Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Your Life Has Been Delayed by Michelle I. Mason

For 25 years, Jenny's airplane was lost.  To the world, the plane just disappeared. For the passengers, no time passed. One minute, it was 1995; the next they were landing in 2020. And no one had aged a day. Jenny's friends and family mourned as life went on. 

Now, teenage Jenny has entered a world almost completely unfamiliar to her. Her parents are old; her younger brother is older than her (and married); her best friend is a middle age mother. And what is with all the technology? Phones you carry everywhere; huge televisions screens; the internet. 

This story is mix of light suspense, a tiny bit of science fiction, and realistic fiction/romance as Jenny adjusts to her new life. The plane's passengers and crew are in danger from groups and forces who think the entire thing is a hoax. They are also celebrities having been discussed, investigated, and written about for 25 years. It is a lot for Jenny (the only underage passenger) to process. 

The more I read, the more intrigued I became with the idea. Everyone on the plane leaped ahead, time traveling. Jenny acts like the teenager she still is. She just spoke to her best friend a few hours ago while her friend hasn't seen her in 25 years. Jenny can't understand some of the things that have happened, and reacts rashly. She can't confide in her friend or even relate to her because the time between them. 

There is a lot happening in this book, and it really could have gone in lot of directions. Overall, there was a good balance. The focus on Jenny's interpersonal relationships is welcome and the most interesting aspect of the story. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.