The Deets
author: Cristin Bishara
released: September 10, 2013
format: e-book
pages: 288 pages
publisher: Walker Childrens
Read: September 8, 2013
Acquired: Netgalley
Book Pages: Amazon.com
Book Type: YA, science fiction, parallel universes
The Down-low
If Ruby Wright could have her way, her dad would never have met and married her stepmother Willow, her best friend George would be more than a friend, and her mom would still be alive. Ruby knows wishes can’t come true; some things just can’t be undone. Then she discovers a tree in the middle of an Ohio cornfield with a wormhole to nine alternative realities.
Suddenly, Ruby can access completely different realities, each containing variations of her life—if things had gone differently at key moments. The windshield wiper missing her mother’s throat…her big brother surviving his ill-fated birth…her father never having met Willow. Her ideal world—one with everything and everyone she wants most—could be within reach. But is there such a thing as a perfect world? What is Ruby willing to give up to find out? (From Goodreads.com)
Why You Should Buy It
This thought-provoking science fiction novel will have you on the edge of your seat. You’ll learn a little about science within the realm of one teenage girl’s life and her discovery of the perfect world.
My Thoughts
*I received this e-book in exchange for an honest review via the author/publisher.*
I LOVE SMART BOOKS. I am a nerd. I took AP Chemistry for fun. Yes, I repeat, I AM A NERD. We’re talking circa 2000 when nerds weren’t cool. If there is one thing I love it is reading a book that isn’t afraid to push the limits of the reader’s mind while not ‘dumbing down’ the ideas. If I’m confused and the science is legit, I’m perfect okay with being confused. I’m SUPPOSED to be confused. But, I’m also learning about something useful and important in the world in a fun way. This is one of my favorite things about YA. I’ve used so many concepts I’ve read in ya books in my graduate level college courses. There is no one saying that a book for teens has to be a lower standard of concepts and ideas.
SO, that is why I was completely engrossed and enamored by Relativity. Sure I’ve learned the basics of what string theory is and I’ve read gobs of parallel universe books, but this one brought everything to fruition. I suddenly understood just a little bit better what it is Sheldon Cooper spends his days doing.
Beyond the science, the writing was superb flowed well. The story itself was unique and refreshing: it was so different from other parallel universe books. I loved that Ruby kept her chart in her notebook of the details of each world.
Ruby was really a dynamic character in my eyes. I can SEE people thinking she is flat and one-dimensional. However, I understood her way of thinking and her interactions with all the different people she met. When Ruby wasn’t comfortable with a situation, she brought something of comfort in — and to her the most comforting thing is science and knowledge.
My one critique is just how blind and oblivious the parents in the story seemed to be. Here we have troubled teens, especially Kandy, and no one seems to be doing anything or saying anything. It is obvious that she had some deep rooted issues, and maybe for sake of time they weren’t addressed, but I just found it sad.
The interweaving of the history of the scientist and the town and how the tree came to be was also so well done. It had this creepy, historical vibes (like the journal and the cemetery) and brought some new elements in that gave the book an extra oomph beyond just the science fiction.
This book was hands down my favorite in terms of parallel universes. A great standalone novel that I HIGHLY recommend!
Rating
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Such A Novel Idea 