Time Travel

The First State of Being / Erin Entrada Kelly

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The First State of Being
By: Erin Entrada Kelly
Genre: Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 272
Published: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Dates Read: May 25, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

It’s August 1999 and twelve-year-old Michael is preparing for the looming Y2K crisis that’s just around the corner by keeping a small stockpile under his bed. His mom, nor his babysitter, Gibby, seem to be as worried. When a disoriented teenage boy appears out of nowhere, Michael’s life is turned around.

It turns out, the disoriented boy is named Ridge, and he’s the world’s first time traveler. As Gibby shows Ridge around the 1999s lifestyle – microwaves, basketballs, and the mall – Michael discovers their new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years. Michael wants – no, actually, he needs to get his hands on that book to find out the fate of the world in the next few months. But, how far is he willing to go to get it?

Oh to remember the Y2K crisis. I was seven and in all honesty, my memories don’t attach to computers crashing, but the world itself crumbling down?? I was probably overthinking it with the complete limited amount of knowledge I was given. My parents and my aunt and uncle weren’t concerned about it, so I just went with it.

This was cute and a fun introduction to the late 90’s for middle grade readers – and brings up the discussion of Y2K as well. It also gave plenty of shout outs to Millennials. I also enjoyed the twist(s) at the end – of course, not going to give them away. 

I can see adults liking this just as much as kids because of the pop culture references and such. Again, this would probably open the discussion for kids to ask about the late 90s, early 2000s – especially Y2K and computer culture back in the day.

*Thank you Greenwillow Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Book of Doors / Gareth Brown

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Book of Doors
By: Gareth Brown
Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism
Number of Pages: 416
Published: February 13, 2024
Publisher: William Morrow
Dates Read: February 11, 2024 - February 17, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warnings: death, torture, loss of parent

Cassie spends most of her simple life either working at a New York bookstore or hanging out in her tiny apartment she shares with her roommate, Izzy, reading. One day, one of her favorite customers, Mr. Webber – a lonely but charming older gentleman – dies right in front of her. As the EMTs are taking him away, Cassie notices a small book in Mr. Webber’s possession. But it’s not an ordinary book… It’s the Book of Doors, which has a message that any door is every door.

Shortly after discovering how to use the book, she is approached by a Scottish stranger in a rumpled black suit who calls himself Drummond Fox – others call him The Librarian, he who keeps watch over a unique set or rare books. Cassie’s book isn’t the only one with great power, but it is the most sought after by those who collect them. Now, Cassie is being hunted.

Drummond is the only one who knows where the unique library is and Cassie is the only one who can get them there to keep the book’s safe. But there are those who are willing to do anything to get their hands on these books, especially a sadistic woman at the very top of the list.

First off, the amount of time I spent thinking about where I would go if I had the book of doors myself during the time I wasn’t able to read was kind of crazy. I read this as much as I could during my free time over the week it took me to read it. I always felt like I read a ton, even when I hadn’t, mostly because I would be so immersed in it and would disappear in its pages.

I really enjoyed how connected everything was. Some things I called out a bit in advance, but a lot of it I would be surprised at how connected everything was. This was a heart-pounding read that sticks with you. It’s been almost a week since I read it before I’ve had time to write this review and I’m still thinking of crazy stuff that happened with this.

I’ve already been recommending this to quite a few of my colleagues, but I believe any of those who love a good magical realism/fantasy book with a story that will keep you turning pages as quickly as you can will greatly enjoy this book as well.

*Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Throwback / Maruene Goo

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Throwback
By: Maurene Goo
Genre: YA
Number of Pages: 368
Published: April 11, 2023
Publisher: Zando Young Readers
Dates Read: April 4, 2023 - April 12, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook / Library Book / Hardcover

Samantha Kang has never gotten along with her mother, Priscilla, they’re just too different. After a huge fight between them, Sam gets left in a parking lot and has to use a rideshare app to get to school. She gets there, but instead of her time, it’s now 1995… and Priscilla is a 17-year-old senior.

Now, Gen Z Sam has to fit into an analog world. The fashion she gets, but everything else is baffling; what’s with the casual racism and misogyny? And what is “microfiche?” Also – why does Sam feel like she would actually be friends with Priscilla??

Will Sam be able to figure out what she needs to fix in order to get back to her own time? And what about these feelings she’s getting for a boy in 1995?

So, I have a soft spot for time traveling; it’s not something I gravitate towards per say, but if the book catches my eye and I see it has time traveling in it, then I’ll most certainly read it. Add to the fact this one was set in the 90’s and I was most definitely going to read it.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Sam and her mother and the exploration we get to have with it in this novel. As someone who is pretty close with her own mom, I think it would be so fun to go back in time and be friends with her in high school (though she would have been in the early 80’s).

Though this is a YA book, I can see both teenagers and adults enjoying it – especially the adults that grew up in the 90’s, but the culture shock from Sam can be enjoyed by both. Those who have a complicated relationship with their mothers could also enjoy this.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this time traveling, throwback to the 90’s novel and can’t wait to put it in the hands of a few friends of mine.

*Thank you Zando Young Readers and Edelweiss+ for a digital advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review