The future of us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

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Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-85707-607-6.
The Future of us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler is a brilliantly put together novel that is set in 1995, with hardly any of the modern technology we have today. The storyline centres on Josh and Emma, the main characters. These two have been friends and neighbours since they were little but their friendship suddenly withered in the teen years when Josh misinterprets Emma's body language; they then find it quite awkward to be close friends and drift apart. One day Josh brings around an AOL CD that he has received in the mail. He decides to give it to Emma because his parents don't agree with the internet. They try out the mysterious disk on Emma's brand new computer when it connects to Facebook, a social networking site, fifteen years in the future! They then discover that what they change in their everyday lives affects them big time in their future. Emma becomes super distressed about her future, recklessly changing things every day, which in doing so changed a countless amount off people's futures too, ending up in a very moral ending for the readers and the characters alike.
This novel is great for teens and almost anyone. The first person chapter switching, differing between the two main characters' personal thoughts and feelings is brilliant, giving both Josh and Emma's view on the pressing matters. It is a fantastic novel with many twists and turns throughout the story, great for light and quick reading or even an English assignment at school, it's just that good.
Sarah Filkin (Student, Yr 10)

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