After Lawrence plays music at a coffee shop, he encounters a feisty barista he can't forget. Although she's initially combative, Sierra will be the one to share her talents, teach him about power (and quantum physics), and help him strive and perform musically. An almost miraculously viral video takes Lawrence and Sierra onto the stage, introduces them to a famous musician, and teaches them about the less fabulous side of fame.
Tyler Bansil's THE FUTURE I PROMISED HER is a YA novel that takes a look at difficult parents, relationship struggles, time travel, and the impacts of giving power away. It’s also a story about how we bury ourselves, what we're willing to erase, and what it costs to hide.
Perhaps one of the most insightful things about the novel is how it depicts the various challenges that come with fame. While Lawrence loves the attention of a crowd, he learns about professional-musician Ellie’s struggle with having to perform the perfect life under society's microscope: “They don’t tell you when you become famous that you’re supposed to act like some sort of deity. That no matter what kind of horrible things are happening, you’re supposed to look like you’re above it all…. I don’t know how to turn it off. How to not pretend like my life is all sunshine and rainbows when right now it’s all falling apart.”
Some of the plot is fantasy, with a focus on magic and power; other parts focus on rescue. The hasty ending is jarring, unfortunately, but there is a lot of value here. The story is thoughtful, and the language is rhythmic. Sometimes it's quirky, too, like when Lawrence walks into a family home and says, “The lack of light in the house assisted in making this whole place feel stagnant. Parts of me felt absent, like bones and ligaments were taken out of my body." An unusual reaction to going into an unexpected living space.
Overall, THE FUTURE I PROMISED HER is definitely worth picking up for young readers who take a more thoughtful approach to narratives about success, fame, or popularity.
With THE FUTURE I PROMISED HER, Tyler Bansil has created a thoughtful, quirky book that captures the tension between chasing your dreams and negotiating impressions. Despite a rushed ending, its unique blend of music, magic, and quantum physics makes it well worth the read for young adults.
~ Nicci Attfield for IndieReader