Publishers Weekly
★ 08/28/2023
In this speculative novel by Suk (Made in Korea), Korean Canadian 17-year-old Aimee Roh navigates sensory time warp syndrome (STWS), a condition that causes her to physically travel back in time to certain memories when exposed to specific triggers. Her occasional disappearances are prompted by scent memory, and when they start increasing in frequency—and lasting for longer durations—she’s desperate to see a specialist. But her father, who has been distant ever since her mother left for Korea, forbids it. After experiencing a memory that doesn’t line up with what she’s been told of her mother, Aimee travels from Vancouver to Seoul during her spring break seeking answers. There, she reconnects with long-lost childhood friend Junho Kim. A leisurely buildup hits its stride once Aimee leaves Canada; her search for her mother, rekindling her relationship with Junho, and meeting other Koreans with STWS combine into an uplifting and pensive adventure. Aimee and Junho’s quippy banter, interspersed with heavier conversations about their families, culminates in a natural romance that’s easy to root for, though Aimee’s richly wrought character arc remains the focus of this unique take on travel, grief, and connection. Ages 13–up. Agent: Linda Epstein, Emerald City Literary. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"Aimee and Junho’s quippy banter, interspersed with heavier conversations about their families, culminates in a natural romance that’s easy to root for, though Aimee’s richly wrought character arc remains the focus of this unique take on travel, grief, and connection." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"An intriguing mix of fantasy and realism that lures readers in with the promise of magic and keeps them engaged with emotionally resonant themes." — BookPage (starred review)
“The perfect love letter to Korea, to memories, and to families lost and found. This is the book I needed as a teen.” — Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and XOXO
“Haunting, poignant, and achingly beautiful, The Space Between Here & Now is a tale about family, grief, and love. It's an absolute must read.” — June Hur, bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of The Red Palace
"A beautifully moving portrayal of memory, family, and the courage to find ourselves. Suk weaves vivid descriptions and rich details throughout, creating a transportive, immersive read that kept me turning pages late into the night." — Rachel Griffin, New York Times bestselling author of Bring Me Your Midnight
"Evocative and original." — Kirkus Reviews
"Compelling and realistic." — Booklist
DECEMBER 2023 - AudioFile
With consistent pacing and passion, Joy Osmanski delivers this fascinating audiobook about Aimee's desperation to find answers about her missing mother. Aimee has a rare condition that causes her to travel through time to revisit her memories when she is triggered by nostalgic smells. Her father's sparse explanation about her mother doesn't match what she experiences while reliving her childhood, and only an impromptu trip to Korea might give her the answers she seeks. Osmanski shifts smoothly between Korean and English, as well as a few accents. She voices Aimee thoughtfully, depicting her emotions faithfully as she struggles to come to terms with her distant father and absent mother. Her youthful voice for young Aimee is particularly charming. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-11
A Korean Canadian teen with Sensory Time Warp Syndrome looks for answers.
Seventeen-year-old Aimee Roh has a rare condition that causes her to spontaneously travel back in time to specific memories when she’s exposed to relevant sensory triggers. Since her mother left when Aimee was a child, it’s just her and Appa now, and he refuses to acknowledge that Aimee, whose uncontrollable disappearances are becoming more frequent, might need help. After an especially long disappearance into a revealing memory about her mother, Aimee starts to wonder if there was more to her mother’s departure than Appa let on. With the encouragement of her best friend, Nikita Lai-Sanders, she seizes the opportunity to go to Korea to search for her mother and find a way forward with her STWS. This is a quietly moving story that explores family secrets, shifting memories, and finding one’s home, with a gentle romance and a time-traveling mystery to further propel readers. The narrative is interspersed with supporting artifacts—notes from the school counselor’s file on Aimee, snippets of conversations from online STWS forums, entries from Aimee’s journal—that extend the worldbuilding. First-person narrator Aimee is a well-developed lead. While a few of the secondary characters are somewhat lacking in depth, Suk deftly handles the time-travel premise, and the story’s emotional core resonates. Most primary characters are Korean Canadian or Korean.
Evocative and original. (Fiction. 12-18)
