, ‘think about the money’ (of the job), and ‘embrace the unknown.’  College is not the only avenue considered; career and technical education as well as skilled trades and a gap year are presented. Extracurricular activities, soft skills, part-time jobs, internships, community service, family responsibilities, and ‘being unique’ are examples given as worth building or worth mentioning in applying for college or careers. The book ends by noting that “only 27% of college graduates have jobs in their major fields of study” and advises students to stay open to changes in themselves and careers.

THOUGHTS: Overall, a serviceable title for the topic.

331.7 Career Planning

YA Realistic FIC – In Some Other Life; Upside of Unrequited; The Names They Gave Us

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Brody, Jessica. In Some Other Life. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017. 978-0-374-38076-2. 464 p. $17.99. Gr. 10 and up.

It’s hard not to go through life – at least parts of it – without wondering “what if?” Kennedy has gone through high school and achieved great things for herself. She’s editor of her award winning high school newspaper and has big plans for college and her future career. But she always has the nagging “what if?” in the back of her mind. What if she hadn’t chosen public school over the elite private school she wanted to attend?  After witnessing her boyfriend and bestfriend kissing, Kennedy has a bit of a meltdown and eventually rushes to the campus she could have attended. What if she had chosen differently and skipped the possibility of a relationship? While getting a glimpse into what could have been, Kennedy is knocked over and bumps her head. When she wakes up her world flips upside down, and the choice she wishes she had made years ago is suddenly a reality. Kennedy has to realize that things aren’t always what they seem, and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.  THOUGHTS: I loved this sweet “what if?” story. It goes a long way in showing readers that things aren’t always what they seem – in life and in the happy, smiling posts they see on social media. Life isn’t always sunshine and happiness. For all the readers who have ever wondered what if I made a different choice, this is a great read!

Realistic Fiction      Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

 

Albertalli, Becky.  The Upside of Unrequited.  Balzer + Bray, 2017.  978-0-06-234870-8. 340 p.  $17.99.  Gr. 9 and up.

Although Molly Peskin-Suso has had many crushes, she has never had a boyfriend. In fact, she has never even kissed a boy. When her twin sister Cassie starts dating a girl named Mina, the two are determined to set Molly up with Mina’s cute hipster friend, Will. Molly, however, finds herself intrigued by her geeky coworker, Reid. Will one of these boys, Will or Reid, become Molly’s long-awaited first boyfriend and first kiss? Readers will sympathize with Molly as she struggles to sort out her thoughts and feelings about love, dating, and relationships. THOUGHTS: One of the most notable features of this book is the amount of diversity in its cast. There are characters of various races, body sizes, religions and sexual orientations. Molly, the main protagonist, suffers from anxiety. This diverse cast, along with the book’s familiar themes of dating, love, body image, family, and friendship, make it an easy title to relate to. The humor and honesty with which it is written will keep readers coming back for more. Give this to fans of Jenny Han or Sarah Dessen. Beware, however, that the book contains a great deal of swearing and talk about sex, making it more appropriate for high school readers.

Realistic Fiction      Julie Ritter, Montoursville Area SD

 

Albertalli, Becky. The Upside of Unrequited. Balzer & Bray, 2017. 978-0-06-234870-8. 352 p. $17.99. Gr. 8 and up.

Becky Albertalli’s sophomore effort, The Upside of Unrequited, is just as delightful, irreverent, and charming as her first novel, Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Molly believes she’s just an average girl, especially when she compares herself to her beautiful, shining star of a twin sister, Cassie. Despite Cassie’s insistence that anybody would be lucky to have her, Molly staunchly refuses to put herself out there, despite her 26 crushes over the years; the idea of rejection is just too unpalatable, and since she’s a self-described “fat girl”, way too likely.  This book has a lot going on – twin dynamics, sibling dynamics (they have a baby brother), wedding drama (Cassie and Molly’s moms are engaged), romantic entanglements, uncool footwear, pansexuality – but Albertalli juggles it all with grace, humor, and empathy.  Readers will cheer Molly on as she finds her courage, and figures out what she’s really looking for. An absolute joy of a read. Thoughts: Albertalli has a gift for writing infinitely relatable, likable characters; Molly is the perfect blend of teenage cynicism, angst, self-doubt, and naivety, and she will resonate with anyone who has ever had a crush or felt the crushing weight of rejection.

Realistic Fiction       Lauren Friedman-Way, The Baldwin School

 

Lord, Emery. The Names They Gave Us. New York: Bloomsbury, 2017. 978-1-61963-958-4. 388 p. Gr. 7 and up.

This is a book about the power to shift your perceptions, and the lasting impact it can have on your life.  Lucy is secure in her faith; her father is a pastor, and Lucy genuinely enjoys going to church each week, and she especially looks forward to being a counselor at Bible camp each summer.  However, after learning that her mother’s cancer has returned, Lucy’s faith is completely shaken.  Her parents convince her to try a new camp this summer, Daybreak, a camp for “troubled” kids, where her mom believes she’ll find solace and kinship. Lucy is skeptical, and after her rocky start, she’s sure she’ll never fit in, or be any help to anybody. Thankfully for Lucy, her fellow counselors are welcoming and forgiving; Lucy finds that the more open she is with them, the more open they are with her. These diverse teens challenge everything she thought she knew and believed; it’s a pleasure to watch Lucy’s transformation as she explores what it means to be a true friend. When Lucy discovers something shocking about her mom’s past, connected to Daybreak, it will test her literal new found faith, and her new relationships. Thoughts: Every teenager should read this book to learn about what compassion looks like, and what allyship looks like, as Lucy expresses and embodies both.

Realistic Fiction    Lauren Friedman-Way, The Baldwin School