The Here and Now

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

Publisher: Delacorte Press

April 2014

ISBN: 978-0-385-73680-0

Pages: 256

Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance

Prenna James is now seventeen but when she was twelve she immigrated to New York. Prenna didn’t come from a different country but a different time.  She came from the future where there are mosquito-borne illnesses that have changed into a pandemic, killing millions of people and leaving the world in ruins. 

Prenna and some others escaped to the present time and they have to follow strict rules.  Rules to keep them safe.  They can never reveal where they are from or interfere with history and never be intimate with anyone outside their community.  Prenna has been good at doing what she is told. She also believes she can help prevent the plague that sent them back in time. 

All of that changes when she meets Ethan Jarves and falls in love. 

This is a great story on what if.  The possibilities that this story puts out there make for a read that is sure to stay with readers for a long time to come.  The world portrayed in the future is a scary possibility but it also makes for an engrossing read.  The characters are fascinating and complex.  It will also have readers hoping for more books to go with this one.  It is a young adult book but adults will find it interesting too because it will definitely get readers thinking and talking.  This is one to definitely check out.  It has a slight cliffhanger at the end that is sure to have readers wanting more books to go with this one.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH