Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Future of Us: By Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler


THE FUTURE OF US



SUMMARY

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.

REVIEW

Have you ever wanted to know the future?

In The Future of Us, Asher and Mackler do a fantastic job creating an engaging novel revolving around today’s present fixation with Facebook, while at the same time creating an almost nostalgic world before the internet.

Readers are reminded of things such as, CD players, calling each other on the telephone (before caller ID), playing outside, and really having a life outside of Facebook and the internet. The authors do a fantastic job showing how Facebook can envelop ones life, constantly forcing one to stop living life and to instead post personal details of ones life and constantly discuss. Of course this book is not just about facebook, it is really about the consequences of trying to change one’s fate. Of trying to deal with the problems of tomorrow without the facts, and by living your life under the constant rules of the future.

The authors do a great job creating engaging and realistic characters that deal with everyday problems (with the exception of a future facebook account.) Josh and Emma must deal with sexual tension, an evolving friendship, surprising knowledge about loved ones, and other teen issues that are both realistic and relatable.

Of course this isn’t just another teen book, it has engaging characters, a fast paced plot, realistic dialog, an interesting premise, and is just overall well written. I thoroughly enjoyed The Future of Us and would easily recommend it for anyone looking for a good read.


RATING
9 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Razorbill

Published: November 21, 2011

Price: $18.99

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