Title: The Boy from Tomorrow
Author: Camille DeAngelis
Rating: 3.8/5 stars
I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a spoiler free review.
Content Warning: child abuse, use of outdated terms for people of Asian descent
Summary
When Alec Frost moves to a large house on 444 Sparrow Street, he and his mom are looking to start fresh. One day, while Alec is exploring his new home, he finds a spirit board. When he started playing with this talking board, he has no idea he is about to form one of the best friendships in his life, with Josie Clifford. The only problem is… they live a century apart. This friendship just might end up changing the course of both of these young people’s lives.
Review
Overall, this book made me feel really comfortable. The house felt really beautiful and the writing made me at ease in the story… I don’t know how to explain it. I loved the small illustrations, done by Agnieszka Grochalska. They were adorable and helped me mesh with the characters.
The beginning of the story brought a lot of confusion for me. I was unsure of who some of the characters were because they didn’t leave an impression when they were introduced. Most of the confusion was rectified as the story progressed and I became more invested in the plot and characters at about the middle point in the story. I also felt like everything was just happening in the beginning of the story. I struggled to find the purpose. Again, this was fixed as the story went on. One thing I wish was more explained is the technicalities behind the communication across the century. How were they always available at the same time? I have many questions about this. I also really wish that the reader learned more about Mrs. Gubbins. I am awaiting a spin-off story only about her!
I really enjoyed the different viewpoints that the story was told in. The juxtaposition between the two time periods was very interesting and I appreciated the historical aspects that were integrated into the story. For example, it was quite humorous for Alec to explain things from the modern world to Josie, such as computers and the Internet.
I loved the ending of the story. It brings to attention the terrible things Josie’s mother did and allowed Josie and her sister to find peace and happiness. The ending was the best part for me. After the middle of the story, I was interested in what was going to happen next. This story is great for the middle-grade age. It is perfect for lovers of magic and friendship.
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