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leeza_robertson_writes's review against another edition
4.0
This is such an interesting book. Part, time travel, part, ghost story, this unique tale of two 12-year-old teens. Alec and Josie along with her little sister Cass, share the same house, sleep in the same bed but live 100 years apart. This time-bending tale shows how it only takes one person to change the lives of many through the simple act of friendship. It also taps into the idea that time is not linear and that we are all connected regardless of what time period we currently find ourselves in.
Just a word of caution about this book, there are moments of child cruelty within the narrative of this story. It is quite intense but necessary for the plot and is sort of the point of the plot.
This is a very well written Middle-Grade book that offers many life and spiritual concepts for discussion.
Just a word of caution about this book, there are moments of child cruelty within the narrative of this story. It is quite intense but necessary for the plot and is sort of the point of the plot.
This is a very well written Middle-Grade book that offers many life and spiritual concepts for discussion.
mommamel11's review against another edition
4.0
Josie lives in a big house with her little sister and her psychic mother in 1915. Alec lives in a big house with his mother in 2015. It is the same house. Using a talking board (ouija board) Josie and Alec communicate with each other and become friends. Josie and her sister are not treated well. Alec does some research to save them. This book reminds me of old time travel stories from the last century, full of atmosphere and mystery.
I read this book as a NetGalley offering---thank you!
I read this book as a NetGalley offering---thank you!
lovegirl30's review against another edition
5.0
The Boy From Tomorrow was such a cute read. I really am glad that I took a chance on this book. This book follows the lives of two characters, Josie Clifford and Alec Frost. They live in the same house, about 100 years later and forge a friendship with a talking board. This was something I have yet to read, it was rather interesting and created a good set up.
It wasnât a time travel book, but it feels like itâs trying to be one. I thought the interesting how the friends could communicate even though they were from different time periods, and had time separating them. Like I already said this is such a great storyline.
The story is told in alternating points between the past and present. The character is Josie is the past, and the character is Alec who is the present. I really enjoyed the glimpses into their lives. I thought the author did a great job of balancing each child having enough time to tell their story. I really enjoyed learning about Josieâs style.
There are some tough concepts. Mostly the abuse that Josie had to endure. It is always hard to read about children suffering, and it will never get better. It was so well done and wasnât glamorized. It was just honest and raw.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys middle-grade novels. This would be a great book for a child to explore tougher topics.
It wasnât a time travel book, but it feels like itâs trying to be one. I thought the interesting how the friends could communicate even though they were from different time periods, and had time separating them. Like I already said this is such a great storyline.
The story is told in alternating points between the past and present. The character is Josie is the past, and the character is Alec who is the present. I really enjoyed the glimpses into their lives. I thought the author did a great job of balancing each child having enough time to tell their story. I really enjoyed learning about Josieâs style.
There are some tough concepts. Mostly the abuse that Josie had to endure. It is always hard to read about children suffering, and it will never get better. It was so well done and wasnât glamorized. It was just honest and raw.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys middle-grade novels. This would be a great book for a child to explore tougher topics.
ckdonick's review against another edition
5.0
A truly beautiful story about the power friendship - I was completely captivated by this book, and by Josie and Alec (Cassie and Mrs. Gubbins too!). Heartwarming, and at times heartbreaking, but so full of hope. Full discloser, this made me weep on a plane next to a stranger. It was worth it.
tearsofphoenix's review against another edition
5.0
My many thanks to Camille DeAngelis and Amberjack Publishing for providing me ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is about a house, a space of some hundred years, a boy, two girls, the uncertainty and mystery that is time.
I didn't know what to expect when I begin, but the moment I read the words 'time travel' I downloaded it without even reading the blurb completely. It was my first middle-grade book after HP series and I loved every bit of it. The book is as mysterious as it is endearing. Your heart is gripped by the constant flow of emotions that keeps oscillating from joy to sadness and then to child like wonder and back again.. I believe the book successively transcends the target audience and you will find yourself engaged as soon as you begin reading.
The author did a splendid work of making the characters memorable, little Cassie was too cute to put into words, little Josie and Alec were adorable and Mrs. Clifford was a thing of nightmare.
The book is still available on Net Galley for FREE, I strongly urge you to download it and have the pleasure of reading a really good book!
[Spoilers Ahead]
I was so afraid that the grave would be of Cassie and I have no doubt in my mind if they did not have the connection to the future it could have been.
I ship Alec and Josie - I wanted them to meet and have a chance. The ending made me cry. I don't hate the ending but...but..
Oh well, Mrs.Grubbins NEED a book of her own. I need to need who she was/is and where she is and whether she found a listening ear like Cassie.
This book is about a house, a space of some hundred years, a boy, two girls, the uncertainty and mystery that is time.
I didn't know what to expect when I begin, but the moment I read the words 'time travel' I downloaded it without even reading the blurb completely. It was my first middle-grade book after HP series and I loved every bit of it. The book is as mysterious as it is endearing. Your heart is gripped by the constant flow of emotions that keeps oscillating from joy to sadness and then to child like wonder and back again.. I believe the book successively transcends the target audience and you will find yourself engaged as soon as you begin reading.
The author did a splendid work of making the characters memorable, little Cassie was too cute to put into words, little Josie and Alec were adorable and Mrs. Clifford was a thing of nightmare.
The book is still available on Net Galley for FREE, I strongly urge you to download it and have the pleasure of reading a really good book!
[Spoilers Ahead]
I was so afraid that the grave would be of Cassie and I have no doubt in my mind if they did not have the connection to the future it could have been.
I ship Alec and Josie - I wanted them to meet and have a chance. The ending made me cry. I don't hate the ending but...but..
Oh well, Mrs.Grubbins NEED a book of her own. I need to need who she was/is and where she is and whether she found a listening ear like Cassie.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
This is not so much a time-travel book, thought it is, and it isn't so much historical fiction, though it is. It is a different take on the usual way of doing time travel or historical fiction.
Alec corresponds with a girl who lived in his house a hundred years ago, first through a ouija or spirit board.
It sounds odd, but it works. Alec is going through problems, and so is Josie, and they both give each other mutual support.
The thing about time travel, is the pieces all have to fit together, and these do. This is not the Blink, from Doctor Who, but it has those elements, of notes passed through the years by being hidden in places where Alec will find them.
And, although I think adults should never be involved in this sort of magic, in this case, it worked. It was the teather to the real world, so to speak.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Alec corresponds with a girl who lived in his house a hundred years ago, first through a ouija or spirit board.
It sounds odd, but it works. Alec is going through problems, and so is Josie, and they both give each other mutual support.
The thing about time travel, is the pieces all have to fit together, and these do. This is not the Blink, from Doctor Who, but it has those elements, of notes passed through the years by being hidden in places where Alec will find them.
And, although I think adults should never be involved in this sort of magic, in this case, it worked. It was the teather to the real world, so to speak.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
phyrre's review against another edition
5.0
One-Line Summary:
Two people find a connection that transcends time, and itâs exactly what they both need to shape their individual futures.
Summary:
When Alec moves into 444 Sparrow Street, itâs old and rundown and is a promise of a new beginning with his parents recently divorced. Like all old buildings, he expects it to have its secrets, and he finds one hiding in a drawer: a handmade talking board with angels in each corner. At first, it seems like a fun game to play during a sleepoverâuntil he realizes the entities theyâre speaking to arenât ghosts but people.
A hundred years ago, in the same house, Josie is no stranger to talking to spirits. In fact, her mother makes a living doing just that. What she hasnât heard of, however, is speaking to a person whoâs very much alive but in a different time.
For Josie, the future is a scary prospect. Her mother keeps her locked up tight in the house, and the future means freedom, as well as uncertainty. Worse than that, it feels so far away. For Alec, the past is terrifying, because he knows, logically, that his new friend is already dead in his timeline. But the way he always wants to remember her is the way she appears in their shared house: vibrant, uncertain, and very much alive.
The Positives:
- I forgot this book was even middle grade. Now, I donât read a ton of mid-grade, because usually I get constant reminders that itâs too young for me, and mostly, I donât feel like I get much out of it. Why would I? Iâm not the target audience. That was not the case with this book. I was thoroughly engaged, invested in the characters, and I got some powerful takeaways from it. The fantastic thing about this book was that it transcended audiences.
- Alec and Josie are probably the cutest things ever, in their own ways. Alec is devoted to his new friend and helping her however he can. Being separated by a hundred years makes it a bit more difficult, but being in the future has its advantages, too. Josieâs troubles are more visceral and gut-wrenching. Trapped within the confines of a house with no friends and an abusive mother, the future seems bleakâexcept when she speaks to Alec, of course. He makes the future sound wonderful. If only she can survive her current situation. Thereâs such a tone of hope, and the friendship between them builds naturally and is just so sweet. Itâs the sort of beautiful, pure connection that only two 12-year-olds can have, of course, which makes it all the more special.
- The time travel spin was unique and interesting. I confess, when I see time travel, I balk. Iâm not a huge sci-fi fan at its best, and time travel in particular often leaves me doubtful. However, this isnât true time travel in the sense that persons are sent hurtling through time. The way itâs approached in this book is much more circumstantial and believable, which I liked. It didnât require a huge suspension of disbelief.
- WHERE DID THESE FEELS COME FROM AND WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA? Iâm not a big fan of *hiss* emotions. Or feeling them. Itâs a hassle. That being said, I felt all the emotions with this book. It was funny, sad, heartwarming, angering, hopeful, dreadful. I snapped between them so quickly that I was afraid I might get emotional whiplash. In the end, the gamut was well worth it, and how the book closes is fantastic and fulfilling.
The Negatives:
- Whatâs up with Mrs. Gubbins? This isnât a huge negative, and maybe it doesnât require explaining in a middle grade. But Mrs. Gubbins obviously isnât just a doll or just a figment of Cassâs imagination. I kept finding myself wanting to know how she was tied to the girls, though, and what happens to her. Maybe Iâm just nosy and thatâs why, but I really wanted some follow-up about her.
- Where the heck is karma when you need it? Mrs. Clifford is awful. AWFUL. Sheâs meant to be, because there are awful people in the world, but gosh darn it, karma is supposed to get those people. Where the heck was fire and brimstone and fury? I know, I know, youâre not supposed to wish bad things on people, but I kept hoping sheâd get her comeuppance. Unfortunately, I think part of that is just a facet of mid-grade works, but you know what? Iâm just going to imagine it, and thatâll make me feel the world is still in balance.
- TRIGGER WARNING FOR CHILD ABUSE. I donât believe this is mentioned anywhere else, and I think it should be said, considering it took me off guard. I donât mind it, personally, but I know several people who if they had started this book, it would have triggered them. So make sure you know what youâre getting into going in. It isnât graphic or gratuitous, but it could definitely be triggering, so be forewarned.
Overall:
I knew I had to read this as soon as I read the description, because it reminded me of Lake House, and I was hoping for the same warm, tingly feelings I got from watching that. I wasnât disappointed. Unlike the movie, however, The Boy from Tomorrow has some dark moments, moments that I think are made even darker by being an adult (and for me, being a parent). However, every moment of it felt real and true to life, and the overall feeling was optimism and hope for the future, and I definitely came out the other end with the warm tinglies and having enjoyed the book. More than just for kids, I would recommend this to any age who wants a light, easy read that will stir up some emotions and leaving you feeling warm inside.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Two people find a connection that transcends time, and itâs exactly what they both need to shape their individual futures.
Summary:
When Alec moves into 444 Sparrow Street, itâs old and rundown and is a promise of a new beginning with his parents recently divorced. Like all old buildings, he expects it to have its secrets, and he finds one hiding in a drawer: a handmade talking board with angels in each corner. At first, it seems like a fun game to play during a sleepoverâuntil he realizes the entities theyâre speaking to arenât ghosts but people.
A hundred years ago, in the same house, Josie is no stranger to talking to spirits. In fact, her mother makes a living doing just that. What she hasnât heard of, however, is speaking to a person whoâs very much alive but in a different time.
For Josie, the future is a scary prospect. Her mother keeps her locked up tight in the house, and the future means freedom, as well as uncertainty. Worse than that, it feels so far away. For Alec, the past is terrifying, because he knows, logically, that his new friend is already dead in his timeline. But the way he always wants to remember her is the way she appears in their shared house: vibrant, uncertain, and very much alive.
The Positives:
- I forgot this book was even middle grade. Now, I donât read a ton of mid-grade, because usually I get constant reminders that itâs too young for me, and mostly, I donât feel like I get much out of it. Why would I? Iâm not the target audience. That was not the case with this book. I was thoroughly engaged, invested in the characters, and I got some powerful takeaways from it. The fantastic thing about this book was that it transcended audiences.
- Alec and Josie are probably the cutest things ever, in their own ways. Alec is devoted to his new friend and helping her however he can. Being separated by a hundred years makes it a bit more difficult, but being in the future has its advantages, too. Josieâs troubles are more visceral and gut-wrenching. Trapped within the confines of a house with no friends and an abusive mother, the future seems bleakâexcept when she speaks to Alec, of course. He makes the future sound wonderful. If only she can survive her current situation. Thereâs such a tone of hope, and the friendship between them builds naturally and is just so sweet. Itâs the sort of beautiful, pure connection that only two 12-year-olds can have, of course, which makes it all the more special.
- The time travel spin was unique and interesting. I confess, when I see time travel, I balk. Iâm not a huge sci-fi fan at its best, and time travel in particular often leaves me doubtful. However, this isnât true time travel in the sense that persons are sent hurtling through time. The way itâs approached in this book is much more circumstantial and believable, which I liked. It didnât require a huge suspension of disbelief.
- WHERE DID THESE FEELS COME FROM AND WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA? Iâm not a big fan of *hiss* emotions. Or feeling them. Itâs a hassle. That being said, I felt all the emotions with this book. It was funny, sad, heartwarming, angering, hopeful, dreadful. I snapped between them so quickly that I was afraid I might get emotional whiplash. In the end, the gamut was well worth it, and how the book closes is fantastic and fulfilling.
The Negatives:
- Whatâs up with Mrs. Gubbins? This isnât a huge negative, and maybe it doesnât require explaining in a middle grade. But Mrs. Gubbins obviously isnât just a doll or just a figment of Cassâs imagination. I kept finding myself wanting to know how she was tied to the girls, though, and what happens to her. Maybe Iâm just nosy and thatâs why, but I really wanted some follow-up about her.
- Where the heck is karma when you need it? Mrs. Clifford is awful. AWFUL. Sheâs meant to be, because there are awful people in the world, but gosh darn it, karma is supposed to get those people. Where the heck was fire and brimstone and fury? I know, I know, youâre not supposed to wish bad things on people, but I kept hoping sheâd get her comeuppance. Unfortunately, I think part of that is just a facet of mid-grade works, but you know what? Iâm just going to imagine it, and thatâll make me feel the world is still in balance.
- TRIGGER WARNING FOR CHILD ABUSE. I donât believe this is mentioned anywhere else, and I think it should be said, considering it took me off guard. I donât mind it, personally, but I know several people who if they had started this book, it would have triggered them. So make sure you know what youâre getting into going in. It isnât graphic or gratuitous, but it could definitely be triggering, so be forewarned.
Overall:
I knew I had to read this as soon as I read the description, because it reminded me of Lake House, and I was hoping for the same warm, tingly feelings I got from watching that. I wasnât disappointed. Unlike the movie, however, The Boy from Tomorrow has some dark moments, moments that I think are made even darker by being an adult (and for me, being a parent). However, every moment of it felt real and true to life, and the overall feeling was optimism and hope for the future, and I definitely came out the other end with the warm tinglies and having enjoyed the book. More than just for kids, I would recommend this to any age who wants a light, easy read that will stir up some emotions and leaving you feeling warm inside.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
shogins's review against another edition
4.0
A nice middle great novel with some historical elements and some fantasy/time travel. It's not scary, although there is some (mild, in so far as such a thing is possible) child abuse. Alec and Josie are both appealing characters and good narrators; both stories feel era-appropriate but also accessible to young readers. I think this would be easy to recommend and a lot of young readers would enjoy it.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
thereadingknitter's review
4.0
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I first started this book I almost put it back down when started with the âtalking boardâ BUT I am so thankful I didnât. This is such a charming book and it sucked me right in after I got over that first part. Iâm a stickler for good endings and this one ended so well! Loved it!
When I first started this book I almost put it back down when started with the âtalking boardâ BUT I am so thankful I didnât. This is such a charming book and it sucked me right in after I got over that first part. Iâm a stickler for good endings and this one ended so well! Loved it!
branpender12's review against another edition
4.0
I âWishedâ for this book on NetGalley and was pleasantly surprised when I was chosen to read it!
When I first started reading it and the children were communicating with each other via the Ouija board, I thought that some of them might be ghosts but I just couldnât figure out which set of kids was real and which ones are not. As the book went on I figured out that it was about time travel and that the kids lived in the same house but 100 years apart! This might be the best time travel book that Iâve read!
Josie and Cass live at 444 Sparrow St. in 1915. Their mother is very controlling and will not let them leave the house or directly answer any of their questions. Sheâs cold and calculating and quick to dole out punishment. When the girls find her Ouija board and begin to play around with it they meet a boy named Alec. Alec lives at 444 Sparrow St. in the year 2015. After a little bit of back-and-forth, the kids become fast friends!
When Josie and Cass tell Alec about their plight, Alec being a good friend that he is, immediately goes and starts researching why the mother will not let the girls out to see if thereâs anything he can do to change their fate. Eventually, the girls do get away from their controlling mother with Alecâs help!
This story might be more for tweens, but I really enjoyed it! The concept was well thought out and delivered with perfection! Even though it is set 100 years apart both, time periods were represented in a way that made this concept work. The friendships were genuine, and the message is very endearing.
The only thing I really didnât like about the book was the lack of balance between the home lives of the children. While we get a very clear picture of what kind of mother Josie and Cass have, Alecâs homelife/relationship with his mother is more of a mystery. I feel like the book would be a little bit more balanced if we had more of both childrenâs home lives delved into a little deeper! It mightâve also been cool if the kids were somehow related and Alec was like a great-grandson of one of the girls!
This book deals with some very serious issues like child abuse, mental abuse from a parent, neglect, womenâs rights, and anxiety. The author did a fantastic job presenting these issues in a way that children/teenagers can relate to and find comfort in when the issues were resolved.
I would recommend this book to my teenage son who has recently found a passion for reading. Also to anyone who likes well-developed characters, highly stylized prose, and a genuinely well-written book!
Think you Netgalley and Camille DeAgelis for letting me have a peek at this book after it was no longer available!
When I first started reading it and the children were communicating with each other via the Ouija board, I thought that some of them might be ghosts but I just couldnât figure out which set of kids was real and which ones are not. As the book went on I figured out that it was about time travel and that the kids lived in the same house but 100 years apart! This might be the best time travel book that Iâve read!
Josie and Cass live at 444 Sparrow St. in 1915. Their mother is very controlling and will not let them leave the house or directly answer any of their questions. Sheâs cold and calculating and quick to dole out punishment. When the girls find her Ouija board and begin to play around with it they meet a boy named Alec. Alec lives at 444 Sparrow St. in the year 2015. After a little bit of back-and-forth, the kids become fast friends!
When Josie and Cass tell Alec about their plight, Alec being a good friend that he is, immediately goes and starts researching why the mother will not let the girls out to see if thereâs anything he can do to change their fate. Eventually, the girls do get away from their controlling mother with Alecâs help!
This story might be more for tweens, but I really enjoyed it! The concept was well thought out and delivered with perfection! Even though it is set 100 years apart both, time periods were represented in a way that made this concept work. The friendships were genuine, and the message is very endearing.
The only thing I really didnât like about the book was the lack of balance between the home lives of the children. While we get a very clear picture of what kind of mother Josie and Cass have, Alecâs homelife/relationship with his mother is more of a mystery. I feel like the book would be a little bit more balanced if we had more of both childrenâs home lives delved into a little deeper! It mightâve also been cool if the kids were somehow related and Alec was like a great-grandson of one of the girls!
This book deals with some very serious issues like child abuse, mental abuse from a parent, neglect, womenâs rights, and anxiety. The author did a fantastic job presenting these issues in a way that children/teenagers can relate to and find comfort in when the issues were resolved.
I would recommend this book to my teenage son who has recently found a passion for reading. Also to anyone who likes well-developed characters, highly stylized prose, and a genuinely well-written book!
Think you Netgalley and Camille DeAgelis for letting me have a peek at this book after it was no longer available!