Today's Review: The Future of Us, Jay Asher/Carolyn Mackler

Quick Review of The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler.

So, over the summer, I was searching for books that might fit side-by-side with the genre of my book series -- YA Time Travel. Reading the description, this book seemed absolutely perfect.

The general idea is that the protagonists get an AOL CD (remember those freebies in the grocery store? Get AOL today!), and they get so many free hours -- but the catch is, when they load it onto their computer, this weird thing called Facebook loads, and they can see their futures! I mean seriously, imagine being able to see and navigate through Facebook in the nineties, unfathomable. One similarity between my book and this book, my kids use Myspace to research, since back in 2005, Myspace was the thing. 

Similarly to mine, it's told in alternating points of view between a guy and a girl (mine goes back and forth between a brother and a sister). However, the "time traveling" is reverse from my book, mine goes back fifteen years from 2020, while this takes place in 1996, and looks ahead fifteen years. I know this is a YA book, but I think for readers in their late twenties, early thirties, this book is an especially fun read, because it takes place when we were that age (I was a 6th grader in 1996, so slightly behind these high schoolers, but I still remember the time), so the references are comical.

I really liked the idea, it was a quick read, and it was fun. It had a good pace. My only disappointment with this book was that I wanted it to be longer. I wanted a big ol' fat book that would let me live in this fun little world forever. It ended up being too simple for my tastes. Without getting too in depth into the plot, I wanted to see more ramifications for the characters' actions, get more into the characters' heads and their relationships, and I wanted something bigger and more drastic to happen and have to be fixed by the characters (I wanted it to be a lot darker). I thought some of the character development only touched the surface. I really just wanted the writers to push the characters a little further.

I don't mean to say I disliked this book, because I did like it, a lot. I liked it so much that I wanted more. It was cute and, like I said, it has a great premise. If you're looking for a quick YA read on the beach or just for fun and nothing too deep then this is for you. I would be interested in reading more by these authors, I heard Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why is a great book too. Going to stick that one on my list!

Best Photo Caption Wins!!!!

So, I'm taking up the Ultimate Blog Challenge on the suggestion of a photo caption contest today.

The prize is silly, social media blasting on my sites haha.

So, if you win, I'll post your caption under the photo on my website, along with a link to your website and social media sites - also on my Facebook page, and on the YAWR G+/YAWR FB pages. I'll also tweet for everyone to follow you (I have 5600+ followers @jacquelinebach), and instagram the picture, with your caption, and your handle.

To enter, leave in the comments below"

• your caption in quotes
• your twitter handle
• Facebook link
• website/blog address
• and instagram name.

Alright.....so the pickings were tough, but looking through recent Facebook posts, this time travels back to a Halloween many, many, many years ago. Me (April), my sister (Clown) and my brother (Raphael).

Give it your best shot!!! (And don't worry, this will be coming up again....I found some other gems for later use!)

::WINNERS::
"It was our brother's Idea" 
by Carol Gordon
Twitter | Facebook | Blog

"Wow! Aren't we a scary bunch? Somebody is not playing nice for the picture! Mom!"

By Aletha McManama

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Happy New Year 2015 ... "The Future" is Finally Here!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to 2015!

Sign I drew :)

So, to any of you Back to the Future fans who will get the significance....2015 is finally here! And I must admit that I've definitely been chilling on the couch most of today, attempting to regain energy from last night's festivities, and watching the trilogy. While Marty and Doc won't technically grace our century until October of this year, my family and our friends celebrated a little early, dressing up, decorating, and making Back to the Future themed food last night as we rang in the new year.

Now, "how does this pertain to your blog about writing?" you ask. Well, I am writing a time travel trilogy as well, and there are definitely a few Back to the Future references sprinkled in there for any fellow fans. Originally, my series took place in 2015 (and the year 2000), back when my friend and I started working on the initial idea in 2006. As the story morphed into what it is becoming now, I had to push back the dates to 2020. However, 2015 is still going to play an important part in the entire series, as this is the year I plan to find an agent, and begin the publishing process.

Back to Back to the Future....So we decorated the home, we had people come dressed-up as Marty, Doc, Jennifer, Lorraine, Western Marty, Prom Goers, 50s gals, Greasers, and more! People brought meatloaf and potatoes, baked beans, pizza bagels (you know, to rehydrate). We put around fliers and faxes.....Read on to see a few of some of the fun decorations/food we concocted!