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.  

 

Broken Shards of Time by Nyah Nichol

Wren must travel to the future to stop an authoritarian from destroying society. The person threatening everyone? Wren (future Wren, actually). Now, logic (if logic can truly be applied to plot devices of time travel stories) would usually dictate that one should travel to the past to stop someone from becoming evil in the first place. Not so this time. 

Wren survived a serious accident, that killed her parents, only by integrating robotic elements into her body. She grew up in the secret government lab where her uncle was building a time machine. His influence on her was immeasurable, so after his death she took up his work. The idea of time travel and a mysterious stone he left her caused Wren to become powerful enough to control the lives of others. 

Three people connected to the facility make it their mission to build a new time machine so past Wren can stop future Wren. Their backgrounds and motivations are revealed through sections of the story that focus on their perspectives. 

This relatively brief story packs a lot of sci-fi tech into it. More than just a time machine is necessary to complete the mission. So cool machines, lots of action, another 'evil' person. Good stuff. 

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog. 

 

Time Travel for Love and Profit by Sarah Lariviere

Time travel is tricky at best. Have you ever read or seen a time travel story that didn't have something go wrong? No exception in this story. 

Nephele uses her supreme grasp of math to make an app on her phone that allows her to travel back in time. She will tell you that her long term goal is to save the planet by stopping pollution, but in truth she wants a do over of her freshman year. It just doesn't turn out like she was hoping. 

Without giving away too much, Nephele's travels make her a freshman again while everyone else moves on. Her friends (the few she has) don't know her. Her parents can't tell her when she was born. Things are not quite right. Sure, Nephele doesn't get stuck with that horrible nickname this time around, but she has not become popular either. 

Nephele is concerned about the potential harm she has caused her parents, but ultimately is blinded by her need to get the math right with her app. She is not always the most caring person. 

Like most stories involving time travel, you shouldn't think too much about inconsistencies or logic bending plot elements. While this is not the most intriguing time travel story I have ever read, I was interested to see how it was resolved. Nephele is a little out there, but so is this story. 

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

 

Half Life by Lillian Clark

Lucille agrees to be cloned. If this were in the future in a technologically advanced society, that might not be surprising. But it is not. This story is set in a world like ours, right now. A high tech company reaches out to Lucille, a high school student, to be a test subject, and she agrees to do it (without her parents' knowing). 

Lucille is a very busy, serious student. She is known as an overachiever. Working so hard means, she has to make sacrifices - the kind of things that make you more fun to be around. So Lucille imagines the second version of her will give her more time to do fun things. Her clone can go to school, and no one will ever know the difference. 

You've probably already guessed that it doesn't work out the way she hopes it will. Her clone (Lucy) is not a robot. She has feelings and (oddly enough) different interests. Also, the tech company considers Lucy property that it will take back after a month. Ethical dilemmas abound, but for awhile Lucille is only concerned about herself and her new found freedom.

At it's core, this story is about a teen who tries to make her life easier and ends up in a much bigger situation than she imagined. It is livened up with the problems of trying to keep the clone a secret and the related ethical issues. It's best not to get bogged down in the science of creating such a clone and the other plot issues. If you accept the premise as is, then this book is worth your time. 

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

I Hope You Get This Message By Farah Naz Rishi

Seven days until the end of the world. Aliens send a message to earth that the entire human race will be wiped out...in seven days. What do you do with that information? Some people don't believe it's true. Some decide to steal and vandalize. Some make pilgrimages. Others continue on as normal as if nothing has changed.

We meet three teens and follow them through their journey. They come from different parts of the country, but we know they end up tied together before it is over.

First, Cate. She lives in San Francisco with her schizophrenia suffering mother. Cate has never known her father, but Cate's mother asks her to find him and give him a letter. Her father may (or may not) live in Nevada. Having given up most of her social life and extracurriculars to look after her mom, Cate is not going to deny her request. Her friend, Ivy, agrees to drive her. Finding her dad is not on her bucket list, but it becomes Cate's main focus now.

Jesse lives in Roswell, New Mexico. Yes, the place where tourists flock to see cheesy alien museums and buy cheap souvenirs. At least, they did until the real aliens spoke up. Now, the town is quiet with many businesses shut down. Jesse and his mom are barely getting by. She works at a diner, but hardly makes enough for the house payment and food. So Jesse sometimes steals items they need. He knows it is wrong, but it is almost nothing compared to other things he's done. He does not want to be a loser like his absent father, but he can't seem to stay out of trouble. When an opportunity to make some easy money arises, Jesse goes for it in spite of the ethically questionable nature of it.

Adeem lives in Carson City, Nevada. He loves shortwave radio. It his way of reaching out to people beyond his room. His parents and teachers are always telling him to live up to his potential, but he's not that interested. Adeem truly cares about his sister, Leyla, who abruptly left after coming out to her parents. They have not spoken in three years. When Adeem hears a poem one night over the airwaves that sounds like Leyla, he knows he must try to find her. Against his parents wishes, he heads towards Roswell to track her down.

There are aliens in this book (deliberating whether they should destroy humankind), but it is not really about them. This is a story of humans trying to reconnect with things they have lost before time runs out. Can Cate find her dad? Can Adeem find his sister? Can Jesses find a purpose? It is a suspenseful story that had me wondering how the three connected and will the aliens really destroy mankind. This is a worthy read if for nothing else than the three teens who are far from perfect but keep trying.

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

Catfishing On CatNet by Naomi Kritzer

A box drops out of the sky. Steph opens it to find exactly what she needs to alter the sex education robot teacher in her school (the one that will not answer 'controversial' questions). Where did the box come from? Who sent it? It is not the first incident like this recently. It's like someone is following Steph's conversations online.

Steph's only friends are on CatNet, a social media site dedicated to cat pictures. She never has a chance to make friends at school because her mother makes them move every few months. Why you may ask? Because Steph's father tried to kill both of them in a house fire when she was young. Her online friends do not know what Steph looks like or where she lives because her mother forbids her to give out any personal info that could give away their location.

That might sound a little paranoid except that Steph's father is a computer expert, so keeping a low profile is best. Her mom is, too; she makes money by doing jobs remotely for an old friend.

Now about that mystery box: it turns out that CatNet is run by an AI, a sentient computer program who decides they want to help people and Steph in particular. Imagine a being following all your online activity - scary? Maybe, but this being can also track your father and hamper his search for you.

Steph is a really great character with good friends (including her new in person friend, Rachel) who support each other. There are lots of unanswered questions in her life that make for a suspenseful story.

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

The Spaceship Next Door by Gene Doucette

Three years ago, the spaceship landed in the small town of Sorrow Falls, Massachusetts, and then nothing happened. Scientists photographed, probed and scanned the ship. The ship just sat there - no lights, no door, no noises, no aliens, nothing.
The military moved in and built a base around the ship along with manned check points at the entrances to the town. Some town residents became famous when the press showed up. And a group of dedicated (some would say odd) UFO enthusiasts are permanently camped out along the military perimeter fence. For all that and given the circumstances, a government analyst thinks the town has remained too unaffected by it all.

Sixteen year old Annie Collins knows everyone in her hometown and knows just about everything that is going on. When the analyst shows up pretending to be a journalist, Annie immediately hears about it and seeks him out. They form a reluctant partnership to try to find the answer for whatever he is looking for (even he is not sure).

Obviously, something happens with the ship or it wouldn't be much of a story. I don't want to give away too much, but I will say that people who are known to be dead are seen walking around town.  Aliens (maybe), zombies and soldiers. Do I need to say more?

I don't want you to think this is an action packed story (yes, there is some), but it is also about the people of the town dealing with extraordinary circumstances. It is about Annie dealing with her sick mom and the absence of her father. It is an interesting mix of science fiction and realistic fiction. Did I mention aliens and zombies? Good story.

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

Rewind by Carolyn O'Doherty

Alex is a spinner meaning she can rewind time to view past events (but no more than a day or so). The world fears spinners so she and the others are locked up together in a facility. On those rare occasions when they are allowed to go out, they must wear a band that keeps them from rewinding time.

Upside to being a spinner: they assist the police in solving and preventing crimes. Alex is one of the better ones, so she gets to help with murders and bomb attempts.

Downside: spinners eventually get the disease and die before they are 20 years old. And they have a implanted chip that tracks them.

Alex is happy with her assigned police officer, Agent Ross. He is not afraid of her abilities and sees their potential in helping him track a criminal he has wanted to catch for a long time. Ross even bends some rules so Alex can help.

But it's a dangerous world when you are pursuing powerful criminals in a world where most people do not like your powers already. Even the facility is not safe when Alex can't trust the staff to do what is in her and the others' best interests. KJ, her best friend, is the only person she truly trusts, but things have been strained between them since he has shown interest in another girl.

Can Alex avoid the disease and help catch a killer? Or will Alex have to escape from her confined world? And who will help her?

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

She Myself and I by Emma Young

After months of recovery, Rosa wakes up to a face she doesn't recognize and a body not entirely her own. Rosa was paralyzed from the neck down, but now she can move freely after her brain was transplanted into the body of another young woman named Sylvia who drowned.

Up until now, Rosa has lived a mostly solitary life with her parents, loving older brother and a few online friends. Before being confined to her wheelchair, she went to school and had friends, but that slowly all went away.

Rosa's mother, a doctor, found hope in a new, radical operation that takes the family from their home in England to Boston. Rosa will be the first person ever to have her brain transplanted. But during her time confined in the hospital, Rosa begins to wonder who Sylvia was. What was she like? Did she have friends? What were her hobbies? Even though both families signed a confidentiality agreement, Rosa must know more about Sylvia.

For the first time in a long time, Rosa is able to move but does not have the freedom to go anywhere outside the hospital. When she secretly takes those steps, she meets someone who might be able to help her discover who Sylvia was.

Rosa's story is not a gruesome tale of horror, but about a girl trying to find her identity. Rosa can't decide if she is still herself or the girl whose body she inhabits. Is she a fraud, a freak? Only she can find the answers in this fascinating story about tragedy and hope (and a bit of romance).

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

All Rights Reserved by Gregory Scott Katsoulis

In the future, everything has a cost. Literally, every word spoken must be paid for. You can speak all you want until you turn 15. Then you are given a wrist band that records all the money you owe (it also tracks you and your activities). If you are poor, you hope you can get some sponsors that will provide you with food or other needs. But you may get sued (it happens swiftly and often) and owe so much that you get taken way to be an indentured servant in some horrible job you will never escape from.

Speth lives with her sister and brother in a tiny apartment (created with 3-D printers). Their parents were taken when their debt became too big. Speth is preparing to turn fifteen and make her official speech (sprinkled with references to sponsors) in front of friends. But something happens just before she reaches the stage that changes her life. In a last minute decision, she decides she will no long talk. No speech. No sponsors. No words. No gestures (since most cost money, too).

Powerful people take notice of Speth. Words are currency and if you refuse to speak, the system begins to crack. At their own risk, some people choose to join Speth in her silence. She never intended to start a movement. If she can't speak, how can Speth protect her sister (who loses her job because she looks like a famous actress and is thus infringing on her copyright) and her brother who has yet to turn 15.

When you lose the ability to speak, you lose the ability to speak out. At least that is what the people in power must think because the never counted on a girl choosing to be silent becoming the voice of the oppressed. There are others in society who are more than willing to help Speth fight the system.

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

Warcross by Marie Lu

Emika needs money to pay three months back rent or she and her roommate will get kicked out on the the street. Since the death of her father, the fastest way for her to make a lot of money is bounty hunting. Using her hacking skills she can hunt down a person who is not dangerous enough for the over worked police to find themselves. It's a tough job, but it pays well.

She hunts her latest shortly before the start of the International Warcross Tournament. Warcross is a interactive three dimensional virtual reality game that has swept the globe. Everyone can play, but only a few are professionals who play in the annual tournament.

Emika could never dream of being in the tournament due to her criminal record. Also, her ranking in Warcross is never high because she plays often under a different name. As the tournament begins, she decides to hack in to get a valuable power-up in the game and sell it. It is a decision that thrusts her into the international spotlight and gets the attention of Hideo, the game's creator. Emika has idolized Hideo for years. Now, she may get to meet him in person.

Emika's hunting and hacking skills may be just what Hideo needs to find someone else hacking the virtual world he created. The best way to do that...put Emika in the tournament.

This incredible story exists in a bleak world where most of the planet is caught up in Warcross. The technology is believable enough that it seems possible and may not be that far into the future. I recommend going along with Emika as she becomes immersed in the dangers of the game and the real world.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy

Eddie has a chance to escape his life. He is one of several candidates chosen to be tested for one of two positions in NASA's secretive Interworlds Agency. The testing is anything but normal, but then so is the job.

Eddie feels pressure to separate himself from his criminal father. Eddie's  beloved grandmother raised him and taught him to all that she knew about science and the world. He still mourns her recent passing.Rosa is one of the other candidates. Her parents are highly successful scientists. She feels the pressure to do well.

During the testing, Eddie provides interesting, unconventional responses. His troubled past bothers the higher ups who do not quite trust him. Eddie struggles to not end up proving them right.

Then a life changing event happens. Visitors from beyond our planet arrive. From another world, another dimension? It is a historical event and Eddie and Rosa are right there when it happens. With their instructor Reg as a guide, the teens may be the only ones who can deal with the visiting beings to our planet.

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

Waste of Space by Gina Damico

Just when you thought you'd see it all from reality TV, DV8 brings you the most extreme show yet. Eight teens will be launched into space and must survive the dangers of space flight as well as being confined with each other for weeks.

OR maybe the teens don't go into space at all, but they and the rest of the world do not know that. It is all the brainchild of DV8's CEO (and obnoxiously overconfident) Chazz Young. He's the genius(?) who brought the world a string of reality show hits, and this is the biggest one yet.

Selecting (and perhaps kidnapping) the perfect mix of teen stereotypes from across the country and contracting NASAW scientists to build the 'spaceship', Chazz is set to grab the viewing public's attention. And, boy, does it work. Waste of Space becomes the show everyone is talking about (and texting and blogging, etc.).

This story is presented as an informal report by an anonymous intern who wants the world to know what really happened behind the scenes. We see the show transcripts as well as what was edited out. We have Chazz's phone calls (that he records, ironically, to protect himself).

We get to know the teens at their best and their worst and not just the edited versions DV8 wants the world to see: Barcardi, the party girl; Snout, the hick (and his pet pig); Kaoru, the foreigner who only speaks Japanese; Jarmakus, the black gay astronaut wannabe; Louise, the nerd; Nico, the orphan; Hibiscus, the musician; Matt, the disabled hero; Titania, the tomboy; and Clayton the rich kid who happens to be related to Chazz. Like I said, stereotypes  but ultimately each had more going on in their lives before this show.

This story is a funny, over-the-top adventure.

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

The Edge of Forever by Melissa E. Hurst

In 2146, time travel is possible. But only for those with a specific gene. Bridger has the gene and is on training trip to the year 2076 to witness the assassination of the president. Bridger and his fellow cadets wear cloaking devices so as to not be seen while they record specific aspects of the event. It is most important to not disrupt the timeline.

In the chaos of the assassination, Bridger separates from his mission partner (and girlfriend) Vika. He sees his dad, a fellow time traveler who died months ago. His father's only words, "Save Alora, son." Bridger knows his father was never assigned to this time period. He also has no idea who Alora is and why she needs to be saved. If it involves time travel, Bridger's father is asking him to break the law.

Alora lives in 2013 with her aunt in a small Georgia town. At the age of six, her father left her there and has not been seen since. Alora's aunt refuses to tell her anything about her parents, so Alora must find any information she can even if it means breaking her aunt's rules. She is just starting to uncover things (in her aunt's room and the attic) when a guy named Bridger appears.

Bridger was never supposed to interact with Alora, but an injury upon his arrival makes that impossible. Why is Alora so important and can he save her without messing up the timeline? These are only two of the many questions that make the story so intriguing.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

Imagine if the person sitting next to you in class can hear your every thought. He would instantly know about the boy you think is cute. He would know the answers you were writing on your test. He would know what you think about him. But what if you could read his mind, too?

The students of homeroom 10B know all too well the answer to this question. Through a twist of fate almost all the members of the homeroom have developed the ability to read minds. Fearing the consequences of what could happen if their powers are discovered, they decide to keep it a secret.

Polly (aka Pi) has a curious mind is most interested in exploring her new powers and keeping them secret.

Mackenzie is worried her boyfriend, Cooper, will find out she cheated on him (now that the whole group knows her secret, somebody is bound to tell him).

Tess has a crush on her best friend Teddy (they've known each other forever) and can now find out if he likes her in the same way.

Olivia is shy and cannot speak in public, but maybe her powers might help her with Lazar who she heard may like her.

Yes, this is a story of the normal teen experiences and worries with the added bonus of them knowing what everyone else is thinking. I am glad when I was a teen that I could not hear others' thoughts (and they could not hear mine), but it is fun to think and read about.

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

The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond

What if Germany had won World War II? The life you know would not exist - you would not exist. There would have been no Beatles, no Martin Luther King, no walk on the moon, no President Obama. Everything we have known for that last 70 years would not have happened.

Knowing the premise, I expected that Germany would have won the war by changing one thing in history (like they built the atomic bomb first), but it turns out that they created genetically altered superhumans. That's how they overran Europe and eventually the United States. The US has been divided up: Germany controls the East, Japan the West, and Italy the Dakota region.

Zara lives in the same year we do now, but you wouldn't recognize it. Nazi's live in big, fancy houses in the center of town. Zara lives with her Uncle Red in a shack on a farm in the country. She is the descendent of Americans - even worse for her, she is part Japanese. Mixed race people are looked down upon even more than non-Germans.

Zara's uncle is a resistance fighter, but lost all energy after her mother was killed for being part of the resistance, too. Zara wants nothing more than to be part of the resistance and fight the Nazi's but her uncle refuses to let her. She lives a dreary life being a cleaning girl in a fancy prep school during the day and working on the farm until dark. The Nazi rule has left little hope for anyone not in step with the regime.

Zara is also an anomaly, a person with special powers (just another bit of science fiction). She can control the wind, even creating a tornado if she chooses. If the Nazi's found out, they would kill her for sure. It is this secret and her family's connection to the resistance that make Bastian's attention so unnerving. Bastian is a student at the prep school and the son of one of a ruthless Nazi colonel. Zara must choose her words carefully when he speaks to her, because she does not know his motive for the conversations.

As the Nazi atrocities hit closer to home, Zara is swept up in the movement to help restore America. The action and suspense will not disappoint.

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

The Hit by Melvin Burgess

This pill will kill you. You live the ultimate high for seven days and then you die. Why would anyone take such a drug? It enhances your physical and mental strength. If your life is already a mess, you could have one last grab at glory, mark off as many items on your bucket list as possible and go out on top. Of course, you could also do something illegal, get arrested, be denied bail and die alone in a jail cell.

The setting is what I will call an economic dystopia. Conditions in England are so bad that society is on the verge of a revolution. Manchester is the epicenter of the movement to overthrow the current government and the location where the pill Death is manufactured.

Adam and (his hopefully girlfriend) Lizzie are right in the middle of it all as the first big riot by the Zealots happens. They are there when city hall is taken. It is exciting to have so much hope and change on the horizon.

Adam's life is good until...he pushes Lizzie too fast in their relationship and his brother Jess is declared dead. Suddenly, taking the pill doesn't seem like such a stupid idea. He could make lots of money to help his parents, make up with Lizzie, do something for the revolution, maybe even kill somebody who deserves it (and have sex, of course). It's amazing what someone can accomplish with an extra boost and the ultimate deadline.

This story went places I was not anticipating when I first chose this book. There is the drug kingpin and his psycho son who causes much trouble for all the main characters (theft, violence, kidnapping - you know typical gangster stuff). The oncoming revolution is always happening (mostly in the background). It is a dark and nasty world, but worth a brief visit.

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

Tune Book 1: Vanishing Point by Derek Kirk Kim

Andy is tired of art school, so he quits to get a real art job. Why spend more time in school when he knows enough to work at a magazine or some other publication? Well, that works out. So after two months of sitting on his parents couch watching TV, his father gives him an ultimatum: find a job in seven days or move out.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so he searches the want ads. On the seventh day he accepts a job that requires no qualifications and will pay a bunch of money. Sounds good...perhaps too good. The job will require Andy to be far away from his parents and friends for a year (but on the weekends he can return home). So, still doesn't sound too bad. Andy will be a zoo exhibit for beings in another dimension. Ya, bad.

Within a full scale replica of his house, Andy must live in captivity for the amusement and education of seemingly emotionless creatures. And the worst part is that he cannot see the love of his life, Yumi. Does she like him the same way? It doesn't matter. He cannot bear the thought of spending so much time away from her.

This manga inspired graphic novel is a the first part of a series. If you are ready for a little dimensional travel with a guy who doesn't have his life together, then check this one out. I have already read part 2 and things get even stranger for Andy.  

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

If you were branded a violent person, would that make you one? If everyone treated you like you were a killer and then you were put into situations where you had to defend yourself, would you kill to survive and, thus, confirm everyone's suspicions about you? It is an interesting scenario to contemplate. For Davey, it is her life.

Davey had everything. She is a musical prodigy - playing multiple instruments at a young age with no formal training. She attends an exclusive private school and has been accepted to Julliard. She is dating, Jake, the hottest boy in school.

A few weeks before graduation she receives the test results - she has the 'killer gene.' A carrier of the gene is supposedly predisposed to violence. In a society that takes no chances with carriers, Davey is expelled from school, loses her admission to college and is forced into public school where she must be locked up in a classroom (aka a cage) with other carriers. Once you are marked, you are marked for life. And her life will never be the same.

With her future taken from her, what will become of Davey? She always feared carriers herself and now that she is one she must spend time confined with others. Some deserve the label, but others do not: like Gil, a smart boy who doesn't seem like he would hurt anyone and the the mysterious Sean, who protects Davey when situations arise. They may be her only allies in her new life.

This is one of the best books I have read so far this year.  The story is full of heart wrenching unfairness and action driven suspense. It is a world that does not seem that far from our own. And this is not just another copycat dystopian book with a strong female protagonist. Davey must fight for her survival, but has a great vulnerability, too. She is not trying to save the world, just herself, and her story doesn't end here.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog.

Are You Experienced? by Jordan Sonnenblick

How can you understand a time that you didn't live in? You can't. You can listen to the music from that time. You can read books about it. You can hear stories from people who lived it. But I don't think you can ever know what it was really like. Too bad you can't time travel...like Rich does in this book.

Rich doesn't ask to go back in time; it just happens. He strums a chord on an old guitar and ends up at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. I make it sound like it just happened, but it is more mystical and sad than that. The guitar has been hidden away in a room where Rich's dad keeps all the items related to his brother Michael who died two months after Woodstock. Every year on the anniversary of Michael's death, Rich's dad locks himself in the room and listens to old music.

A simple strum of the strings and Rich finds himself in 1969 running into his Uncle Michael, Michael's girlfriend Willow and Rich's dad (age 15) on their way to the festival. Being the time that it was, no one is too surprised to see a 15 year old appear out of nowhere wearing nothing but the silver-white hair on his head (the color changed during the time travel). Rich realizes that this is a golden opportunity to not just see some of the most famous rock performances ever (he has studied Woodstock extensively) but also get to know his uncle (who died long before he was born) and to hang out with his dad (who is a strict, melancholy adult).

It is with eyes wide open that Rich learns much about why his dad behaves the way he does (he is very strict) and what really happened to his uncle. Rich's dad has never talked about his brother or anything surrounding his death. In fact, he blames Woodstock for causing Michael's death. It all starts to make sense. Rich has purpose for being there. He is a messenger of sorts.

I really felt like I was being taken to Woodstock to experience it with Rich. We hear the music right along with him and get to see performances through his descriptions. And Jimi Hendrix plays an important part in the story, too.

I really identified with parts of this story. Rich had an uncle he never knew because he died before Rich was born. That is true for me, too. His uncle died two months after Woodstock. My uncle died the week of Woodstock (he was killed in Vietnam). It is a small thing, but I felt more connected to the story.

As with any Jordan Sonnenblick book, I recommend this one. It is a trip back to the late 1960s and gives examples of some of the best parts of the time and some of the worst.

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