Buy on Amazon or the Book Depository
Title: The Here and Now
Publisher: Delacorte Press/Random House
Genre: Young Adult- Science Fiction
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Source: advance copy from the publisher – review policy here.
Synopsis via Goodreads:
Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.
This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.
Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.
But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.
This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.
Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.
But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.
I will start with the fact that I've never read a single Ann Brashares novel or seen any of the movies based on her novels. I will also say, I was intrigued at a non-serial sci-fi novel condensed down to less than 300 pages.
I liked the premises of a time traveling peoples who need to escape their dystopian future so they leave to settle into the past. Who wouldn't want a chance to start over again? Unfortunately, the time travelers must stay isolated as to not interfere with the future.
The overall plot is interesting and unique, however I feel like there is enough written about time travel to follow a basic theory of how time travel works (fixed history, history is flexible or alternate timelines). If none of these theories apply in this world then I feel like I should have received a set of rules to truly understand the impact of the time travelers existence in the present day (2014) and feel the weight/consequence associated with the 12 rules the community must abide by.
With the plot in place and understanding the domino effect that plays out the I feel like we're leaning towards alternate timelines, which would lean towards the grandfather paradox. And this is where I have to hold the phone... The biggest issue is when a life-changing occurrence with one of the main characters is buffed with no foreseeable consequence taking place. There are also other minor inconsistencies within the plot that prevent me from fully understanding the full ebb and flow of the time traveling community's presence.
With a low page count and no sequel, I feel cheated in the world building department. I have so many questions about the world, time travel, and the plague, that I'm not satisfied and left wanting. The lack of world building also effects the pacing of the story, which is found incomplete as we transition from big science revelations, changes in community leadership and Prenna's letters to the past.
The story is told through Prenna, female teenage time traveler, who begins a reluctant relationship with Ethan at school while avoiding the watchful eye of the community's counselors. The highlight of Prenna's development comes with sacrifice in order to preserve her community and the health of the world.
Ethan's character is very fluid. There were times when he appeared to be a "one size fits all" romantic interest and hero. It is said he is intelligent, however there's no clarification on his specialties such as glass cutting, CIA trainee or computer hacktivist. There are also claims made regarding his future with little explanation or foundation to believe this. Some of the secondary characters seem to have more of a solid background story than Ethan does and that makes me sad.
Prenna and Ethan's story isn't that romantic as much as it is a connection. Their connection is intimate in nature and builds as time passes but I'm not convinced any one is the other's the one. I definitely would have liked to seen more world building done versus an attempt at building in a teen romance story.
This may sound like a negative review but I assure you it's not. I am really, really interested in this world and the concept of time traveling in this world. So interested, that I want more! I really want to see an expansion of this world. I want to live in this world and save this world. This is a plot where world building makes all the difference to me.
You should know that Ethan is awesome! So awesome, he's son of...
He can do ALL. THE. THINGS. He can break you out of a safe house with one tool and
not one single person will stop you. He can see the future and prepare for some dire consequences, with little notice. In a computer jam? That's okay, he'll fix you right up!
3 Stars: It's a good book, I enjoyed it but was not in love with the characters or other story elements.
Recommended for those who would like an intro into Sci-Fi or
for those looking for a fairly quick read with a fresh plot.
for those looking for a fairly quick read with a fresh plot.
I recommend the book to people who like YA, dystopic, or time-travel books. If you do not care for any of these categories, though, you probably will not enjoy the book.
ReplyDelete