Publishers Weekly
12/18/2023
When a mysterious teenager named Ridge appears at Michael Rosario’s apartment complex on Michael’s 12th birthday in 1999, Michael believes there’s “something off” about him. Ridge soon reveals he’s from 2199 and, after being goaded by his brothers, used the recently developed, controversial Spatial Teleportation Module to travel back to 1999, his “favorite year in history.” Shy, awkward, and compassionate Michael, who is half Filipino and assumed half white, and only has two friends—his 15-year-old babysitter and crush Gibby, who cues as white, and “brown weathered” Mr. Mosely, the complex’s 62-year-old maintenance man—has been secretly, obsessively stockpiling (and shoplifting) supplies for himself and his loving, hard-working single mother in preparation for the assumed disaster of Y2K. Michael realizes Ridge can tell him if Y2K was indeed a worldwide crisis, but Ridge refuses. As Michael and Gibby indulge Ridge’s fascination with shopping malls and 1999 objects, he develops a previously unknown self-confidence that is well rendered and endearing. Interspersed audio transcripts and textbook excerpts from 2199 provide background for Ridge, and an epilogue reveals a delicious, thought-provoking twist on a question posed early on by Kelly (Those Kids from Fawn Creek): would the disruption of time influence past, present, or future events? Ages 8–12. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
Kelly (also a Newbery medalist, for Hello, Universe) shines when acknowledging today’s readers’ justified fears while showing them that the key to surviving an uncertain road is traveling it in good company. As Ridge encourages Michael to occupy what he calls “the first state of being” — focusing on the here and now, not fixating on a future we can’t control — Michael forges friendships and comes to accept that 'not knowing is part of life.'” — New York Times Book Review
“This short but suspenseful novel is Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me meets Tae Keller’s Jennifer Chan is Not Alone. Though it takes place at the turn of the millennium, modern readers will be able to identify with Michael’s anxieties over the future of the world, and find his journey compelling.” — BookPage (starred review)
“A teen time traveler from 2199 visits 1999 and befriends an endearing, anxious tween boy in this wholesome and splendidly entertaining middle-grade novel about embracing the unknown. Kelly has written one of the kindest boys in children's literature.” — Shelf Awareness
“Kelly has deftly assembled a community of empathetically rendered characters, making this an enjoyable, uplifting reading experience. The elements of sci-fi will be enough to sate fans of the genre while remaining approachable for all audiences. A lovable cast buoys this time travel drama by one of the most reliable authors in children’s literature." — School Library Journal
“An epilogue reveals a delicious, thought-provoking twist on a question posed early on by Kelly: would the disruption of time influence past, present, or future events?” — Publishers Weekly
“Kelly’s memorable character development is on full display as anxious and sensitive Michael learns to embrace the present, while Ridge’s charming misuse of slang adds humor to this amusing ride. A warmhearted blend of nostalgia and futurism.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Newbery winner Kelly gives us a time-travel book that stays grounded, despite the subject matter, and draws on the power of human connection through time and space . . . a solid emotional core will treat readers who love stories about found family and bravery, as well as those who would empathize with Michael’s anxieties about the unknown future.” — Booklist
“Michael serves as an admirable foil to Ridge’s privilege, and the book takes care to highlight his empathy as he struggles to figure out how to find and keep joy in a world filled with pain. Indeed, it is Michael—anxious, vulnerable, and ultimately brave—who will carry readers of all ages to the book’s close.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Kelly neatly grounds the mind-bending what-ifs of cause, effect, and the nature of time with real, present relationships and situations. . . . A well-crafted adventure surrounding a big philosophical idea with a side of middle-grade romance. . . . Tantalizing.” — Horn Book Magazine
School Library Journal
02/01/2024
Gr 3–5—Kelly returns with another solid middle grade novel exploring themes of time travel and personal responsibility. In 1999, anxiety-ridden 12-year-old Michael, in the throes of prepping for a potential disaster thanks to Y2K, happens upon a teen named Ridge, who is strangely dressed and speaks in unfamiliar phrases. Ridge has traveled back in time from 2199 thanks to his mother's scientific work and a dare from his siblings. Although the opportunity to know any and all future outcomes is irresistible to Michael, he understands he must help Ridge get home. Small bumps in logic and pacing are this story's only issues. The loss of a kindly mentor throws a wrench into the rhythm, with the urgency of Ridge's return set aside for a stretch that feels longer than the number of pages it takes to read. However, Kelly has deftly assembled a community of empathetically rendered characters, making this an enjoyable, uplifting reading experience. The elements of sci-fi will be enough to sate fans of the genre while remaining approachable for all audiences. VERDICT A lovable cast buoys this time travel drama by one of the most reliable authors in children's literature.—Alexandra Quay
APRIL 2024 - AudioFile
Ramón de Ocampo offers a charming performance of this middle-grade fiction with a touch of science fiction. Michael and his crush, Gibby, run into Ridge, a strange boy who soon reveals he's visiting from the future. The year is 1999, and with the threat of Y2K brewing, the kids come together and bond through their doomsday planning. De Ocampo's flexible narration moves between many characters smoothly. The performance is quite wholesome and adds brightness to the trio as they navigate their emotions and learn the importance of family. De Ocampo's portrayal of Michael is thoughtful and sometimes anxious, but listeners will find his development when befriending the carefree Ridge to be rewarding. G.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-12-16
In the lead-up to Y2K, a Delaware 12-year-old preparing for disaster meets a time traveler from 2199.
It’s August 1999. Michael Rosario is stealing canned peaches from Super Saver. It’s for a good cause: He’s stocking up in case the world collapses when the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2000. And his mom loves peaches. They live together (his father’s long been out of the picture) at the nearby Fox Run Apartments, where Michael narrowly escapes to after getting hassled by the supermarket manager’s bullying son. Still hiding his loot, Michael, who’s “half Filipino,” is chatting with maintenance man Mr. Mosley when a dazed teenager wearing uniformlike clothing introduces himself as Ridge and asks what year it is. After more unusual encounters, Michael and his 15-year-old babysitter, Gibby, discover that Ridge is from the future. How did he travel back in time—and how will he get back? Excerpts of informational text and audio transcripts interspersed throughout the novel follow Ridge’s family members as they try to save him at the same time that he’s trying to save himself with the help of his new friends. The worldbuilding in this brisk work, largely devoted to elucidating spatial teleportation, is a feat of vocabulary rather than of plot tension. Still, Kelly’s memorable character development is on full display as anxious and sensitive Michael learns to embrace the present, while Ridge’s charming misuse of slang adds humor to this amusing ride.
A warmhearted blend of nostalgia and futurism. (Speculative fiction. 8-12)
