The Boy From Tomorrow by Camille DeAngelis is a children's adventure book aimed at ages 8-11 years. I am considerably older and I really enjoyed the tale.
The story unites two children one hundred years apart, who live in the same house. Their bond, formed through curiosity and loneliness is beautiful to witness.
There were some very different parenting ideas at the beginning of the twentieth century. The modern reader consequently finds some of the passages of child cruelty difficult to read.
A sisterly bond is beautifully portrayed. The reader can 'feel' the love and desire to protect.
The novel has single parent families. Both uniquely drawn and elicit two very different feelings from the reader.
The Boy From Tomorrow is both absorbing and entertaining. I loved it. I was also impressed that the author warns against talking boards in real life, saying to leave them for stories.
A compulsive read that I read in just one sitting.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

One-Line Summary:

Two people find a connection that transcends time, and it’s exactly what they both need to shape their individual futures.

Summary:

When Alec moves into 444 Sparrow Street, it’s old and rundown and is a promise of a new beginning with his parents recently divorced. Like all old buildings, he expects it to have its secrets, and he finds one hiding in a drawer: a handmade talking board with angels in each corner. At first, it seems like a fun game to play during a sleepover—until he realizes the entities they’re speaking to aren’t ghosts but people.

A hundred years ago, in the same house, Josie is no stranger to talking to spirits. In fact, her mother makes a living doing just that. What she hasn’t heard of, however, is speaking to a person who’s very much alive but in a different time.

For Josie, the future is a scary prospect. Her mother keeps her locked up tight in the house, and the future means freedom, as well as uncertainty. Worse than that, it feels so far away. For Alec, the past is terrifying, because he knows, logically, that his new friend is already dead in his timeline. But the way he always wants to remember her is the way she appears in their shared house: vibrant, uncertain, and very much alive.

The Positives:

- I forgot this book was even middle grade. Now, I don’t read a ton of mid-grade, because usually I get constant reminders that it’s too young for me, and mostly, I don’t feel like I get much out of it. Why would I? I’m not the target audience. That was not the case with this book. I was thoroughly engaged, invested in the characters, and I got some powerful takeaways from it. The fantastic thing about this book was that it transcended audiences.

- Alec and Josie are probably the cutest things ever, in their own ways. Alec is devoted to his new friend and helping her however he can. Being separated by a hundred years makes it a bit more difficult, but being in the future has its advantages, too. Josie’s troubles are more visceral and gut-wrenching. Trapped within the confines of a house with no friends and an abusive mother, the future seems bleak—except when she speaks to Alec, of course. He makes the future sound wonderful. If only she can survive her current situation. There’s such a tone of hope, and the friendship between them builds naturally and is just so sweet. It’s the sort of beautiful, pure connection that only two 12-year-olds can have, of course, which makes it all the more special.

- The time travel spin was unique and interesting. I confess, when I see time travel, I balk. I’m not a huge sci-fi fan at its best, and time travel in particular often leaves me doubtful. However, this isn’t true time travel in the sense that persons are sent hurtling through time. The way it’s approached in this book is much more circumstantial and believable, which I liked. It didn’t require a huge suspension of disbelief.

- WHERE DID THESE FEELS COME FROM AND WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA? I’m not a big fan of *hiss* emotions. Or feeling them. It’s a hassle. That being said, I felt all the emotions with this book. It was funny, sad, heartwarming, angering, hopeful, dreadful. I snapped between them so quickly that I was afraid I might get emotional whiplash. In the end, the gamut was well worth it, and how the book closes is fantastic and fulfilling.

The Negatives:

- What’s up with Mrs. Gubbins? This isn’t a huge negative, and maybe it doesn’t require explaining in a middle grade. But Mrs. Gubbins obviously isn’t just a doll or just a figment of Cass’s imagination. I kept finding myself wanting to know how she was tied to the girls, though, and what happens to her. Maybe I’m just nosy and that’s why, but I really wanted some follow-up about her.

- Where the heck is karma when you need it? Mrs. Clifford is awful. AWFUL. She’s meant to be, because there are awful people in the world, but gosh darn it, karma is supposed to get those people. Where the heck was fire and brimstone and fury? I know, I know, you’re not supposed to wish bad things on people, but I kept hoping she’d get her comeuppance. Unfortunately, I think part of that is just a facet of mid-grade works, but you know what? I’m just going to imagine it, and that’ll make me feel the world is still in balance.

- TRIGGER WARNING FOR CHILD ABUSE. I don’t believe this is mentioned anywhere else, and I think it should be said, considering it took me off guard. I don’t mind it, personally, but I know several people who if they had started this book, it would have triggered them. So make sure you know what you’re getting into going in. It isn’t graphic or gratuitous, but it could definitely be triggering, so be forewarned.

Overall:

I knew I had to read this as soon as I read the description, because it reminded me of Lake House, and I was hoping for the same warm, tingly feelings I got from watching that. I wasn’t disappointed. Unlike the movie, however, The Boy from Tomorrow has some dark moments, moments that I think are made even darker by being an adult (and for me, being a parent). However, every moment of it felt real and true to life, and the overall feeling was optimism and hope for the future, and I definitely came out the other end with the warm tinglies and having enjoyed the book. More than just for kids, I would recommend this to any age who wants a light, easy read that will stir up some emotions and leaving you feeling warm inside.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Alec and Josie have tons in common: they're both twelve, have unhappy family lives, and live in the same house. On the other hand, they are 100 years apart. Josie's mother, a celebrated medium but a lousy human being, has a hand-painted Ouija board that lets them talk to each other across the decades. They soon form a close bond despite the differences between their eras, but what help can Alec offer from the future when Josie's life takes a turn for the worse? A clever premise and an engaging pair of protagonists.

A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for providing me an advanced electonic copy of “The Boy from Tomorrow” by Camille DeAngelis.

I loved reading this book and wished it had continued! The story is so unique and fresh and unlike anything I have read till now. The idea of two people connecting with one another from different eras is told in such a wonderful way! Right from the get go, we see how Josie and Alec start building a friendship through the talking board. Both of them are going through family problems and lack the love the wish from their parents. The story progresses on how they help each other even though they live in different timespans. Another aspect I enjoyed was all the book references of classic literature that the author seeps in the storyline. She gives us an interesting snippet of a few, which are now added to my reading list.

There were a few parts of the story that I didn’t quite understand. For example, I didn’t get how Alec and Josie were able to communicate via the phonograph suddenly. Was it supposed to be a magical phonograph? Also, it’s a big coincidence that Alec was able to receive letters from Josie at the right time and place. There might be some other loopholes pertaining to the time element, but I didn’t give much through into it. It is, at the end of the day, a children’s fiction novel that should be read for entertainment value.

The characters are beautifully written with their own distinctive personalities. I was completely absorbed in the friendship between Josie and Alec, and the way they help each other. It was fun to read how one reacted to a phrase, music, books, or lingos they shared with each other. Emily, Cass and Danny also brought a spark of entertainment to the story. Mrs. Clifford is one of those characters you just love to hate. I pictured she would look and act just like Lady Tremaine (the evil stepmother from Cinderella), only more witch-like. There were some characters like Merritt and Mrs. Gubbins that I found fascinating and wished we had more details of.

Camille DeAngelis writes in a charming manner, and her strength is in how she writes her characters. I am interested in picking up her novel “Bones & All” as I have heard good reviews of that as well. Agnieszka Grochalska, the illustrator has also provided delightful illustrations for each chapter that adds a pleasant touch to the story.

In conclusion, “The Boy from Tomorrow” is a nice time travel book that I would definitely recommend to read. I give 4.5 out of 5 rating for this book.

This was such a great book! I love history, so the fact that Alec (in 2015) was able to communicate with two young sisters from 1915 made for an excellent story.

Josie and her little sister Cassandra live in their new Victorian home with their beloved tutor Emily, and their horrible mother, Lavinia, who works as a popular and sought-after medium/seer. Lavinia shows her children no affection, and punishes them (especially little Cass) in cruel and inhumane ways. She never permits them to leave the house, and essentially keeps them prisoners in their own rooms, often times having the maid or cook locking them inside.

Alec and his mother (who is going through a divorce from Alec's father) move into the old Victorian house on Sparrow St. in 2015. First through a Ouji board, then through a Phonograph, Alec is able to communicate Josie and Cass. Alec, being 100 years in the girls future, does his best to help save them from what seems to be a very lonely and possibly dangerous future.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. The things I didn't really like I cant say too much about because I'm afraid it would be a spoiler. I guess all I can say is, I don't understand WHY he waited so long at the end for the final letter. He wanted to know everything he could about the girls, yet he kept putting off visiting the one place he knew he would get answers...didn't make much sense.

Also, as others have noted, I would have like to have learned a little more about Alec and his family dynamic. You get an understanding about half-way through the book as to WHY his parents are divorcing, but you never really get to know his mother. The majority of the book focuses on Josie, Cass and their mother Lavinia.

In the end though, these couple things aside, I still really like the story. I'd definitely recommend it for Middle Grade children. There's a couple parts that are unpleasant, but nothing that a child that age can't handle.

** I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC copy from Netgalley

3.75 stars

I really got excited about the theme of this book. All about time traveling and a Brian Selznick vibe novel. I was also motivated for this copy because it is my first granted wish list from Netgalley.

The Boy From Tomorrow is a story of friendship and hope. It is brave for a middle grade story to tackle child abuse and cruelty.

The story revolves around Alec, who found an antique Ouija board and got to talk to a girl named, Josie who lived decades ago. Through their interest from one another's history and present, they come to know that they both live at the same house but in different year. Alec and Josie formed a friendship over conversations using the Ouija board. Alec unraveled unexpected happenings in the life Josie which correlates the future's information about Josie's past.

The story was fun. I thought, "what the heck?" Really? An Ouija board? That must have been a so long conversations. I thought this should be a paranormal one. But the author explained here side at the end of the book in using Ouija board as a bridge to past and present.

While reading this book, I always felt a vibe of Selznick's story. Correlating the past from the future is so amazing. Unravelling truths that could explained every happenings.

The author put a part in the book in which it tackles the question, "If you had a chance to talk to someone from the past, what would you do?" And the author gets the right thing. READ THEM A FREAKING GOOD NOVELS. I love the fact that the main character incorporates amazing novels that haven't written in Josie's time.

All in all, it was a fun and hopeful story of friendship.

I was mesmerized by this book! It was a great story and a good look at the differences in the centuries. I couldn't put it down! I liked the main characters and sympathized with Alec's not being able to do anything about the abuse that Josie and Cass suffered. It was interesting to see what was acceptable in each century as far as disciplining children. It was a WOW! book!

A nice middle great novel with some historical elements and some fantasy/time travel. It's not scary, although there is some (mild, in so far as such a thing is possible) child abuse. Alec and Josie are both appealing characters and good narrators; both stories feel era-appropriate but also accessible to young readers. I think this would be easy to recommend and a lot of young readers would enjoy it.

“The Boy from Tomorrow”- I’d seen this title in several publisher/book recommendation emails and was happy to see it available as an advance reader ebook. It was an enjoyable story of two tweens, living in the same home a century apart. Alec (present day) connects with Josie (1900’s) via spiritual methods. We realize they both struggle to find friendship and a sense of belonging. They reach out to one another and Alec soon realizes the true danger that Josie and her sister are living in. He longs to change the course of their life, but what can he possibly do? He is a kid and living in a different time period. Is their future set in stone or can they rewrite history. It was truly an enjoyable story. I would have no issue with my own children reading the story, but as I work in a fairly conservative school district, I’m not sure if it would be appropriate for the elementary library. Many of my students are intrigued by the paranormal, but the verdict is still out on whether I should provide them with a book that encourages the use of a Ouija board.

Loved the story! It was so believable! I felt a part of the story -- and wanted to be right there with them!! I loved it!!!

I adored this middle grade book about two kids, Josie and Alec, who live in the same house but 100 years apart.  The author does an excellent job showing how a teen from 2015 would try to explain the future to another teen in 1915 and vice versa.  I loved the way they were able to communicate and how Alec would find letters and other messages from Josie hidden in the house.  This books does have a happy ending but not in the way you would think.  Wanting to know if Josie and Alec get to meet in some sort of time and space plot twist, is what kept me reading. Also,I highly recommend this fun and heart filled book.  It releases in May.

I received this book from Netgalley, and I'm so glad that I did - I LOVED this story. I'm a sucker for time travel and this is so different from a typical time travel story. Alec and Josie are both 12 years old, and they live in the same house, but they live a century apart. Josie is from 1915, and Alec is from 2015 and they find each other through a Ouija board that belonged to Josie's mother.

What I liked about this book - the friendship between Josie and Alec felt authentic. I loved their interactions, and how much he cared about her. I loved how the mystery unraveled as Alec hunted for clues about what happened to Josie, Cass, and their mother. The mother as villain was done very well - she was a horrid mother and I found myself worrying about the fates of the two girls.

What I didn't like - I really don't have many negatives. I would have liked for Alec's storyline to be a bit more developed. We spent more time in Josie's timeline, which was the more interesting story as well as the basis for much of the plot, but I think Alec's could have been deepened just a little bit more.

Overall, I thought this book was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it. I think it would make a fantastic read aloud.

The Boy From Tomorrow is an eerie psychic tale that made me think. As I read I kept thinking about the discussions it might spark with middle school readers - could this really happen, the line between discipline and abuse, just what makes a family, and how much would you want to know about the future if you had a way to find out about it.

I “Wished” for this book on NetGalley and was pleasantly surprised when I was chosen to read it!
When I first started reading it and the children were communicating with each other via the Ouija board, I thought that some of them might be ghosts but I just couldn’t figure out which set of kids was real and which ones are not. As the book went on I figured out that it was about time travel and that the kids lived in the same house but 100 years apart! This might be the best time travel book that I’ve read!
Josie and Cass live at 444 Sparrow St. in 1915. Their mother is very controlling and will not let them leave the house or directly answer any of their questions. She’s cold and calculating and quick to dole out punishment. When the girls find her Ouija board and begin to play around with it they meet a boy named Alec. Alec lives at 444 Sparrow St. in the year 2015. After a little bit of back-and-forth, the kids become fast friends!
When Josie and Cass tell Alec about their plight, Alec being a good friend that he is, immediately goes and starts researching why the mother will not let the girls out to see if there’s anything he can do to change their fate. Eventually, the girls do get away from their controlling mother with Alec’s help!
This story might be more for tweens, but I really enjoyed it! The concept was well thought out and delivered with perfection! Even though it is set 100 years apart both, time periods were represented in a way that made this concept work. The friendships were genuine, and the message is very endearing.
The only thing I really didn’t like about the book was the lack of balance between the home lives of the children. While we get a very clear picture of what kind of mother Josie and Cass have, Alec’s homelife/relationship with his mother is more of a mystery. I feel like the book would be a little bit more balanced if we had more of both children’s home lives delved into a little deeper! It might’ve also been cool if the kids were somehow related and Alec was like a great-grandson of one of the girls!
This book deals with some very serious issues like child abuse, mental abuse from a parent, neglect, women’s rights, and anxiety. The author did a fantastic job presenting these issues in a way that children/teenagers can relate to and find comfort in when the issues were resolved.
I would recommend this book to my teenage son who has recently found a passion for reading. Also to anyone who likes well-developed characters, highly stylized prose, and a genuinely well-written book!
Think you Netgalley and Camille DeAgelis for letting me have a peek at this book after it was no longer available!

This story had an intriguing take on the concept of time travel! The characters felt very real to me, and I loved the friendship that developed between Josie and Alec, despite the differences in time. There was an element of suspense throughout the story that kept me engaged in the narrative. The conclusion of the story was satisfying and answered all of my questions about the story. This was an engaging and enjoyable middle grade read.

The Boy from Tomorrow by Camille Deangelis sounds like an instant time travel movie where people fall in love and all dreams come true. In reality, the novel spans time and space. It is time travel, but not in the way, I was expecting: it’s better.

When twelve-year-old Alec and his mom move into 444 Sparrow Street after her divorce from Alec’s father, he feels bittersweet of moving to the town he always wanted to live in, but without his dad. Alec did not expect the Ouija, a talking spirit board or having it write back that Alec was the spirit communicating! If it wasn’t a spirit on the other side then who was it?

Thus a crafty time travel device is born. There is a warning at the back of the book that if you use a spirit speaking board, it can be dangerous.

On the other side of the talking spirit board in 1915 is very lonely twelve-year-old Josephine, Josie Clifford, who lives with her little sister Cassie, her tutor Emily Jasper, and her very famous spiritual medium mother Lavinia Clifford.

As Alec and Josephine deepen their friendship through letters, Alec opens an entirely different world to Josephine. Then disaster strikes as her scamming, not–fit-to-be-a-mother- Lavinia takes control of the spirit board and demands answers upon answers from Alec concerning the future.

When Emily, Cassie and Josie’s tutor is taken away, the girls are locked into their house with no way out. However, when a gramophone is brought for tutoring lessons, Alec and Josie can hear each other’s voices along with Alec’s friend Danny, and Josie’s sister Cassie joins the fun.

Still, life is not pleasant for the girls, and something has to be done. Can Josie and her sister Cassie find a way to escape and live with their tutor Emily Jasper and her family? What can Alec tell them about their future; do they even want to know? Why does Cassie insist that her very ugly doll Mrs. Gubbins talks to her and can tell her some of the future?

The Boy from Tomorrow is a good story about a century-spanning friendship that brings life and love to two very lonely people and their families. I highly recommend it for any library.

What I liked: This book is compelling, well written and intriguing. The hook of kids communicating across time and space and time keep me reading. I love the main characters, Alec, Danny, Josie and Cassie. Each character feels authentic and DeAngelis does a great job of putting us inside the head of two 12 year olds. The complex relationships that these kids have with their parents, friends and siblings are realistic, yet interesting. Now that I've finished the book, I want to keep these characters in my life a little longer.

Really believable story of two children communicating across time. While I'm no historical expert, the parts set in the early 20th century felt right.

I loved the characters. They were so real and easy to connect to. The book was a great read.

Although the children in each century were going through their own traumas, Josie's story was more developed. Alec didn't really focus on his own trauma as much as the book could have. But then again, I was more interested in Josie's part.

I'm not sure what age the book is geared towards. Given it's MCs are 12 years old, I'd say it matches that level. But be aware that this isn't a sweet book of mail buddies separated by a century. This book deals with child abuse/negligence before it became a thing to be protected by law. It was beautifully done, and nearly brought me to tears at some points.

I highly recommend this book for readers who like time travel, historical fiction, or just a really good book with great characters.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was not exactly what I'd expected...which was something more along the lines of Charlotte Sometimes. It centers on a Ouija board (and then a magic phonograph) that allows the characters to talk back and forth through time. There is a LOT of suspension of reality on this one, above and beyond your standard time travel book, and it just fell kind of flat. Then again, I'm an adult. I'd like to think that I have a good idea of what my teens like to read (and usually do), but maybe I'm wrong about this one, and they would really like it.

DNF It was just...too weird for me. Like, spirits weird. I don’t do that kind of thing.