By: Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Pub. Date: November 21, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 309
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviews
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.
Anyone who grew up in the 90's could appreciate how cool this book sounds! I remember I was in the 9th grade when we got our first family computer. It had Windows 98 on it and it was slow and took FOREVER to load onto AOL. Like the main character, Emma, I was only allowed to use the internet when my parents weren't using the phone, or were not expecting a call, because being on AOL would tie up the phone line. This book brought back so many memories and those parts I really enjoyed!
When Emma's dad buys her a computer, her neighbor and best friend, Josh brings over a trial run of AOL. When she loads it to her computer and logs in, her facebook account appears from 15 years into the future. Having no clue what facebook is or why the hell so many people would put so many details about their lives on the internet for all to see, Emma and Josh look at their profiles and see their spouses, where they live, and even who their children are.
Emma, who isn't all that happy with what she sees decides to make changes in her life today, and then looks to see how that decision changed her future. I really enjoyed 1996 Emma, but 2011 is so annoying. She is one of those people that I can't stand on facebook, always complaining and putting ever single detail about their life on their status. I liked Josh. He was happy with what he saw, and didn't agree with playing with their futures.
My favorite parts of the book was the 90's references-AOL dial up, Dave Matthews Band, even people wondering if Ellen was gay! All of it brought back to many memories for me.
Overall, I enjoyed The Future of Us, I was expecting a little bit more though, but I thought the concept of the story was so original! Definitely a must read for any 90's child!
This sounds pretty interesting! I'm looking forward to checking it out! Those people who put every little details of their lives on Facebook annoy me too!!
ReplyDeleteI NEED to read this one. It sounds so different, and interesting. My family has always had a computer, and I was the first one in my group of friends to have internet. Adding this one to my wishlist!
ReplyDeleteI loved this book so much :) I thought it was absolutely amazing!! I really liked the alternating POVs and the mentions of weird 90s stuff like CD ROMS and AOL :)
ReplyDeleteAnna @ Literary Exploration
I really need to read this book! I was only 8 in 1996 but I can remember getting my first family computer when I was just a bit older, I believe I was 9/10 and it sounds like such a fun story! Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I personally loved Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why (in fact that book inspired me to write a poem:P) and your review just made me want to read the book real bad. I'll be adding it to my TBR list for sure!
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