Title: The Future of Us
Author: Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: Nov 2011
Classification: YA Novel
Challenge: Outdo Yourself
Summary from Barnes and Noble:
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 their destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out
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
My Thoughts:
Since Facebook has overtaken much of people’s lives I thought it would be interesting to read this book. Plus I have never read a book written by Jay Asher before, yes I know I need to read Thirteen Reasons Why, and wanted to see what his writing was like. On the other hand I was a little skeptical because the last time I read a book that was co-authored it felt a little choppy. I am glad to say that The Future of Us was never choppy, I honestly could not notice any bumps when transitioning between the characters. Plus each author gave their main character their own voice which really made Emma and Josh feel like two different people.
Very quickly into this novel Emma finds out that she can log on to Facebook 15 years in the future. She starts to notice what is going on with her future self and decides that although she is not on the best of terms with Josh, she is going to invite him over to look at Facebook with her. From here on out the two always look at Facebook together and watch how the things they are doing everyday are changing their futures. Josh at one point even suggests that they do not do anything drastic because they don’t want to change major points about their future, which is a little silly because you still have to live your own life.
Overall I really enjoyed both Emma and Josh and their individual stories. It was fun watching best friends fight their attraction to one another. I really enjoyed the overall message/lesson of the story. I don’t want to tell you what the message was because that is part of the fun of reading the book for yourself. All in all when I closed the book I wanted to stay with Emma and Josh and see how their lives were going to be as they grew up but I understand why the book ended where it did. They are on the path to their own futures and ending it where the book ended left room for some mystery. This book gets 4 hearts from me for a great message and entertaining characters.
GAH! I HATE when books leave it all up to 'mystery' and we're suppose to come up with our own ending…
I was TOTALLY looking forward to this one!
Aw, I love the sound of this one! I'm a bit wary about the ending (not a huge fan of the ones that are left open) but I love the whole concept, and the romance bits sounds great. Thanks for the great review!
I can't wait to read this one! I have Thirteen Reasons Why but haven't read it yet either. But the description of this one just sounds awesome! But the ending has me worried now…
Great review, this sounds really good and I can't wait to read it!