We The Future is a fantastic middle grade story that seamlessly weaves climate change activism with futuristic time travel. The asthmatic main character is relatable and fun! The band of characters are a delight to see come together to unite for the good of the entire world. Lewis' debut novel gives off Back to the Future and Doctor Who vibes, which are perfect for the SFF kiddos and adults in your life. You will not be disappointed with this fun plot and heartwarming characters. Caution, though, because it WILL make you want your own time travel watch. Thank you to the author and the publisher for the ARC to review. I loved every minute in this story!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this! I feel like this is a perfect quick an wholesome read for any young reader!

3.5 stars

This book is a fun mix of contemporary and science fiction. The main plot revolves around a group of middle school children coming together to bring awareness to the climate crises, while fighting for big institutions and governments to make widespread change. The thing that initially spurs this activism though? The arrival of a pink astronaut girl from the 22nd century whose life depends on this paradigm shift actually occurring.

Needless to say, the book does a great job of informing readers about why climate change is occurring, and how small bandaid fixes like carrying around reusable straws and tote bags isn’t enough to turn the tide. The inclusion of so many important topics, lessons, and perspectives makes this a book that I could definitely see being used in classrooms to inform student’s discussions about things like natural disasters and abrupt weather changes. Who knows, maybe this is the book that will encourage a child to become as much of an activist as the characters they read about.

There were a few things about the plot and the writing that bothered me, but I would mostly attribute to that being because of my age (I am definitely not in the target age group) and the fact that time-travel stories basically never provide enough explanation to satisfy me. Seeing as this is a book navigated towards kids, I doubt other readers will have the same qualms.

This book was so good. Powerful, important, smart, funny. As the world heats up and the weather gets more extreme, more people need to take notice. This book is the perfect way to get young people involved and help them understand the importance of making big changes now, for their own futures. I do with the plot line had a little bit more specific ways for kids to get involved but the author did include a link at the end of the book for more research. I'll add it to my stories!

1. Accessible and easy to read
2. Brings climate change to a level everyone can understand
3. Heartwarming story of friendship
4. Learning to speak up!
5. Get inspired

I can’t truly quantify my thoughts about this particular book using the usual “CAWPILE/CAWPIRE” method, so I’m not going to even try.

We the Future paints a fictional picture of a bleak future due to a very real and very serious issue – climate change. It also paints a picture of how the youth of today can rally themselves together to help instigate changes to mitigate the damage being done to our environment and our climate.

One thing I appreciate is that Cliff Lewis manages to do the above without being preachy. If there’s one thing that will turn me off from a book about being eco-friendly, environmental issues, climate change, etc., it is when the book comes across as thought the author were a preacher standing at the pulpit to preach a sermon. Mr. Lewis managed to keep the preachy tone out of the book and make the subject interesting.

Am I saying that the events in the book are necessarily the way it would work in real life (minus the time-traveler)? No, I’m not. I’m also not saying that our youth should take cues from the methods used in the book – unless of course their parents are cool with it. But… I do think that this book brings a lot of useful things to light.

For instance, talking about climate change as a real thing. Talking about greenwashing and how all the little changes we make just distract us from the bigger picture. And showing kids that they can be activists, even at their young age. The idea that you don’t have to wait until you’re an adult to take a stand is a powerful message.

You’ll meet a teacher in this book who has a very interesting outlook on life… you’ll know who I mean when you meet him. Let’s just say, he was very much a good influence to help Jonah and his friends do what they do.

I gave this book four stars because it passes along a very good, and important, message about climate change and what needs to happen in the next few years if we don’t want our children/grandchildren/great-grandchildren etc., to face a horrifying existence on a planet that is inhospitable. It also gives a great message about trusting in yourself and knowing you can make a difference even if you’re “just a kid”.

Title: We the Future
Author: Cliff Lewis
Release Date: April 18, 2023

This new middle grade title by Cliff Lewis is one that I'm especially excited about! It has two themes that I'm especially interested in: climate change and rewriting history. I think that it's especially important for students to be exposed to books that discuss how climate change could impact humanity in the future. Beyond that, the main character, Jonah is one that I feel able to relate to, especially his fear of putting himself out there. This is a title that I would happily recommend to my high school students and I would encourage my middle school library colleague to recommend it to her students as well.

Synopsis:
I’m from the future. We need you.

Ever since he learned about climate change, Jonah has dreaded a weather-beaten future where not
even his asthma medication can save him. Luckily, a girl from that future arrives just in time to throw
Jonah a lifeline.

Sunny traveled back to the 2020s with a mission: help Jonah launch a climate strike big enough to
rewrite history. To do it, he’ll have to recruit his entire school before Halloween. Why so soon?

Sunny won’t say. But how can Jonah win over 600 classmates when the only thing he dreads more
than the end of the world is talking to other kids?

*Thank you to NetGalley, TBRBeyondTours and North Star Editions, Jolly Fish Press for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review. *

"Grown ups called it climate-change, the most boring name for the End Of The World As We Know It."

This book made me lough out loud and cry at the same time. Lough because Jonah was a hilarious character. A lively character with fears, dreams..oh, and asthma attacks that might kill him. Or Not. And cry because I fully understood that Earth IS dying. And WE are fully responsible.
I know.
"Worst. Future. Ever."
"Our families are from Carbon Hill, Puerto Rico, New Delhi. We are superheroes, revolutionaries, and astronauts.

Read this book if you want to read about an amazing group of friends, trying to save the future of the world. This was an important lesson Cliff Lewis gave me through this book. We shouldn't try to save the world, for now. If we want our kids to have a future, we should do this by saving the future for them.

After all, as Cliff Lewis said in Acknowledgments section (yeah I'm that person that reads them and cries, get over it!) we can save the future, but we can't do it alone.

For more info about climate change groups visit heyclifflewis.com/start.

This book is such a fun rollercoaster of time travel and student activism. Jonah is a loner who wants to do his part to stop climate change, but in order to make a real difference, he has to learn that he can't do it alone. Told in a hilarious and down-to-earth voice, We the Future will inspire and motivate readers to work together, organize, form a crew, and recruit, using everything from posters, poetry, and song to YouTube videos. This book was funny and enjoyable with a great message built into the time-traveling action.

We the Future is an exciting, fun, and thought-provoking story of an anxious kid who fights climate change with the help of a time-traveler from the future. When Jonah's desperate (and asthmatic) rant against his town's coal plant goes viral, he finds himself the reluctant leader of a grassroots fights against the polluter, while also navigating repairing an old friendship and making an unusual new one. Readers will cheer on his efforts on all fronts, and hopefully be inspired to stand up for what they believe in.

An important story for middle grade readers (and adults, honestly) WE THE FUTURE has all the right makings of an important classroom text. It has an engaging story, relatable characters, and a message that all middle school students need to hear right now. It has the urgency that many people need to help change the course of the planet's future, while staying grounded in the very real characters that Cliff Lewis has artfully created. Can't wait to see this book in classroom and school libraries!

This book lifted my heart at a time when the world felt hopeless! But WE THE FUTURE offers more than just hope. It's a map--a how-to guide to organizing for change that kids won't even realize they're reading because they'll be so wrapped up in the compelling, time-traveling yet remarkably current story. Middle Grade readers will love the way Jonah finds and rekindles friendships, understands his place in the world, and figures out how to take down the enemy. The climate change elements felt authentic and pressing, and the fast-paced writing and clever twists will keep readers' attention. Reading WE THE FUTURE left me excited and motivated. Kids will be too!

A time-traveling book about climate change? Umm, yes please! This fast-paced novel drives home a critical message: everyone has the power to alter the world. A wide audience will relate to the diverse cast of characters, and even adult readers will be inspired as the kids work together to rally for change. An important, thrilling, and timely read for all ages, WE THE FUTURE will appeal to kids with a passion for climate activism or who love their adventure stories with a side of science. A must-read for middle grade audiences which will encourage excellent discussions at home and in classroom settings.

The verdict: READ THIS BOOK!

WE THE FUTURE is a striking Middle Grade debut that is as entertaining and engaging as it is important. With a great sense of humor and a fun, relatable voice, the book reads like an action/adventure that is impossible to put down. At the same time, it is a story on climate action and informs and inspires in a way that feels natural and fitting for the story. This is a perfect read not only for kids who are interested in climate activism, but for any kid looking for a fully enjoyable and exciting read. It is a must-read for all ages, with a realistic look at the impact of climate change while still maintaining an inspiring and hopeful tone. Highly recommend.

4,5

This is a great book, and even more, it is important.
In this middle grade story, we follow Jonah as he plans a grand revolution in the name of climate change.
He gets help from someone from the future, which gives this adventurous and rebellious story even more oomph.

I loved this book, and think every 13-year-old should read it.
I think a lot of children would identify with the themes in this book, and it brings into words lots of things to worry about and how you can start fighting them.
A very cleverly set up story that teaches a lot, but is also so adventurous that it made for an interesting book.

This book is written for middle schoolers, but would serve adults well, too. It doesn’t sugar coat the issue of climate change and encourages big moves and the need to act quickly. The bleak picture it paints is a wake up call, but it isn’t done in a preachy or scary way. It’s told with an action packed story and some funny scenes.

Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Jonah is worried about his future, climate change is taking affect and he worries that even his asthma medications won’t work in a future world. Then Sunny comes from the future on a mission to get Jonah to convince his entire school to take climate change seriously, but that’s his worst nightmare talking to people.

This is a very clever and creative story, with one character Jonah already struggling and dealing with what may come from climate change, worried his future might be really bad. Then bringing in a character Sunny from the future to try and set things right before it’s too late. I really love the creativity of it and it’s going to appeal to so many younger kids.

There are so many twists in the story, it’s an action packed adventure. The characters Jonah and Sunny are really likeable and you will be connected and be rooting for them the whole time. We meet a group of really unique and diverse kids through the book. It showcases that everyone has a special superpower that even the most unlikely people can do something to help make a change.

The story is really relevant to the world we live in today, most children are so active with climate change and trying to change it, this book is perfect for furthering their education on it. It’s a perfect book for schools that want to teach it. It also provides tips on how and what to do to make these changes, sharing what is best to do.

I think this a book that children would really enjoy, it’s got so many elements to it that is perfect for them. It’s got great characters, it’s thought out, it’s got a really fun storyline, lots of twists and lots of adventure.

Engaging and empowering the generation of humans who will be most affected by climate change is so important and this middle-grade book does an incredible job of doing just that. Couched in a fast-paced adventure story with unlikely heroes, the importance of collective action and individual superpowers, and the urgency of the climate crisis are clearly illustrated in a digestible, actionable game plan. I'm really excited to see this book fall into the hands of kids who might otherwise feel like they are inheriting a mess (they are) that they are powerless to stop. This book has the potential to empower and ignite them.

First of all, thanks at Netgalley for letting me read this book in advance!

Holy shit.
I just finished this and I'm just utterly speechless.
This might be one of the most important books there is on this entire planet and I won't shut up about this before not everyone has read this. In fact, this is so important, I just feel like calling the center of education and requesting it HAS to be a required read at EVERY SCHOOL.
This book pictures the climate crisis so well - Enormously severe and being the business of everyone of us. And if we don't care, it will kill us sooner or later. What this book did is show what will happen if we don't care, and that small things like turning of the light when you leave the room, just won't be enough and won't cut it.
Through this book about this insanely important book we have an amazingly diverse cast of characters, all with their quirks and strengths which makes this even better. For the love of God, I will NEVER stop recommending this

Thank you, North Star Editions, Jolly Fish Press, for allowing me to read We the Future early!

An ecological sci-fi middle-grade with lots of stakes which I found surprisingly enjoyable.